What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a single page with few paragraphs written briefly about the career’s candidate, skills and qualification, matching this information to the job position applied.

 What makes your cover letter more interesting than others is giving examples about achieving the experience and outcomes from your past roles.

The Importance of a Cover Letter

In some applications, the cover letter is “optional”, however, it is highly recommended to present it once you apply for a job position. The key for writing a high standard cover letter is paying attention to the requirements described on the job post, writing down exactly what the employer is looking for, bringing up together all your experience, skills and qualification.

Your cover letter, in many cases, can be the most important part of your application. Most hiring managers spend all of 5 seconds browsing each application. You need to dress your cover letter to impress. It’s hard to sell yourself on a piece of paper, but you can do it. Your days of sending out generic cover letters are over. It’s time to give hiring managers a break.

Let’s learn step by step to craft a 5-Star Cover Letter!

Step 1: Greeting

Only begin a cover letter addressing your letter to 'The employer' and use 'Sir/Madam' in the greeting if the company doesn’t give out staff names and details. Generic salutations often signal to potential employers that you lack the initiative to locate the appropriate contact. If a job listing does not include the hiring manager’s name, call the company’s receptionist and explain the position you are applying for to see if he or she can help you fill in the blank.

Step 2: Opening Paragraph

The first paragraph is to introduce yourself briefly and state the position you are applying for. At this stage, you should say the reason you are the ideal candidate for that job position. It is important to mention the name of the person who has referred you here, if this is the case. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to make a strong statement that shows how valuable you are to the employer.

Step 3: Qualifications and Skills

The second and third paragraphs are to describe your skills and qualifications. The main point here is to show how your skills and qualifications will meet the employer’s needs. At this stage, it is important to identify what the employer requires on the job description, to attend to their expectations.

Step 4: Professional Experience

What makes your cover letter more interesting than others is giving examples about how you have achieved the experience and outcomes from your past roles. This paragraph is designated to show how you can contribute and how you can fit into the organisation. It is important to research the company to enhance the positive points here and know why you want to work there. Talking about specific company’s points makes them conclude that you are really into who they are and what they are doing.

Step 5: Closing Paragraph

The last paragraph is to thank for the opportunity, to let them know that you are completely free and able to answer any further question and arrange an interview in a suitable time for both.

Find out more content like this in our section Career Advice.