Crafting a Cover Letter
If a resume is the formal, objective part of your application, then a cover letter is its foil, a highly-subjective attempt to point hiring managers towards the specificities of your ability. A cover letter is your opportunity to differentiate yourself from other qualified applicants by honing in on what values and skills make you the best candidate for a specific role and the best fit with the company. On a purely practical level, this requires more than just checking all the technical boxes. It requires creativity, engagement, and critical thinking.
Though it does require checking all the technical boxes. To be taken seriously, your cover letter must include the following: the correct name and title of the company or hiring manager you’re writing to, the position you’re applying for and when you saw it, the identity of anyone who referred you for the position, and your contact information. Consider looking online for professional cover letter templates, and always keep your letters under a page! Hiring managers sort through countless applications daily, and they’re certain to discard anything too long or indulgent.
Unfortunately, this is the point where most cease honing their cover letter skills. But to really stand out, you need to consider your unique qualifications, the unique attitude of the prospective employer, and the nature of the industry you’re entering. Then, think critically about how to bring all these factors into alignment.
As a very first step, you should read as much company communication as possible. Look at their website. Click around. Look into their latest news. Consider the diction they use. Is it formal or friendly? What audience are they appealing to? Are they in a more corporate industry, like law or accounting, or one with less stringent norms and a greater emphasis on creativity?
All these factors will influence how your cover letter should read, and what qualities might be considered desirable. As an example, I know a young writer who, when he writes cover letters, often highlights varied sentence structure and figurative language. He aims to exemplify the breadth of his writing skill, using the cover letter itself as a writing sample. Though this is a rather extreme example, you should always be thinking critically about how your language, content, and style will most appealingly demonstrate your aptitude for a role.
Remember: Hiring managers (and the software they use) go through applications at a breathless pace, and all you want to do with a cover letter is pique interest. Find creative ways to assert your identity, and you will find great success. Find intelligent ways to market yourself, and employers will be drawn to you. Think at great length about your skills, your experiences, and your values. Think about the position you’re applying for: Do you and this employer align? Howso? How most of all? What makes you the most invaluable of applicants? What do you alone bring to the table? Spend your cover letter answering these questions.
And reach out at www.idealinterviewco.com to get an expert pair of eyes on your cover letter or any other application material. Having a competitive edge is that easy! Don’t shy away from taking advantage of it.