Mar
13 How To Write A Good Cover Letter When Applying For A Job
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Lil Miss P Continues here job finding series with tips on how to write a good cover letter when applying for a job:
They say it’s not what you say but how you say it, but when it comes to job hunting and potentially nailing an interview, it’s a little bit of both. I’ve talked about the importance of marketing yourself and your skills in the past while in an interview. Today is all about writing cover letters and emails when applying for jobs. Whether you’ve been blessed with great writing skills or the ability to communicate and articulate things well or not, you can craft a useful, effective and professional cover letter or email by following just a few important steps.
1. Speak Their Language.
Whether its human resources or the head of a department looking to fill a position at a company, everyone is looking for the same thing: To find the best person who fits the job to help the company operate. A lot of job seekers make the mistake of telling employers what they’re looking for but the smartest thing to do is think about it from the employer’s position and talk about what might be important to them. For example, instead of saying that you’re looking for a position that can help you advance, be sure to include plenty about why your skills, talent, experience and personality fit the work. If it’s a position at a manufacturing plant or factory, talk about your keen attention to detail and punctuality. If it’s a secretary or management role in an office, share you’re great talent for keeping track of things, multi-tasking and enjoying interesting daily challenges. By talking about what you bring to the table versus the other way around, you will set yourself apart from other candidates — and potentially nail an interview as a result.
2. Aim To Create Three Paragraphs.
Cover emails can be slightly shorter than traditional printed cover letters, which look odd if there isn’t enough to fill out the sheet of paper. A good rule of thumb in general is to divide the letter into three short paragraphs, each with three to five sentences. The first is your intro — who you are and why you are contacting them. Reference specifically the job that you are going to be applying for and where you found it. Companies can be hiring for upwards of a hundred positions depending on their size so you will want to reference it in the first paragraph. In the second paragraph, share why you fit the job and what you bring to the company. Talk about your specific skills that match the job as referenced above, always trying to relate it back to the position. And third, wrapping things up with how you’d love to be considered for the job, are available to interview or have a phone call and can provide references if needed, etc. Always let them know that your resume follows. If you are applying via email, it’s a good idea to copy and paste your resume in the email as well as attaching it just in case someone has trouble opening it.
3. Be Sure To Be Polite, Professional And To The Point
Since your cover letter/email is a reflection of you and your ability to do great work, it is very important that you say what you say carefully and most of all, watch punctuation, spelling, language, etc. Always be sure to spell and grammar check before you send anything out. You might also want to have someone else take a look at it, either a friend, family member or career counselor, pastor, etc. It never hurts to have second eyes take a look at what you’re writing — lots of major writers do this even if they’re ultra experienced and accomplished. Take your time and really work at saying what you’d like to say with your best foot forward. The good news is, generally once you’ve written a good cover letter or email once, it can be tweaked and repurposed for pretty much every job you apply for thereafter. Just make a few changes to fit the various positions you’re applying for and you’ll be good to go.
While the job effort can be a little tedious, there are a lot of things you can get out of the way early on that you can use repeatedly — like a great resume and cover letter or email, references list, etc. After you’ve sent your resume and cover letter or email, it’s okay to follow up a short two weeks or so later to check on status. This can show your professionalism and attention to detail, as well as that you give an effort. This can help you stand out among other people applying for the job and potentially land an interview.
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