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Tips to writing a killer cover letter.

A cover letter serves the purpose of introducing you, letting the recruiter know of your interest in the job, opening the door to your skill set, and finally, inviting the recruiter to read your CV.

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A cover letter serves the purpose of introducing you, letting the recruiter know of your interest in the job, opening the door to your skill set, and finally, inviting the recruiter to read your CV.

When applying for a job, you are required to write a cover letter. It appears to be tough, especially when you have no idea how to go about it or what exactly the recruiter expects to find when their eyes skim on your application. Could writing a cover letter be the most dreaded step in the job application process? You don’t have to cower because we have all the tips will help you be proficient.

First things first, you need to understand what a cover letter is, and the purpose it serves. To be simplistic, it’s a summary of your resume. It serves the purpose of introducing you, letting the recruiter know of your interest in the job, opening the door to your skill set, and finally, inviting the recruiter to read your CV.

A cover letter has three parts: - Introduction, the body, and a closing paragraph. Before we even roll up sleeves and get onto the parts, remember it’s an official letter, so don’t go casual. Keep it precise, and address it to the right person; the one indicated on the job ad. If no contact person was named, here’s where your research on the company will help. You’ll be able to find out whom to address it to.

Introduction

It’s simple, introduce yourself. Who are you? Move ahead and mention how you got intelligence of the opening (mention the job in particular) and indicate your interest.

Body

In the body, shine light on your skill set, wittily linking this to the experience or achievements you have. Go on and show how your skills horn towards the job requirements. But treat it as your 60 seconds pitch, cover letters should be short.

Closing paragraph

It’s a wrap, and to end it in style here’s what you need to do. End with a call to action. Invite the reader to go through your CV, ask for a meeting, or an interview.

See how easy it is? You don’t have to clench teeth the next time you’re writing one. Practice makes perfect. I challenge you to create time and write an imaginary one. Dream up the kind of job you want and write a cover letter. Then let us know how that goes in the comments section.

Read: 4 things your recruiter wants to know about you

Written by

Kelvin Mokaya


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