Cover letters are an important part of the application process as they are your first point of contact with the hiring manager.
The main aim of the covering letter is to sell yourself as the perfect candidate for the role and invite the hiring manager to call you in for an interview.
An engaging cover letter is your opportunity to shine and stand out from the crowd and can make the difference between getting shortlisted or cut from the application process. Unless specifically asked not to submit a covering letter, we would always recommend including one for all the jobs you apply for.
So what makes a great cover letter?
One of the most obvious but also most commonly forgotten parts of a great cover letter is the structure. Any good cover letter should start with the date and your contact details. Your cover letter should ideally be addressed to the person who will be reading your application, which in most cases is the hiring manager. If you are unsure who the hiring manager is then play it safe with a generic title like ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’. Avoid titles like dear; Sirs, Recruitment Team or HR Department.
While it is good to highlight all your great skills and abilities on your cover letter, it shouldn’t exceed one page. You are only trying to engage the reader and inspire them to open your resume to learn more about you. Cover letters should follow these three basic rules:
- Introduction paragraph: Your first paragraph should identify the role you are applying for and express your interest in the position.
- Body: This is where you can sell yourself and demonstrate why you are the best candidate for this role. Make your points sharp and to the point using relevant examples or key achievements that link your experience to the key requirements of the role that you are applying for.
- Closing paragraph: Thank the reader for their time and invite them to meet with you to allow you to discuss your suitability and reiterate why you are the best person for the role. Finish off with a call to action for example “I look forward to hearing from you”.
Remember while it can be time consuming tailoring your cover letter for every job you apply for, it will be worth your investment in the long run as it demonstrates you have a genuine interest in the role you are applying for. Hiring managers will know if they have received a generic cover letter, so take the time to customise each application and show your enthusiasm for the job and deliver them a cover letter they won’t forget.
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