If you are hoping to land your dream job, the most important part of that introduction is your cover letter. Without a cover letter, you lose the opportunity to explain your skills and achievements. You’ve already done half the work- now is the time to follow through with the detail on the understanding of the position!
Why should you tailor your cover letter?
Now is an excellent time to introduce your skills and talents by enticing the reader of your resume with your sales pitch. You are in fact, selling yourself like a product. You have to be able to market yourself.
It’s important to demonstrate your interest by standing out in the application pile. You can make a great first impression by displaying your attention to detail. Writing a great cover letter shows that you’re passionate and willing to put the work into whatever is passed your way. It’s a guaranteed way to stand out.
Research the company you are applying to
To be able to get the attention of the person reading, you need to go a little bit further than just writing about yourself. Simply writing about you can easily come across as generic. You want to make it clear that you are sending the cover letter only to them. To do so, you need to connect on a common topic: the company!
You can demonstrate your interest in the company by writing about it. Don’t make it a history lesson though. You need to connect with the company you’re applying to with relevant comments, tying your points to your skills and interests. If it’s a well-established company, it would be helpful to look up recent news clippings or articles to show you’re familiar and up to date with current events.
If you’re trying to learn more about the position you’re applying for, a good place to start is the company website. Try and understand the mission statement and values of the company and how this relates to you. It can also be helpful to understand what kind of services or products they offer. You can also go the extra mile by knowing who their major competitors are.
You should be able to list five reasons why you want to work at this company based on the research you have done. If you can’t, you need to work harder to find the information you need.
While you won’t need to reference all your research in your cover letter, familiarizing yourself with the company will help you construct better points that relate back to the role and the organization.
Who will read your cover letter?
It’s important to address your cover letter to the appropriate person. Sometimes you might need to go the extra step to figure out who will be interviewing you. If it has been left off the job posting, consider it a test to see if you’re the person that made an effort to find out.
Check out the company website, paying attention to the meet the team or about us pages. If you’re still not sure who to address your cover letter to, just call the organization to find out.
Only if you’re left with no other option should you address your letter “To Sir/Madam”. Remember, you want to make it look like you put some effort into it.
Key skills
You need to understand the skills required for the role so that the potential employer finds value in you. If you can demonstrate your skills, your prospective employer is more likely to consider you a positive match for the job position. Therefore, using the keywords and skills listed in the job description to tailor your cover letter is a must.
For example, if you’re applying for a sales manager position, you will most likely need to demonstrate your sales performance, vision and motivation, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Use the relevant skills and experiences listed on your resume as a starting point and expand on a few in your cover letter to show that you fit the bill.
The secret is your approach
The cover letter is not about you. If they want to read about you, employers can read your resume. The cover letter is in fact about the job and how you are a good fit. It’s crucial that you demonstrate your understanding of the job role, the company’s needs, and how you fit into that mix.
You should avoid talking too much about what you’re currently doing. Instead, focus on the job posted for details and show why you’re a match for the role and would make a great hire.
Need to go back to basics? Here’s how to write a cover letter employers will love.
