Top Cover Letter Tips To Use in This Year
A great cover letter is key to getting the job. What are some of the best cover letter tips to put out the best cover letter possible?
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Why Do I Need Tips for Writing My Cover Letter?
Best Cover Letter Tips
- Research the company
When you are writing a cover letter to support your job search, make sure to research the company that posted the job listing you are interested in. Talk about why you want to work for them specifically in your opening paragraph (and make sure to introduce yourself using your full name). You can find the information on the company website to help you get an idea of the company culture.
- Tailor each cover letter for the job application
You can write a generic cover letter as a base, but you should edit this before each job application to make sure it represents your skill set in a way that is best suited to the job description. You should also use the hiring manager’s name in the salutation if you have that information.
- Be specific
Consider the job posting and try to be specific about what makes you the best candidate to fill the role. Provide percentages and statistics if you can. If you can’t, then be specific about the ways in which you can benefit the company.
- Supplement your resume
You should not repeat the information in your resume bullet points and summary, but instead supplement the information from your resume. Think about your past experiences, hobbies and your achievements. Mention what is relevant to the job you are applying for to strengthen your qualifications.
- Ensure aesthetic continuity
Make sure your cover letter format has the same aesthetic as your resume template. Use the same font, font size and margin size in the body of your cover letter, and make sure the header is the same for both documents.
These general cover letter tips will help you represent your work experience and qualifications properly, but if you want to stand the best possible chance of getting a new job, you should home in on the details. These final adjustments are best undertaken when you begin a new job search to make sure you tailor your cover letter to meet the job description:
- Update the salutation
Try to avoid using “Dear Hiring Manager” and never use “To Whom It May Concern.” Instead, try to address the recruiter by name.
- Update your contact information and the letter header
Ensure that your phone number, email address and social media details (like your LinkedIn profile) are up to date, and make sure you have the right date at the top of the letter.
- Review the skills and qualifications you mention
Make sure that you are still mentioning the right skills for the job description, and don’t be afraid to swap out skills and qualifications that are not quite right.
If you make sure your cover letter details are up to date before each job application, you will certainly increase your chances of writing a good cover letter and making a strong first impression on human resources.
How To Make Sure You Have a Great Cover Letter
Before you send your cover letter you should proofread and use spell check to make sure there are no typos. Also, ensure your font and margin sizing are consistent. If you do this, you will have a good chance of communicating effectively with recruiters and hiring managers.
FAQ: Cover Letter Tips
Q: How long should my cover letter be?
Generally speaking, a cover letter should be between half a page and one page in length, but the ideal length is around three-quarters of a page. This gives enough space to showcase all of your best achievements and qualifications, but also maintains enough brevity to be reader-friendly for employers and the applicant tracking systems (ATS) they use to scan letters.
Q: How should I save and send my cover letter?
In some cases, you may be asked to provide a hard copy of your resume and cover letter, but that is uncommon these days. It is far more likely that you will be asked to provide an electronic resume and cover letter. In this case, you should send it to recruiters as a PDF unless it is explicitly asked for in another format (such as .doc).
Q: How can I decide what to include in my cover letter?
Consider the job description you are applying for and determine where your skills overlap with the needs of the position. Highlight those skills, qualifications and experiences that address the needs of the role and company in order to impress the hiring manager. Just be careful not to repeat information from your resume. If you want some help with cover letter writing, ResumeHelp has a range of cover letter templates that you can use to create the perfect cover letter.