Job searching is a long strenuous process. For every one hundred jobs, ninety-nine come back as a discouraging “No.”
However, there is always that bit of luck where someone is interested in you. Great! Finally, after weeks of searching for jobs, you found one!
You have done everything right in this process. From having an organized and detailed resume to training for every possible interview question out there. Now, all you need is…sigh…
The cover letter.
Now, let’s all take a step back and understand that cover letters are challenging. They are no fun to write, and it never feels like it’s good enough.
But don’t worry because Under30CEO is going to help you create the perfect cover letter. Every business in the world will be wanting you after this letter.
What is the purpose of a cover letter?
The cover letter is typically a one-page document that you submit along with your resume. A cover letter is to provide a brief introduction of yourself and your career background. An average cover letter should be approximately 250-400 words.
When you submit a good cover letter, this can get you into the job interview. If you submit a bad one, well…don’t fret. It happens.
When you have a cover letter, remember a cover letter is to be a supplement to your resume. You don’t want it to outshine your resume. So, try not to repeat what is already in your resume.
If you are not a professional writer, that is also okay. As long as it has good grammar and spelling, it is the content that matters most. All you need is this format below:
- Header: This includes contact information.
- Greetings to the reader.
- Beginning paragraph to grab the attention. Here, list your primary achievements.
- A middle paragraph that tells the hiring manager why you are the best choice for the job.
- The end paragraph should restate why you are best for the company.
- A polite and formal closing.
In all, that doesn’t sound bad. Plus, you are talking about you. Therefore, it should be easy to write about, right?
Ready to write the perfect cover letter?
Now you know what the cover letter is and its purpose. You are now ready to begin writing the cover letter.
Pick your cover letter template.
To know that you are a serious candidate, the hiring manager will want to make sure that you give a good first impression. A great way to look professional and have a good first impression is to pick out the right cover letter template.
There are many that you can find on the Internet. However, you don’t necessarily have to use a template. You can also just write it in your own way. Though it is recommended that you still have it formatted in the form of a cover letter.
Begin writing the cover letter with a header.
To begin your cover letter writing, you should start with the header. This includes your information such as:
- Your Full Name
- Phone Number
- Date
- Name of the Hiring Manager and Their Title
- Name of the Company
Depending on the job, consider also putting the following for your header:
- Any Social Media Profiles (LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.)
- Your Personal Website. (Many writers and graphic designers often have their own website to showcase their work.)
Now, there are things that you should not put in the header:
- Your Full Address
- Any Unprofessional Email Addresses
Greet the manager.
To show how much this means to you, a greeting to the manager is one way to go about it.
If you want to know the hiring manager’s name, you can search for it on sites such as LinkedIn. Still, there are times when you don’t know the hiring manager, and that is okay. Use other generic greetings such as:
- To whom it may concern:
- Dear hiring manager:
Write your paragraphs.
The Opening Paragraph
Remember, you want to have a good first impression. Recruiters will get hundreds of applications. Not every single one will be read, so make sure that you can catch their attention.
Avoid being generic and, instead, get into some details of your best achievements.
Second Paragraph
Now you have to explain why you are the best person for the job position. To really knock it out of the park, look at what requirements are needed for the job. Then, in the letter, explain what you are able to do.
Final Paragraph
Finally, you need to explain why you are good for the entire company. Recruiters want to make sure that you are a good fit for the company culture.
So, like above, you should also do research about the company and what it is like. Make sure you are coming up with good reasons why you would be applying.
In the final paragraph, you should also make sure that you have gotten all points across, thank the recruiter, and a call to action.
Add a formal closing.
Finally, you’re done. However, you need a formal closing such as:
- Best regards,
- Thank you,
- Sincerely,
And that’s it!
Make sure to go over the cover letter for any grammatical errors and have a friend take a look at it. But you did it! You wrote a cover letter! Now, you just have to see if they accept it. Good luck!
