|
Just like a properly written personal CV or resume, cover letters are of the same importance for everyone involved in the job search. Very often, employers read cover letters first, so it is the first and sometimes the only chance to draw their attention to your application. The golden rule of cover letter writing says you have to make your cover letter tailored or addressed for a particular job opening within a particular company. Ideally, every time you send your CV to some potential employer, you prepare the cover letter for this particular case. You cannot have the same cover letter sent out for multiple employers, because this will look like spam and such cover letters will inevitably end up in the waste basket. To avoid such a scenario, let us arm you with some tips on writing an effective cover letter.
Start with your CV
Indeed, before you start writing a cover letter, make sure your most recent CV or resume is updated. It should specify your educational profile and give an overview of previous work experience. If you are applying for a job in the UK, take care to write a British style CV. It is very good to have a tailored CV – the one which highlights your qualifications and skills, as requested by the particular job opening you are about to apply for.
Learn about the company you want to work for
Do some research about the company as well as about the particular job opening you are interested in. This will help you to link your particular skills or experience to the company’s mission, values, or expectations. Besides, knowing exactly what kind of person they are looking for, you can do your best to explain in your cover letter why you consider yourself to be the best candidate for the particular role.
Read the job description carefully
A job description usually lists all the necessary skills and qualifications for applicants to be eligible for a particular position. Read them carefully and define which of them you have and mention them in your cover letter. Also, look at the additional skills requested, if any. They are often mentioned as optional, but having some of them may give you an advantage over other candidates.
Use an appropriate format for your cover letter
There are certain rules about cover letter format. It should contain your name and address at the top of the page as well as the date of the cover letter. It is also recommended that you find out the name of the person in charge of screening cover letters and applicants’ CVs within the employer’s company. Write your letter to this person, like “Dear Mr. Smith”, etc.
Basically, write your cover letter so that it does not exceed one page. Do not duplicate the information from your CV. In the first paragraph, specify why you are writing this cover letter and which job opening you are interested in. In the next one or two paragraphs, highlight your skills or qualifications and explain how they fit the requirements specified by the employer for a particular job opening. Mention your key achievements from the past and show how you will help the company reach its goal. Show that you know some basic facts about the company (you can mention the company’s latest achievements or key market share, or other information you learned during the previous research stage). In the final paragraph mention your attached CV and state you are ready for personal interview to discuss all the details of employment. Do not forget to thank the employer for time he or she spent for reading your cover letter. Finish writing cover letter with “Yours sincerely” or “Regards” and your signature.
Proofread your cover letter
After writing your cover letter, do not forget to proofread it and correct all the grammar, spelling, punctuation, or style mistakes that you find. You can do this by yourself, or make use of our professional advice on cover letter writing.
|
