Ask around your friends, colleagues and even your bosses and you’ll get a mixed response to the question ‘should I include a cover letter?’. Some people see the cover letter as passé, others as the key ingredient to getting an interview. As for bosses, the response can be equally mixed, some don’t care for the cover letter, some won’t consider a CV without one.
As a general rule of thumb, we would recommend always sending a cover letter to accompany your CV. If a boss doesn’t read it, what have you lost? If a boss doesn’t look at your CV because you haven’t done a cover letter, then you have lost.
A cover letter can act as a call to action for employers to actually give your CV the time of day. Many job vacancies receive numerous applications which can make employers look for quick ways to asses your application rather than painstakingly reading each one line by line. The cover letter does this by explaining to the employer your strengths, why you are suited to the job and what you can bring to the table. If those few paragraphs pop out enough, it will encourage them to take a look at your CV, earning you that coveted interview.
Here are a few tips to help you craft that all important covering letter.
It’s Not a Condensed Version of Your Resume
Your cover letter should not just be a rehash of your CV, an employer will get to that later. Draw attention to the fact you are capable of doing the job by highlighting specific skills and experience that make you an ideal candidate. Explain what those skills can offer the company and what benefits they will bring. Highlight skills and qualities that are not mentioned on your CV and fill in any blanks that may exist. It’s also beneficial to express your interest in the company itself, mention any upcoming projects you feel you could add value to, explain how you would like to be part of the team that helps the company grow.
Write For the Job You’re Applying For
Generic cover letters stand out like a sore thumb. Many people will simply write a batch cover letter that is sent along with CV’s for jobs. The problem with these types of letters is that they seldom highlight your key skills that are specific to the job in question. A cover letter should be crafted each time you make an application and be tailored to the company you are writing to. This way you can highlight why you are the best suited to the position. Don’t forget to back up any claims with facts and figures if possible.
Use Keywords
A number of employers will use AI and filtering software to scan applications for keywords. This makes using keywords from the job advert critically important. When writing your cover letter, be sure to include key phrases and words that described the skills/qualities required by the company. This way, any filtering software will match your cover letter and resume to the preferred requirements’ of the company.
Keep It Professional and Make Sure You Proof Read it Too
A cover letter not only needs to contain relevant information but needs to look the part too. It isn’t a quick note your sending to a friend so make sure you write it the same way you would write any professional letter at work. Use simple, clean fonts like Ariel or Calibri, stick to a standard font size (10 or 12 point) and try not to write more than three or four paragraphs.
Once you are happy with your content and layout comes the proof read. No one gets an interview from a sloppily written letter riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. It shows a lack of organisation and will reflect badly on you. Don’t rely solely on a spell checker either, whilst manager and manger are both words, they don’t have the same meaning. No employer is going to take you seriously if your claiming to be a water trough. Once you have written your cover letter, take a break. After hours of pouring over your letter, it can become difficult to spot errors due to fatigue, both mentally and visually. Come back after resting a re-read your letter, get a friend to read it too if you can, it never hurts to have an extra set of eyes.
So remember, keep it short and concise and highlight the best you have to offer, what you can offer them and what you believe you can achieve together. If it looks good and reads good, you’re already half way through that interview door.
