What is a Cover Letter?

A document mostly consists of one page, a job seeker/applicant submits along with his/her resume. These 250-400 words briefly introduce, describe, and summarize the professional background of the applicant.

When we submit our resume to any platform, there may exist another requirement called ‘submit/send the cover letter’. This is an important option that should not be ignored. Most of the online web portals for seeking a job like www.brightspyre.com or www.rozee.com, there exists another field that says ‘submit your cover letter’. So, it is an essential part of an effective job application. Do not consider a resume enough as an application instead submit both, resume and cover letter while applying for a job. A cover letter is enclosed an extended and better version of one’s personality, character, experience, and professional work exposure. It enables the applicant to present himself/herself before the hiring authorities in a certain inspiring way. In a bulleted form, a cover letter is a tool that enables you to inform authorities about yourself which is not possible otherwise via resume alone. So, here in this piece of writing, we bring for you guidelines for writing an effective cover letter.

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job?

Writing an effective cover letter is an important part of business writing skills. It adds to job seekers’ ability to present them before hiring authorities in more professional style. Every word in this document should be the right word, placed in the right order, and organized in the right way.

Cover Letter Tips:

Do Necessary Research to Create a Cover Letter

Research is a vital constituent of any business writing. Its significance is increased many folds when it comes to creating an effective cover letter. Job applicants are always advised to do the necessary research before going for applying to a company for a specific job. Research should be made about the company’s past, present, and future prospects. It should be researched via visiting the existing employees’ Linkedin profiles, and the company’s social media links. By collecting data about the Target Company and gathering information on the job responsibilities is a must for conveying the message to the hiring authorities that the applicant is well aware of the current affairs in the realm of the organizational background and scope of the job applied for. This enhances the chances of being considered for the vacancy and grabs the attention and distinguishes you from the bulk.

Take a Grabbing Start in Cover Letter Beginning

Usually, people start a cover letter with statements like “I am applying for the ABC position in your DEF department which is published in XYZ newspaper”. This is not a grabbing start. It is a style the hiring authority perceives as average or below average feature of an aspirant. For making a difference your cover letter must take a strong start like ” If your company is planning to promote the business to the next level than I must offer my services and skills to help it to do so” or ” I am a digital marketing expert with extensive experience of more than 10 years and I would love to incorporate my expertise, skills, and enthusiasm to your growing development team”. Statements like these wrapped in confidence are able to catch the attention. Always avoid any funny, humorous, informal, or non-serious gesture in the content of your cover letter.

Add a Brief Personal Narrative

Inclusion of sentences like, “I thrive on challenges, whether it is troubleshooting to maximize resource utilization at work or paragliding on a vacation” is a good fit for conveying your best personal narrative. Experts of cheapest essay writing service USA say, to add in the effectiveness of the cover letter you have to efficiently inform the hiring authority about skills you have and potentials you work with. You have to tell them about the strengths you possess. It must be adequately given in the letter. These sentences must not give the impression of flattery. Your tone must be formal and serious.

Reflect Your Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a crucial element for successfully securing job opportunities. Your attitude should be inspiring instead of requiring. Do not use expressions like this: I want to work at your company. Your tone must show full confidence in your skillset and professional abilities. Avoid using words showing flattery and begging. Always be mature in your selection of words enclosed in professional cover and all the information must be authentic. Authenticity is key to hook the attention of hiring authority. All these elements constitute your enthusiasm. These characteristics make difference and take your application to the next level and increase the chances of being considered for the interview call or the next formal correspondence.

What to Include in a Cover Letter?

This question is important and should be answered with due significance. The simplest answer is to keep the cover letter simple and short. Unnecessary or vague information may spoil the application and reduce the chances of consideration. Experts believe that the content of an effective cover letter should not exceed a page. The perfect cover letter is one that is comprehended in a single glance. This very quality of short and simple content is key to reflect your maturity and professional look in business writing. So, always try to write a succinct cover letter.

DOs and DON’Ts of a Good Cover Letter

DOs: 

Display an understanding of the employer, organization, and the target job.

Show relevant personality traits.

Point to your strengths and show how they make you a good fit for the target job and organization.

Mention what the particular interests you have in the job position and organization.

Show your exposure to the organizational culture and the business world in a broader sense.

Create a cover letter in an optimistic tone.

DON’Ts:

Don’t include/repeat resume content.

Don’t mention your apology for the skills you don’t have.

Don’t make it that you can do whatever job is available or given.

Don’t exaggerate your skillset and experience.

Don’t use long sentences and informal writing styles.

Don’t show them that you are jobless and in struggling conditions.

Don’t give personal information in the content of the cover letter.

Resume Cover Letter Should be Generic

Resume cover letter is usually a secondary to resume and job seeker deals it as such. On the other hand, business writing experts recommend that every resume cover letter should be generic. It should be specific in its content for a specific job. This enhances your seriousness in the eyes of the employer. It works in similar ways as the saying goes ‘As you sow so shall you reap”. It means to customize your cover letter for a specific position. In response, the chances are high to be given specific consideration. Customization is key to build trust and loyalty.

Cover Letter Formats

The cover letter starts with content information. There are two ways to place contact information.

For digital/Soft copy:

You do not need to give your specific address instead just place your city and state.

Here is the format of content information:

• Date
• Your Name
• City and state
• Phone number
• Email address

Moreover, in a digital application, you do not need to include the company and the hiring authority’s contact information.

On the other hand, for a printed copy cover letter put the following information on the top left-hand side of the letter:

• Your Name
• Your Address
• Your city, state, zip code
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Hiring manager’s name
• Company name
• Company address
• Company city, state, zip code

After contact information section in the cover letter is:

Salutation/Greetings

For salutations, it is appropriate to write the hiring authority’s name if available. In most cases gender and marital status are not known so it is always advisable not to use Mr. Mrs. or Ms. Instead, you may go simply by writing dear followed by first name and second name.

No matter if the name is not given in the job description. Simply write “Dear Hiring Manager”.

Opening Paragraph

Deliver your enthusiastic opening in this section and include generic content of your introduction to leave a specific impression. It is appropriate to include job-related keywords.

Middle Paragraph

Give your experience, qualifications, and skills in the middle paragraph. Write a brief account of your past professional accomplishments.

Closing Paragraph

Give your thanks to the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the closing paragraph. You can insert any clarification about any issue in your professional record in this section.

Complimentary Close and Signature 

Giving a complimentary close is a friendly but formal gesture. It usually followed by your first and second name, like:

• Yours
• Sincere
• Regards
• Respectfully
• Thank you
• Thank you for your consideration

Proofread a Cover Letter

Last but not least. Always proofread your cover letter after completion. Make sure that all the necessary information is given in it. Any spell mistake and grammar error is omitted at this last stage. Give attention to the flow of the whole of the cover letter, paragraph by paragraph, and sentence by sentence. This is the way your cover letter would be error-free and may not be vulnerable to any confusion in understanding the thoughts provided in it.