Writing a Cover Letter That Will Stand Out

How to write a good cover letter that will help you land any job you apply to

Cover letters are highly important for recruiters and hiring managers, thus they’re an extension of a resume and a more personal way to present your skills and show yourself as a good candidate for the role.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into why writing a cover letter matters, what to include in one, and useful cover letter writing tips that will help you find clarity and peace of mind when sending it with your resume.

What Is A Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a major component of your application process thus it is a complement to your resume. It includes extra information that recruiters should know about you, in a brief format of around three or four paragraphs.

The information found in your cover letter should be relevant to the position you’re applying for and should be written in a professional yet convincing tone. You should state why you’re a suitable candidate, highlighting your skills and abilities, as well as what you can bring to the company/business.

This will allow hiring managers to consider you as a serious option, and since not many people bother to write a cover letter, the effort will speak greatly of you.

Writing a cover letter that will stand out is not hard, but it does require a bit of patience and creativity. Keep on reading to write a stunning cover letter that will catch all recruiters’ attention.

Writing A Cover Letter That Will Stand Out

If there’s something we want you to remember from this article is this specific section. Writing a cover letter for the job you’re applying to is fundamental, and can help you get the position even if you don’t have a lot of work experience.

Showing a hiring manager that you put in the effort and wrote a cover letter for this only job matters a lot and can be easily seen through your writing. Using a cover letter template can help with this, but if you’re applying to multiple jobs make sure to edit the information to create a unique and distinguished cover letter.

Don’t Copy-And-Paste Your Resume

Your cover letter is not your resume, and vice-versa. You can name a few things about your resume on your cover letter but you should not base your cover letter entirely on the information found on your resume.

Including new and relevant information that hiring managers won’t see on your resume is highly recommended. Such as things you’re good at, valuable skills related to the job, what you can help within a team, your goals, etc. Make this brief, and straight to the point using professional words and vocabulary.

Be Professional & Friendly

Continuing with the previous idea, it is recommended that you write your cover letter in a professional yet friendly tone that shows your personality. Cover letters are your opportunity to show a bit of who you are before they read your resume or consider calling you for an interview.

Don’t be afraid if your cover letter is just two paragraphs long. What matters is the kind of information you include and how you write it. Remember, less is better, so only use relevant information and write short sentences.

Proofread

Proofreading is key when writing a cover letter, as well as when drafting your resume. A cover letter with grammar errors will be easily ignored by hiring managers, so please spend some time reading your cover letter before sending it.

Plus, it helps with making sure everything can be read smoothly and coherently. You can ask a friend or family member to read your cover letter if you spent a lot of time looking at it and can’t tell whether it is good or bad.

Sometimes, leaving it aside and working on it later is best to find mistakes and read your work with a different mindset.

What To Include In A Cover Letter

Cover letters have a specific outline you should follow, which includes adding your full name and contact information, the date, the name of the company, a greeting for the hiring manager, the content of your cover letter, and a closing salutation.

For a more detailed explanation, check out each section below.

Name & Contact Information

You cannot write a cover letter without including your full name and contact information. Add your name and last name at the top of the cover letter, in bold, followed by your phone number, email address, city, and state below it (you can add all of these horizontally).

Date, Name of The Company & Greeting

Add the date you’re applying, below the section just mentioned. Followed by the name of the company and a greeting, all in its own row.

Use a simple Dear (first name, last name), or a similar greeting phrase.

Cover Letter Content

After the greeting, you can write your cover letter. It should be around 3-4 paragraphs long.

Closing Salutation

In the last paragraph, you can reinstate your interest in the position as well as why you consider yourself a suitable candidate.

Writing A Cover Letter Conclusion

In this post, we talk about how to write a good cover letter that will stand out, including tips and key steps to help you during the process.

No matter the type of job or position you’re interested in, writing a cover letter is always recommended unless the job description specifies that you shouldn’t do it.