A great cover letter is the key to convincing the hiring manager to ask you in for an interview and one step closer to getting the job of your dreams. The human resources department receive hundreds of cover letters when a new vacancy opens up and unfortunately the majority of them are far too long, bland and forgettable. A cover letter needs to sing about your relevant achievements and convince the hiring manager you’re the man for the job. Here are our three easy tips to make your cover letter shine.
Short, Sharp And To The Point
Remember that the hiring manager has trawled through hundreds of resumes and cover letters before they’ve got to yours. A long, drawn out cover letter is only going to send them to sleep. Succinct and to the point is not only far more interesting to read but also reflects well on your professionalism.
Imagine you were in an elevator with your interviewer and you only had 15 seconds to convince them you’re the best candidate for the job. what would you say? That is all you need to include your cover letter. Why you’re writing, what position you are writing about, why you have what it takes, thank you followed by a call to action.
Customize Your Cover Letter
Your cover letter is basically you introducing yourself to the hiring manager and explaining why they should hire you. Therefore it needs to be specific to the job you’re applying for. Make sure you carefully examine the job description to work out specifically what the role requires and make it clear to whoever is reading it that your qualifications satisfy the requirements. If you don’t customise your cover letter, you might as well not bother sending them.
Remember to be concise and succinct. Delineate clearly how your strengths compliment the demands of the job and mention examples of results you’ve achieved. This way your future employer knows you have what it takes.
Close With A Call To Action
Close the cover letter with an assertive call to action. Nothing as cliché as, “I hope to hear from you soon.” Close with something that shows personality and conviction. “I believe I can be a valuable addition to your company, and I look forward to hearing from you”.
It’s a lot work getting a cover letter right and customizing each to every specific job description, but trust us, it’s worth it.