Help to Write a Cover Letter: Learn from Expert Writers

A cover letter is a professionally written document that is submitted along with a resume for a job application. It explains to the employer about the applicant’s interest in a certain job or company as well as their suitability for the position in question. A professional cover letter should highlight the skills, experiences, and achievements that are relevant to the position being applied for. The cover letter is the first thing hiring managers check when reviewing job applications, and the impression it gives can determine whether the resume will be reviewed or not.

A professionally written cover letter introduces the applicant to recruiters by means of a personalized explanation of qualifications and interest in a position. It highlights the applicant’s soft skills, attitude, and motivations. The best cover letter should relate one’s goals to the organizational culture, position requirements, and values upheld by the hiring company.

A well-written cover letter can help in creating a positive impression on recruiters and set the candidate apart from the other applicants. It is, therefore, necessary to conduct thorough research on the company and the position being applied for in order to come up with the best cover letter that will attract the attention of the hiring managers and convince them to consider the applicant for an interview. This article gives guidelines on how to write a cover letter.

Advantages of Writing a Superb Cover Letter

• A cover letter gives the applicant an opportunity to provide more details on their skills and how they align with the position.
• It tells the recruiters what the applicant will bring to the team if given a chance to work for the company.
• Professionally written cover letters give an opportunity for recruiters and hiring managers to understand the applicant’s suitability for the position applied for.
• A well-written cover letter increases the candidate’s chances of being invited for an interview.
• It serves as an introduction to a potential employer by explaining the applicant’s qualifications and interest in a position.
• A great cover letter persuades recruiters of the applicant’s suitability and fitness for the position and the company culture.

Structure of a Cover Letter

Despite the fact that they differ in content, cover letters should have several elements in order to achieve their purpose and give reasons why the candidate should be hired. A consistent format is followed to make sure that there is an organized progression of ideas to showcase one’s skills. The sections of a standard cover letter include the header, greeting section, introduction, qualifications, values and goals, a call of action to the potential employer, and a signature. All these sections are discussed below.

• The Heading

The header of a cover letter gives the applicant’s information contact starting with the name, e-mail, phone number, and address. Where necessary, links to LinkedIn profiles can also be given if the information is relevant to the position being applied for.

• The Salutation

When writing the salutation of a cover letter, it is important to find out the name of the hiring manager for the position so as to address the correct person. This shows the seriousness of the applicant on the aspired position and proves that one has put thought and effort into the application. The salutation should be brief and professional, with the use of the appropriate titles.

• Introduction Paragraph

In the first paragraph of the cover letter, the applicant should give fundamental information on their personality and why they desire to be considered for the job. The introduction comprises the title of the job being applied for, reasons for one’s excitement and desire for the job, and why they think they can excel at the position when given a chance. Other details included in this section include mentioning how the applicant got to know about the position and why they decided to apply.

• Qualifications

This paragraph allows the applicant to outline their history and qualifications. It involves the provision of the details included in one’s resume, but this should not be a duplicate of the resume. It is necessary to tell the hiring managers the benefits to be accrued to the team if the applicant is given a chance to join the organization. A highlight of relevant projects and circumstances that demonstrate the applicant’s ability to resolve situations gives an insight to the employer about the suitability of the candidate.

• Goals and Values

This paragraph should demonstrate the applicant's understanding of the culture, core values, and mission of the company and the position being applied for. One should explain how their goals relate to the culture of the organization and how the company can benefit from the applicant. This section should demonstrate that they can fit in with a team and bring a positive attitude to the workplace.

• Call to Action

The final paragraph of the cover letter should give a summary of the applicant’s interest in the position and pass gratitude to the hiring managers for taking the time to review the application. It is also important for the applicant to politely express their excitement about the opportunity and ask for an invitation for an interview to discuss more about the additional value they would bring to the organization if hired for the position.

If written strategically and thoughtfully, this paragraph could mark the end of one’s job search as it can convince the recruiters to hire the candidate. A professionally written cover letter should end in a confident, polite, and enthusiastic tone and must convince the employer that the applicant makes the best choice for that particular position.

• Signing Off

Having completed writing a professional cover letter, one should sign off with a professional closing phrase, such as sincerely, faithfully, respectfully, among others. After this phrase, the applicant should make two spaces and type their full names below it. If the cover letter is handwritten, one’s signature should appear between the closing salutation and their full name.

How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter

With the many professionals graduating every year and entering the market, job search has become very competitive, and one has to create a unique brand of themselves if they are to grow in their career. A cover letter gives an opportunity for hiring managers to estimate an applicant’s unique skills, experience, and background that align with a job opportunity in their company. Writing an excellent cover letter gives a competitive advantage and shows the employer that the applicant is really interested in working for the company.

The following are some guidelines on how to come up with the best reference letter that communicates how one’s professionalism aligns with the requirements of a position and the culture of the organization, leaving a great first impression on the recruiters.

• Before starting to write, the applicant should know the purpose and type of the cover letter. Even though most cover letters are written to respond to an advertised job, there are still other types of cover letters. The type depends on the reasons for writing the letter. These other types include prospecting and networking cover letters.
• Professional cover letters should be addressed to a real person in order to attract the attention of the recruiting team. Resources such as LinkedIn or company websites can aid in getting names and contacts of human resources or hiring managers in the company of interest.
• One should show consistency in writing a resume, cover letter, and all other professional documents so as to easily define their brand.
• A cover letter should not be too long with information duplicated from one’s resume.
• When writing a professional cover letter, it is necessary for the applicant to be concise and clearly define themselves, what they stand for, and the position being applied for at the first paragraph of the letter.
• It is important to research to gain more knowledge about the position, the culture of the company, and the nature of business. Reviewing the company websites, LinkedIn profile, or networking with current or former staff can be of great help in knowing the company in question better.
• After adequately researching on the role and the company, one should point out the relevance of their qualifications to the position being applied for, goals, values, vision, and mission of the company.
• Without repeating what is already written in the resume, one should outline current achievements in their career to validate why they are the best choice for the particular position.
• One should be politely aggressive and request for consideration for and interview to further showcase what they stand for in relation to the position of interest.
• Before sending the cover letter along with the other application documents, the applicant should take time to edit and proofread for any errors because simple grammar and spelling mistakes may end up creating a poor impression on the recruiting team.

Characteristics of an Effective Cover Letter

Recruiters and hiring managers get excited about a resume with which a great cover letter is attached. In a job search, it is wise to take time, internalize one’s skills, achievements, and experiences and come up with the best cover letter that will attract the reader’s attention and raise their expectation and curiosity of reading the resume, and all other application documents in favor of the applicant. When writing a cover letter for impact, one should consider the following qualities:

• Effective Cover Letters Portray Confidence and Friendliness

Effective cover letters use a friendly and straightforward tone to state the position of interest and how the applicant got to know about it. The message should be communicated confidently without being apologetic in what one wants.

• They focus on the company and position requirements

Great cover letters keep track of the applicant’s self-description focusing on the job description and organizational culture of the hiring company. In the letter, one should precisely tell who they are and how their personality and professional background directly relates to the position and meets the employer’s needs.

• Clear and Comprehensive

A cover letter should be clear and easy to understand without confusing the reader. The applicant must professionally write and re-write the letter to make sure that each sentence makes sense and is relevant in conveying the overall message. All grammatical and clarity issues must be addressed before submitting the application.

• An Effective Cover Letter is Responsive to the Employer’s Needs

Being familiar with the job description and requirements of the position gives the candidate an edge to tell the hiring team how prepared they are for the task ahead, how they will suit and become accustomed to the culture of the hiring company, and their expected contribution towards the growth of the company.

• Value for Space and Time

Professional cover letters present comprehensive information in a limited space without including too many details, some of which the recruiters would regard as time wasters. A cover letter should be one page long, but all the fundamental points must be included to enable recruiters to make an informed decision pertaining to the candidate.

Different categories of candidates in a job search are required to include different pieces of evidence in their cover letters to prove that they have all it takes to get the job done. For those with work experience, recent work history, experiences, and achievements indicated on their cover letters are used by the hiring managers to prove that they indeed have the skills required for the position. These experienced candidates should include the following elements in their cover letter to show how valuable they can be to an employer.

Professional Accomplishments

These include exceeded targets given by the former employer in production, customer satisfaction, complaint management, revenue, profits, and any other quantifiable elements that prove one’s value and productivity in business.

Professional Commendation

One should indicate whether one has ever been complimented or praised for a task well accomplished or met targets and deadlines from the management or colleagues at work.

Professional Awards

It is important for candidates with Work experience to disclose whether they ever received any gifts and awards, financial or non-financial motivation for their good work.

Employers also understand that not every candidate possesses relevant work experience, especially for entry-level positions. For those candidates without working experience, the judgment for their cover letters is based on qualities such as academic achievements, extracurricular activities such as sports, volunteering activities, and clubs, among others; ability to set and work towards goals; self-motivation, the quality of writing, and any other provided information that is relevant for the position.

When sending an application for a job, it is very important to have a resume with a cover letter because most employers get the first impression from reading the cover letter. It is in the cover letter where the candidate personally expresses themselves Cover and their interest in the job they are applying for. The quality of the cover letter can make one stand out among many applicants.

Giving recruiters an excellent first impression motivates them to read further into the resume in favor of the candidate. In order to get the best cover letter, one should seek guidance from a professional writer in case of any difficulties. There are also professionally trained writers who provide cover letter and resume writing services. When consulted, they can help the candidate in writing a cover letter that convinces the prospective employer to invite them for an interview. One must always edit and proofread the letter before sending it to ensure that it does not contain any errors that can leave a poor impression in the eyes of the hiring manager.

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