10 Tips to Write a High-Impact Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter can be a powerful way to stand out in a busy marketplace. Amongst your resume, CV, and portfolio, this is the one piece of collateral that will allow the hiring manager to get to know you and your background (and story!) better. The cover letter is the missing link between your personal experiences and having your professional experiences written out on your CV.
After reviewing thousands of cover letters for my clients, below are my top tips when writing your cover letter.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BEGIN WRITING YOUR COVER LETTER
Is a cover letter required for the application? If you cannot find the answer, submit a cover letter. It is best to over-prepare than to misrepresent yourself. If possible, you can include your Cover Letter as the first page of your resume or CV (you can include all in one PDF or Word document).
Recognize that a cover letter is NOT a copy and paste from your resume. As we stated above, a cover letter is different than a resume. Do not copy word for word from your resume of your experiences. This will lead to no one wanting to read your cover letter.
Find Out the hiring manager or recruiter's name. This is so that you personalize your letter to one individual person or team. When you write a generic “to whom this may concern” cover letter, the document sounds vague and impersonal. If you do not know the hiring manager’s name, call the HR department and ask who you should write the cover letter to.
Have a clear understanding of why you want this position before you begin writing your cover letter. Inside your cover letter, you will want to focus on articulating to the reader WHY you believe you are an excellent candidate for the position you are applying for.
Have a clear understanding of what makes you a unique fit for this position, and, most importantly, mention why they should interview you. Before you sit down and write your cover letter, have a clear picture of the specific reasons why you want this role. Then when you are writing the cover letter make sure to include these specific details.
Pro Bonus Tip: There is no written rule that you should only apply to jobs that you have each specific qualifications for. Inside your cover letter, you should be featuring your skills, your background, your education, and the unique experiences that will make you a perfect fit for the position even if you do not meet all of the qualifications. The Cover Letter should position you as the BEST candidate for the role.
TIPS FOR WHEN YOU’RE WRITING YOUR COVER LETTER
Paragraph 1: Focus on your introduction & which role you are applying for
Paragraph 2: Detailed description of your background, experiences, personal touch
Paragraph 2-3: Details around why are you interested in this role at this one in particular company
Tying your story together (Paragraph 3): Focus on summarizing, blending, reinforcing why you are the perfect fit
Optional: Copy & Paste Each Qualification from the job description and provide a checklist of each qualification that you have that makes you a perfect fit for the role
Print and sign
Image: High Impact Cover Letter
Most importantly, have fun with your cover letter! In order to stand out and get seen, add your personal touch to this document.
Once you implement these tips, follow up with me and let me know how they work for you!
Cheers to skyrocketing your job application process!
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