An interview is one of the most crucial parts of a person’s life. For that, you must make a good resume to impress your interviewer. Let us assume you have prepared a perfect resume, and you have even short-listed the best jobs you want to apply for. Moreover, you have also prepared all the questions you will ask at the end of the interview. But then, before sending your application, suddenly you remember that the job ad needs a cover letter.
Now you must be wondering how to write a cover letter for a job?
Don’t worry! Many other people are facing the same problem. That’s why we are here to help you with such a problem. Writing a cover letter for a job is a lot easier than you might think.
In this blog, we are going to guide you on how to write a cover letter for a job that gets you the job you want. But before discussing that let me explain what a cover letter is and why it is important.
What is a Cover Letter and why is it important?
A cover letter is a one-page paper that you send alongside your resume. Its objective is to introduce you and quickly explain your experience and professional background. Your cover letter should, on average, contain between 200 to 400 words. A cover letter mostly supports the content of your curriculum vitae. Your Resume emphasizes your abilities and qualifications and demonstrates your personality and why you are well suited to the organization.
While you might think it is old-fashioned, cover letters are still needed. A great cover letter can spark an HR manager’s attention and get them to read your Resume.
Whereas, if your bad cover letter is bad, it will directly affect your Resume. In short, your interviewer will take less interest in seeing your Resume. So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s necessary to know how to write a cover letter for a job.
Things To Keep In Mind While Writing Cover Letter
However, keep in mind that a cover letter is an addition to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you don’t have to repeat whatever you have included in your resume. If you’re writing a cover letter for a job for the first time, then it might seem pretty tough. But as I said above, we got your cover. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:
| Header – Input contact informationGreeting the Interviewer Opening paragraph – This is to grab your reader’s attention with 2-3 of your best achievements Second paragraph – Tell them what makes you the perfect applicant for the job Third paragraph – Explain what makes you a suitable match for the organization Formal closing |
How To Write a Cover Letter For a Job
1. Start with your contact information.
You should start with your contact information at the top of your cover letter. Some people might center their name and address at the top of the page. Here are the parts of a cover letter:
- First and last name
- Email address
- Contact number
- Linkedin profile link (optional)
- Portfolio or website (optional)
2. After that write company’s contact information
- First and last name of the person you’re writing to
- Company address
- Company contact number
- email address
3. Greet the hiring manager
If you can address your cover letter to the reader using their name, do it.
Greetings like “Dear Sir or Madam” is good. But if you are not sure about their name, then for, e.g., you are applying for a sales manager post you can just write “Dear marketing director.”
4. Include your purpose to apply.
Write an opening paragraph that covers the position you are applying for. You should also incorporate a declaration about your interest in the role and company.
5. Write a second paragraph about your experience.
A short overview of your position-related background should be your second or main paragraph. Include here important achievements, qualifications, and skills that make you especially well-functioning.
Emphasize one or two and give your achievements, including evident effects. Be careful about the keywords in the job role and include those you discover in the body of your cover letter. Only information about your last (one or two) work experience should be included.
6. Tell them why you’re best for the job.
Once your skills and background have been included, you should describe why you are well suited to your position (for example: “My propensity to agree with anybody and my expertise addressing retail customer problems makes me perfect for this job.”)
7. End with your signature.
In the end, sign your name after a closing line like ‘All the best or ‘Sincerely’. By following these steps, you can write a simple, engaging cover letter that shows companies why you are best for the position.
Things to avoid when writing a cover letter for a job
Here are some things you must avoid when you are writing a cover letter for a job:
| Using the same cover letter for every application Writing without first researching the position and company Including unnecessary work experience Not able to highlight your most important skills Repeating the same information as your resume Talking about salary expectations Not optimizing your cover letter with keywords Failing to give support for claims Using the wrong tone Forget to proofread before final submission |
Conclusion
We have included all the information regarding how to write a cover letter for a job. Moreover, we have also mentioned the details about why writing a cover letter is important. Thus, we hope that our blog will become very helpful for you and will clear all your doubts regarding the cover letter for a job. Still, if you have any confusion regarding how to write a cover letter for a job or thinking why can’t I get a job, then you can get in touch with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a cover letter be?
Keep it short and simple. A cover letter is meant to summarize your resume, so don’t write more than one page(200-400 words).
Should you sign a cover letter?
No, there is no need to sign a cover letter. However, if you’re mailing a hard copy as a section of your application, you should sign your cover letter because it requires little effort.