Writing a cover letter is an essential part of almost all job applications. Not only do you have to make sure that you sell your skills and abilities to recruiters, but you also have to do it in a clear and concise way, which ultimately persuades the reader to want to meet you.
A cover letter is a document that you send with your CV (traditionally as a cover). However, it differs from a CV in that rather than being a written overview of your skills and experience, it is specifically written with the job you are applying for in mind. allowing you to highlight certain areas that you think would make it suitable for the role you want to fill.
Write a new cover letter for each job
Yes, it is much quicker and easier to take the cover letter you wrote for your last application, change the company name, and submit it. But most employers want to see that you are really excited about the specific position and company, which means creating a personalized letter for each position you apply for.
While it's okay to recycle a few strong sentences and phrases from one cover letter to the next, don't even think about sending a 100% generic letter. If the company suspects that you are looking for massive work, your application will go to the trash.
What should a cover letter include?
Although cover letters are much less rigid than CVs, there are still some things that you will always have to try to include. Here are some essential things you should try to cover in your cover letter:
- Your essential personal data
- The name of the company and the person you are addressing
- Where did you find the vacancy
- Why are you interested in that job?
- Why do you think you are suitable for the job
- What you can do for the company
- Closing statements (appreciate the time they have given you)
How to structure a cover letter
There are no set rules for writing a cover letter, in fact, it is important that it embodies your personality and the way you do things at work. You need to make sure the letter is good to impress the recruiters. Here are some examples to make it easier for you to structure and write the perfect cover letter.
Beginning of the letter
In this part you will have to write why you are contacting the company. What is your goal. This paragraph should be brief and clear, explain why you have made the contact. You can tell them where you found the job offer and if it was from someone who has advised you.
Example: I would like to apply for the journalist position that is currently advertised at your company. I am attaching my CV so you can consider it.
Second paragraph
In the second paragraph, you will have to talk about why you are the right person for the job. You will need to briefly describe what your professional academic qualifications are so they know why they are suitable for that role. You have to make sure you refer to each of the skills listed in the job description.
Example: As you can see in my attached CV, I have more than four years of experience in the sector and I am sure that my knowledge and experience could contribute great things to the job. My accumulated skills in this time make me the perfect candidate for the position.
Third paragraph
In this section you will have to talk about what you can do and contribute to the company. It is your opportunity to emphasize what you can contribute. Summarize your career goals and expand on the strongest points of your CV. Support all your skills so they see that you are fully qualified for that job.
Example: In my previous position as a journalist at company X, I was responsible for increasing the client base, I increased the company's income thanks to my work. (And briefly describe what your work was and if necessary you can include names of former bosses or managers who can speak of you well in case you need references of any kind to be able to give truth and credibility to the words that you are transmitting to them).
Four paragraph
In the fourth paragraph you must reiterate your interest in the role and why you are the perfect person for that job (as you are reiterating the information, do it so that the words are attractive to the reader). It is also a good time to indicate to the company that you would like to meet with the employer for a interview.
Example: I trust that I can have a positive response to my application and thus be able to have a formal interview with the employer of the company. With my previous experience and knowledge, I am sure I can start actively contributing to your business as soon as possible and have a good working relationship. Thanks for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.
The closing of the cover letter
Sign the cover letter with "Sincerely" at the end followed by your name. This way you will be signing the letter with authority and firmness.
Remember that it is essential that you do not write the same letter to all companies. The company must feel that you have informed yourself well about the job you want to access, and above all, that you know the company well. That everything you say is true and that if they have doubts, they can have a reference contact to talk about your work skills with someone who knows you well.
In this way, the company will have more confidence in your application over any other application that is presented to it and they will be able to take you into consideration. A cover letter gives a strong boost to your CV so it is important that you take care of the details. A) Yes, You will be able to access that job that interests you so much and make it yours.