No matter what kind of job you’re looking for, or what industry you’re in, there’s one thing that they all have in common. For every job you apply to, you need a stunning cover letter and CV to showcase your skills and experience. Employers don’t have the time to interview everyone who applies for their job. That’s why it’s crucial that you represent yourself well in your cover letter – it’s the employer’s very first impression of you. It’s your first chance to impress them and get yourself an interview.
Let’s take a look at the ways you can make your cover letter absolutely perfect.
1) Proofread
This may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s actually one of the most important. One small mistake could be the reason that you don’t get an interview at your dream job. It’s a good idea to run your cover letter through a grammar and spelling checker. However, you also need to proofread it yourself. If you have another person who can read it over, it can really help to get a fresh point of view.
You want to make sure that your cover letter displays your attention to detail and dedication to getting the job. Here are some common mistakes that you should look out for:
- Typos or small spelling mistakes. You may not even notice these during a read-through, so it’s best to take a break or get a fresh set of eyes to proofread.
- Issues with commas. Misplaced commas, too many commas or too few commas – these are all common mistakes that you should avoid in your cover letter.
- Run-on sentences. Make sure that each sentence is concise and detailed. Don’t ramble on for lines and lines at a time.
2) Make it the Right Length
A cover letter should be no more than one page. A cover letter that is too short may come across rushed, and it won’t convey all the necessary information. A cover letter that is too long may come across as repetitive, and the employer might not even read it all the way through.
Things to look out for when it comes to the length of your cover letter:
- Don’t be repetitive. Ensure that you don’t talk about the same thing in several places of your cover letter. Say what you need to say but say it only once.
- Don’t include waffle. The point of a cover letter is not to hit a certain word count or fill a page. Ensure that everything you include has a purpose.
3) Include the Right Things
You may be confused about what exactly a cover letter should include. It’s important to remember that it’s different to your CV, and it’s different to an interview. The cover letter should complement both these things. Rather than simply re-stating the information on your CV, go into more detail, and add anything that wasn’t expressed there. The cover letter offers a chance for you to introduce yourself and speak in your own voice. It’s here that employers should get a sense of your personality and work ethic.
Here are a few things to include in your cover letter:
- Make it specific. Talk about the exact job that you’re applying for and why you’re applying. Don’t use a generic cover letter. It’s a good idea to pull directly from the job posting or description. Talk about how you fill all the necessary requirements.
- Highlight your qualifications. In your cover letter, it’s a good idea to pick out a couple of your most important or applicable qualifications. Pulling from your CV, you can expand on your experience and knowledge in the field and how it can help you in your new position.
- Express your appreciation. Keep in mind that a cover letter is not a replacement for an interview. Keep it short, and then offer your appreciation for the opportunity.
As you have seen, your cover letter is crucial to your job applications. In a CV, you can lay out all your skills and experience. However, a cover letter offers a place for you to introduce yourself to employers. You need to make sure that your cover letter represents who you are, how good a fit you could be, and why they should give you an interview. To do that, you have to proofread and include all the right information.
In this article, you learned that the keys to writing the perfect cover letter are to keep it concise, don’t drag it on and make sure that your grammar and spelling are perfect.
Now, all you need to do is get out there and start applying for jobs. Good luck!
