Writing a cover letter is essential to standing out from other applicants if you want to make a great first impression on hiring managers. You can write a great cover letter and land your dream job by following our simple guide.
The cover letter is your opportunity to show how your skills and personality fit the job. If you read the job description and understand how your skills fit, your job is to communicate those skills to the employer.
We’ve broken down the cover letter into six steps. Use our guide to write a knock-out cover letter in one day.
1. Research the Job
Every job listing comes with a job description. These job descriptions come with information about who the right candidates are for the position. Use this information in your letter.
Some details on a job description that could be added to your cover letter include:
Able to work in a fast-paced environment.
The employer is looking for someone who is self-motivated, mentally flexible, and able to take on large workloads.
Works well in team environments.
The employer wants someone who can communicate and work well with a large number of people.
Employee is self-motivated
Employers want to know that candidates applying for the position can manage themselves and help the company towards achieving its mission.
2. Outline your Cover Letter Before Writing
A common question for many applicants is, “how long should a cover letter be”.
We recommend your cover letter have at least four paragraphs with around four sentences for each paragraph. The word count should be around 300 words. Short and sweet cover letters are far more appealing to busy hiring staff.
Your cover letter outline should look like something like this:
Dear *Name of Employer (Be sure to find the person who is hiring you),
-
- Introduction
- Why am I perfect for the position?
- Body Paragraph One
- What anecdote can I share with my employer to let them know about my experience in my field?
- Body Paragraph Two
- What credentials, certificates, or degrees can I show to my potential employer to communicate to them my expertise in my field?
- Conclusion
- What’s my goal? — (Hint: It’s to get hired for the position!)
- Formal Closing
- Signature
- Introduction
3. Write the Introduction
Your introductory paragraph is where you captivate the hiring manager’s attention. The first set of lines should draw the hiring manager in and showcase your personality.
Lead with who you are and why you are perfect for the position. Be straightforward with your goals, discuss your desire to get hired, and showcase why you’re a good candidate for the position.
The hiring individual is looking for people who not only want a job but also has a vested interest in what the employer does.
4. Body Paragraphs Should Tie in Your Experience
After writing the introduction, you can talk about your experience.
The paragraphs following the introduction should be concise and to the point, proving to the hiring manager why you deserve the job in as few sentences as possible.
The first body paragraph should relate your experiences with why you’re perfect for the position. Bring up an event or a time in your life when you excelled at performing a task that’s similar to what’s required in the job description.
The second body paragraph can showcase your list of achievements and let your employers know why you’re a great candidate for the position. You can add a bullet list of achievements that tie into the job.
5. Conclusion: Finish with a Punch
The conclusion is where you tie it all together. This short paragraph should be one to three sentences. The focus is the actual role you’re applying for. Clearly and strongly say what you will bring to the job and company.
Here’s an example of how that could look: “I would love the opportunity to showcase my expertise as an ‘XYZ role’ and help ‘XYZ’ company grow their business.”
After this, thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration and finish with a formal closing. Formal closings use exit greetings like:
- Sincerely
- Best Regards
- Respectfully
6. Polish Your Letter
With most of the work done, make sure the letter is in order. Include your name, address, contact information (email, phone number), and relevant items like a website or portfolio.
Make sure the overall design is easy to read, that the paragraphs are spaced evenly and that you have no typos in the text. Read the cover letter out loud to catch awkward phrasing.
Let’s review your cover letter:
- Introduction with a hook.
- Body paragraph about you fit the job.
- Body paragraph about how the job/company fits you.
- Conclusion that shows what you bring to the role.
Next time you’re applying for a job, use our guide for writing a cover letter to help you draft a persuasive letter that will help you land the position! Bookmark our page for later.
