Drafting a cover letter is tricky. How long should it be? What details should I include? Well, we’ve got you covered.
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First impressions are everything in job applications, and the CV and cover letter do this for you. You only get one chance to wow potential employers before they get to hear you out during an interview. The cover letter is the first thing that the hiring manager gets to see before they peruse your CV. So, how then can you effectively highlight all your skills, accomplishments, personality, and experience in your cover letter?
Below are five things you should include in your cover letter that will help you get the attention of the hiring manager:
1. Details of the job
Due to the limited space, you might want to jump into talking about your skills and accomplishments. Take some time to study the job and include details related to the job in the cover letter. For example, you can start by highlighting the position that you are applying for in the reference section of your letter. The hiring manager will screen your application faster since they will know the requirements they are supposed to pick out. It will also make you look organized, which will get their attention.
Additionally, you might want to mention how you knew about the job opening, which is a commonly asked interview question. You could have learned about it through an advertisement, company website, social media, or someone. Highlighting this in your cover letter will get the question out of the way when you land an interview with the hiring manager.
2. Personality
Don’t be afraid to show some personality in your cover letter. Your CV already covers your professionalism. Give the hiring manager a glimpse of yourself but balance out the formality and informality. Just make sure that you are not too informal and personal because you will come off as unprofessional, which will not work well for your job application. Most cover letters are generic, robotic, and somewhat dull. Make your cover letter stand out by infusing a little enthusiasm and passion.
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3. Three requirements
The best part about drafting a cover letter is that you can pretty much include whatever you want. Including your skills is essential, which means that you have to know the skills you require for the position. If you do, you can show the hiring manager how your skills match theirs. The best way to do this is to make a list with two columns. These columns should read “job requirements” and “my qualifications.” Use this to figure out how qualified you are for the job. Since the cover letter content is limited, you will have to pick your top three qualifications to include in your cover letter. Ensure that you limit your paragraphs and words when discussing these qualifications because you don’t have that much space. Focus on highlighting how you match the job requirements.
4. Add a referral
If you are lucky enough to get a recommendation from someone else for a job position, include this in your cover letter. Including a referral may not seem necessary, but it will boost your association with the hiring manager. This influence will make you stand out and help you get shortlisted.
5. Use phrases and words from the job description
If a company uses an automated screening system to shortlist its applicants, then using keywords and phrases from the job description could get you to the next step. Don’t ignore the job description. In fact, study it since it lists down what the company needs. Pick out the language and use it, especially when you explain why you are the best person for the job position. You might as well revise your CV and include the phrases and words in the job description.
Conclusion
All in all, your cover letter needs to be short and strong. You don’t need to restate everything in your CV. The best way to do this is to personalize it to fit the job description of your application. Step away from generic and boring templates. Your cover letter is your only ticket to getting an interview and possibly getting hired. So, you have no choice but to learn to do it right.
