7 Tips for Writing a Successful Cover Letter: As a student who wants to apply for a job, you will have to learn how to write a cover letter. Cover letters matter, especially if you don’t have a recruiting agency or you don’t know anyone in the company.
If you write this letter properly, it will grab the reader’s attention. The cover letter is your opportunity to show that you’re qualified for the job and give the reader a glimpse of your personality. Explore the tips for writing a good cover letter below in the article.
Read Also: How to Write a CV?
7 Tips for a Successful Cover Letter
Content of Job Posting
Research before you write
One of the most important steps you need to do when applying for a job is to research the prospect company. If you don’t do this, how would you know if you’re qualified for the job? Get all the information you can about the company before writing your cover letter.
Tailor the information you gathered to the culture, operations, and mission of the company. You can find information about prospective companies in several ways. You can check the company’s website, go through articles about the company, and visit the company’s social media page.
For the latter, Linkedln can be particularly useful for learning more about the hiring practices and mission of a company. Aside from this, you can also search for news articles that feature the company for more details.
Use the proper format
Using the proper format for a cover letter is essential. The letter header of a professional cover letter should include:
- Your name
- Contact details like your phone number and email address
- The date when you wrote the letter
- The hiring manager’s name and professional title
- The company’s name and address
You may also add the following information to your cover letter:
- Your professional title (if you have one)
- Your address
- Links to professional websites (if any)
- Your professional social media accounts
Avoid clichés while writing
When writing your cover letter, you should try to avoid using clichés. The same thing applies when writing a research paper, essay, or other types of coursework. Since you need the cover letter to help you get a job, you need to write it professionally. If you need help to write an original cover letter that will capture the reader’s attention, hire a professional writer at EduBirdie. This is a professional writing service that offers the best outputs when it comes to written work.
Share and confirm contact information
The top of your cover letter should contain basic details about yourself. This will make it easier for the hiring manager to get in touch with you if they choose to. If you’re sending a printed copy, write the name and address of the recipient at the top.
This will ensure that the recipient will get it. If you’re sending the letter through e-mail, you may skip this step. Just verify the accuracy of the recipient’s address by checking the job posting again.
Talk about yourself
Use the opening statement of your cover letter to introduce yourself. This is important when writing a cover letter for UK University or when applying for a job. In the first paragraph, state the reason why you’re writing and how you learned about the job offer. Also, express your sincere interest in the position.
You should consider your education as a valuable asset. Highlighted this at the start of your letter. Relate what course you’re studying and when you will graduate. If you have any academic distinctions, mention these too so that you can make a good impression.
The next two paragraphs are where you explain why your education and skills will make you a good match for the position. If you have any relevant experience through summer jobs or internships, mention these too.
Let your personality shine
A list of qualifications isn’t good enough as a basis for an employer to hire you. Employers want to hire somebody they will enjoy working with too. Your cover letter is the perfect way to explain what made you feel interested in the position.
This will give the prospective employer a glimpse of the kind of employee you will be. Maintain professionalism by avoiding unnatural language. Write in a formal but concise way. You can also explain your personal interests related to the job, whether it’s in work or the culture of the company.
End it strongly
It’s the final blow that always matters and a cover letter is no exception. Sadly, most of the people end up putting in all of their energy at the beginning and the body of the cover letter and do not focus much on the concluding part. This costs them dearly. To make it a worthwhile ending, you need to remember two key things – summing up the most relevant part from the body of the cover letter (strengths and value addition that you can offer) and then finally, ending it with a thank you to the hiring manager or the concerned person.
While summing up, do not sound repetitive and use new and fresh words to send out an impression that you are writing it seriously and you know your job very well. Same way, while thanking the concerned person, use the best words and not simply say ‘thanks’. That would come out as rude and spoil the entire hard work done throughout. Do not sound pushy and ‘order’ and interview. Rather, sound polite and make it actionable where the other person is compelled to think of interviewing you because of your modesty and your job-related strengths.
Conclusion
The key to success in getting that first job is a strong cover letter. This means you have to meticulously go over your letter, making sure it contains the right information and format. Take your time in composing it and in the letter, let your personality shine.
Author’s Bio:
Helen Birk prepares user guides and writes technical documentation for a tech startup that develops educational apps and software. She’s also a very good part-time academic writer and loves working on thesis and dissertations. Her free time is for landscaping activities, digital painting, and doing yoga.