Cover letters are often neglected; believe it or not, if your cover letter isn’t up to scratch, they won’t even look at your professionally designed CV. It won’t even matter that you have used one of our incredible templates.
For example, starting with “Howzit” is not going to earn you any points, nor is “Please hire me; I am desperate.” You only have a minute or so to either capture their attention or have them raise their eyebrows and hit the delete button. And in an over-saturated market, you need to be able to differentiate yourself from your competition.
But don’t take our word for it. Jodi Glickman, a communications expert and author of Great on the Job, says, “It’s your best chance of getting the attention of the HR person or hiring manager and an important opportunity to distinguish yourself from everyone else.”
Research, research
Research your prospective employer so that you understand their culture, which then gives you the best idea in terms of tone. In addition, read through the job description carefully so that you can highlight one of two skills or attributes they are looking for. Like your CV, your cover letter should be tailored to the specific role and company.
Create an impact
Creating an impact from the get-go is crucial. Starting with, “I am applying for ….” is boring, to say the least. It is a much better idea to rather say, “I am a marketing professional with more than 5 years of experience looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in new ways. I would love to bring my enthusiasm and experience to your dynamic team.” Remember, it is always best to address your letter to someone as opposed to saying, “To Whom It May Concern.”
Be enthusiastic
Companies want employees who want to work for them and understand their business. A great way to do this can be by simply adding a sentence, for example, “I would love to work for your company as you are considered a trendsetter and industry leader.”
On a final note
Long cover letters, just like CVs, won’t hold anyone’s attention; your best bet is to keep it short. There are times when you aren’t able to submit a cover letter, especially with online applications, but we recommend sending a follow-up email highlighting a few key points.
As we say, you only have one chance at creating a great first impression, so make sure your cover letter is succinct and professional, just like your CV!
