What Is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a document that you submit as
part of your job application, alongside your resume or CV.
The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce you
and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, it should be
around 250 to 400 words long.
A good cover letter is supposed to impress the
hiring manager and convince them you’re worth interviewing as a candidate.
So, how can your cover letter achieve this?
First of all, it should complement your
resume, not copy it. Your cover letter is your chance to elaborate on important
achievements, skills, or anything else that your resume doesn’t give you the
space to cover.
For example, if you have an employment gap on your
resume, the cover letter is a great place to explain why it happened and how it
helped you grow as a person.
If this is your first time writing a cover letter,
writing about yourself might seem complicated. But don’t worry—you don’t need
to be super creative or even a good writer.
All you have to do is follow this tried and tested
cover letter structure:
- Header. Add all the
necessary contact information at the top of your cover letter.
- Formal greeting. Choose an
appropriate way to greet your target audience.
- Introduction. Introduce yourself
in the opening paragraph and explain your interest in the role.
- Body. Elaborate on why
you’re the best candidate for the job and a good match for the company.
Focus on “selling” your skills, achievements, and relevant professional
experiences.
- Conclusion. Summarize your key points
and wrap it up professionally.
#3. Address the Hiring Manager
Once you’ve properly listed all the
contact information, it’s time to start writing the content of the cover
letter.
The first thing you need to do here is
to address
your cover letter directly to the hiring manager.
In fact, you want to address the hiring
manager personally.
Forget the old “Dear Sir or Madam” or
the impersonal “To Whom It May Concern.” You want to give your future boss a
good impression and show them that you did your research before sending in your
application.
No one wants to hire a job seeker who
just spams 20+ companies and hopes something sticks with their generic approach
So, how do you find out who’s the hiring
manager?
First, check the job ad. The hiring
manager’s name might be listed somewhere in it.
If that doesn’t work, check the
company’s LinkedIn page. You just need to look up the head of the relevant
department you’re applying to, and you’re all set.
For example, if you’re applying for the
position of Communication Specialist at Novorésumé. The hiring manager is
probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Officer.
And there you go! You have your hiring
manager.
But let’s say you’re applying for a
position as a server.
In that case, you’d be looking for the “restaurant manager” or “food and
beverage manager.”
If the results don’t come up with
anything, try checking out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a
good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.
Make sure to address them as Mr. or Ms.,
followed by their last name. If you’re not sure about their gender or marital
status, you can just stick to their full name, like so:
Example Addressing Hiring
Manager:
·
Dear Mr. Kurtuy,
·
Dear Andrei Kurtuy,
But what if you still can’t
find the hiring manager’s name, no matter where you look?
No worries. You can direct your cover
letter to the company, department, or team as a whole, or just skip the hiring
manager’s name.
Example Addressing Company:
·
Dear [Department] Hiring
Manager
·
Dear Hiring Manager
·
Dear [Department] Team
·
Dear [Company Name]
Are you applying for a research
position? Learn how to write an academic
personal statement.
#4.
Write an Eye-Catching Introduction
First impressions matter, especially
when it comes to your job search.
Hiring managers get hundreds, sometimes
even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading
every single cover letter end-to-end.
So, it’s essential to catch their
attention from the very first paragraph.
The biggest problem with most opening
paragraphs is that they’re usually extremely generic. Here’s an example:
Wrong Example:
·
My name is Jonathan, and I’d
like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a Sales Manager at
MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the
position.
See the
issue here? This opening paragraph doesn’t say anything except
the fact that you’ve worked the job before.
And do you know who else has similar
work experience? All the other applicants you’re competing with.
Instead, you want to start with some of
your top achievements to grab the
reader’s attention. And to get the point across, the achievements should
be as relevant as possible to the position.
Your opening paragraph should also show
the hiring manager a bit about why you want this specific job. For example,
mention how the job relates to your plans for the future or how it can help you
grow professionally. This will show the hiring manager that you’re not just
applying left and right—you’re actually enthusiastic about getting this
particular role.
Now, let’s make our previous example
shine:
Correct Example
Dear Mr.
Smith,
My name’s Michael, and I’d like to help
XYZ Inc. hit and exceed its sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve
worked as a Sales Representative with Company X, another
fin-tech company, for 3+ years, where I generated an
average of $30,000+ in sales per month and beat the KPIs by
around 40%. I believe that my previous industry experience, passion
for finance, and excellence in sales make me the right candidate for
the job.
The second candidate starts with what
they can do for the company in the future and immediately lists an impressive
and relevant achievement. Since they’re experienced in the same industry and
interested in finance, the hiring manager can see they’re not just a random
applicant.
From this introduction, it’s safe to say
that the hiring manager would read the rest of this candidate’s cover letter.
#5. Use the Cover Letter Body for Details
The next part of your cover letter is
where you can go into detail about what sets you apart as a qualified candidate
for the job.
The main thing you need to remember here
is that you shouldn’t make it all about
yourself. Your cover letter is supposed to show the hiring manager
how you relate to the job and the company you’re applying
to.
No matter how cool you make yourself
sound in your cover letter, if you don’t tailor it to match what the hiring
manager is looking for, you’re not getting an interview.
To get this right, use the job ad as a
reference when writing your cover letter. Make sure to highlight skills and
achievements that match the job requirements, and you’re good to go.
Since this part of your cover letter is
by far the longest, you should split it into at least two paragraphs.
Here’s what each paragraph should cover:
Explain
Why You’re the Perfect Candidate for the Role
Before you can show the hiring manager
that you’re exactly what they’ve been looking for, you need to know what it is
they’re looking for.
Start by doing a bit of research. Learn
what the most important
skills and responsibilities of the role are according to the
job ad, and focus on any relevant experience you have that matches them.
For example, if you’re applying for the
position of a Facebook Advertiser. The top requirements on the job ad are:
- Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of
$10,000+ / month
- Some skills in advertising on other platforms
(Google Search + Twitter)
- Excellent
copywriting skills
So, in the body of your cover letter,
you need to show how you meet these requirements. Here’s an example of what
that can look like:
Example Tailored to the
Job Ad:
In my
previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I
handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly
Facebook ad budget of $40,000+. As the sole digital marketer at the
company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. I created
the ad copy and images, picked the targeting, ran optimization
trials, and so on.
Other than
Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels,
including:
- Google Search
- Twitter
- Reddit
- Quora
Our example addresses all the necessary
requirements and shows off the candidate’s relevant skills.
Are you a student applying for your
first internship? Learn how to write an internship
cover letter with our dedicated guide.
Explain
Why You’re a Good Fit for the Company
As skilled and experienced as you may
be, that’s not all the hiring manager is looking for.
They also want someone who’s a good fit
for their company and who actually wants to work there.
Employees who don’t fit in with the
company culture are likely to quit sooner or later. This ends up costing the
company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s
annual salary, so hiring managers vet candidates very carefully to
avoid this scenario.
So, you have to convince the hiring
manager that you’re passionate about working with them.
Start by doing some research about the
company. You want to know things like:
- What’s the company’s business model?
- What’s the company’s product or service? Have
you used it?
- What’s
the company’s culture like?
Chances are, you’ll find all the
information you need either on the company website or on job-search websites
like Jobscan or Glassdoor.
Then, pick your favorite thing about the
company and talk about it in your cover letter.
But don’t just describe the company in
its own words just to flatter them. Be super specific—the hiring manager can
see through any fluff.
For example, if you’re passionate about
their product and you like the company’s culture of innovation and independent
work model, you can write something like:
Example Tailored to the
Company:
I’ve
personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that it’s the most innovative
tech I’ve used in years. The features, such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and
Made-Up-Feature #2, were real game changers for the device.
I really admire how Company XYZ strives for excellence in all
its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone who thrives in a
self-driven environment, I truly believe that I’ll be a great match for your
Product Design team.
So, make sure to do your fair share of
research and come up with good reasons why you're applying to that specific
company.
Is the company you want to work for not
hiring at the moment? Check out our guide to writing a letter of interest.
#6. Wrap
It Up and Sign It
Finally, it’s time to conclude your
cover letter.
In the final paragraph, you want to:
- Wrap up any points you couldn't make in the
previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? If there’s any
other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision,
mention it here. If not, just recap your key selling points so far, such
as key skills and expertise.
- Express gratitude. Politely thanking the hiring
manager for their time is always a good idea.
- Finish the cover letter with a call to action.
The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action.
This means you should ask the hiring manager to do something, like call
you and discuss your application or arrange an interview.
- Remember to
sign your cover letter. Just add a formal closing line and sign your name
at the bottom.
Here’s an example of how to
end your cover letter:
Cover Letter Conclusion
Example:
I hope to
help Company X make the most of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love
to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve
your Facebook marketing goals. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the
provided email address or phone number so that we may arrange an interview.
Thank you
for your consideration,
Alice Richards
Feel free to use one of these other
popular closing lines for your cover letter:
- Best
Regards,
- Kind
Regards,
- Sincerely,
- Thank you,
Cover Letter Writing Checklist
Once you’re done with your cover letter,
it’s time to check if it meets all industry requirements.
Give our handy cover letter writing
checklist a look to make sure:
Cover Letter Writing
Checklist
Does
your cover letter heading include all essential information?
- Full Name
- Job Title
- Professional
Email
- Phone
Number
- Location
- Relevant Links
Do
you address the right person?
- The hiring
manager in the company
- Your future
direct supervisor
- The company/department in
general
Does
your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?
- Did you
mention some of your top achievements?
- Did you use
numbers and facts to back up your experience?
- Did you convey enthusiasm
for the specific role?
Do
you show that you’re the right candidate for the job?
- Did you
identify the core requirements for the role?
- Did you show how your
experiences helped you fit the requirements perfectly?
Do
you convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about the company you’re
applying to?
- Did you
identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?
- Did you avoid generic
reasons for explaining your interest in the company?
Did
you conclude your cover letter properly?
- Did you
recap your key selling points in the conclusion?
- Did you end
your cover letter with a call to action?
- Did you use the right formal
closing line and sign your name?
15
Cover Letter Tips
Now you’re all set to write your cover
letter!
Before you start typing, here are some cover letter tips to
help take your cover letter to the next level:
1.
Customize Your Cover Letter for Each
Job. Make sure your cover letter is tailored to the job you're
applying for. This shows you're not just sending generic applications left and
right, and it tells the hiring manager you’re the right person for the job.
2.
Showcase Your Skills. Talk
about how your skills meet the company’s needs. And while your hard skills
should be front and center, you shouldn’t underestimate your soft skills in your
cover letter either.
3.
Avoid Fluff. Don’t
make any generic statements you can’t back up. The hiring manager can tell when
you’re just throwing words around, and it doesn’t make your cover letter look
good.
4.
Use Specific Examples. Instead
of saying you're great at something, give an actual example to back up your
claim. Any data you can provide makes you sound more credible, so quantify your
achievements. For example, give numbers such as percentages related to your
performance and the timeframe it took to accomplish certain achievements.
5.
Research the Company. Always
take time to learn about the company you're applying to. Make sure to mention
something about them in your cover letter to show the hiring manager that
you're interested.
6.
Follow the Application Instructions. If
the job posting asks for something specific in your cover letter or requires a
certain format, make sure you include it. Not following instructions can come
off as unattentive or signal to the hiring manager that you’re not taking the
job seriously.
7.
Use the Right Template and Format. Choose
the right cover
letter format and adapt your cover letter’s look to the
industry you’re applying for. For example, if you’re aiming for a job in Law or
Finance, you should go for a cleaner, more professional look. But if you’re
applying for a field that values innovation, like IT or Design, you have more
room for creativity.
8.
Express Your Enthusiasm. Let
the hiring manager know why you're excited about the job. Your passion for the
specific role or the field in general can be a big selling point, and show them
that you’re genuinely interested, not just applying left and right.
9.
Address Any Gaps. If
there are any employment
gaps in your resume, your cover letter is a great place to mention
why. Your resume doesn’t give you enough space to elaborate on an employment
gap, so addressing it here can set hiring managers at ease—life happens, and
employers understand.
10.
Avoid Quirky Emails. Your
email address should be presentable. It’s hard for a hiring manager to take you
seriously if your email address is “brooklyplaya@gmail.com.” Just
use a firstname.lastname@email.com format.
11.
Check Your Contact Information. Typos
in your email address or phone number can mean a missed opportunity.
Double-check these before sending your application.
12.
Mention if You Want to Relocate. If
you’re looking for a job that lets you move somewhere else, specify this in
your cover letter.
13.
Keep It Brief. You
want to keep your cover letter short and sweet. Hiring managers don’t have time
to read a novel, so if you go over one page, they simply won’t read it at all.
14.
Use a Professional Tone. Even
though a conversational tone isn’t a bad thing, remember that it's still a
formal document. Show professionalism in your cover letter by keeping slang,
jargon, and emojis out of it.
15.
Proofread Carefully. Typos
and grammar mistakes are a huge deal-breaker. Use a tool like Grammarly or QuillBot to double-check your spelling
and grammar, or even get a friend to check it for you.
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