Do you need a great cover letter to back up your resume? Are you wondering what you're even supposed to say in your cover letter to effectively communicate what you have to offer? If so, read on, because in this post, you'll learn five cover letter hacks that will help you set yourself apart and sell your best self and if you're looking to land that ultimate role make sure you read to the end to learn how you can land the position you've always wanted.
The dreaded topic of cover letters. I get questions all the time about cover letters. "Do I even need a cover letter? "What am I supposed to say?" "How do I write one that helps me stand out?" The thing is... Cover letters are still used by hiring officials to make decisions like who they should bring in for an interview or what type of compensation package should they offer the potential employee. Now you won't need a cover letter in every situation, however having one ready to go will eliminate some of the stress involved and will help you properly sell yourself. So let's jump into it.
Tip number one is to format your cover letter strategically. The look and feel of your cover letter should match the look and feel of your resume so if you have your name in big bold font with your contact information right below that on your resume, place that same information on your cover letter. This will let the hiring official know that these two documents go together. After your name and contact information, include the date and then the contact information for the hiring official. Then add a customized greeting like "Dear Mr. John Doe" and if you're unable to find the name of the hiring official you can put something like "Dear Hiring Manager" and if you're wondering how to create a winning resume to go along with your knock out cover letter, i have written extensively on it and you can have a read.
Tip number two, include a strong introductory paragraph. You want to start with a strong introductory sentence that explains what position you are applying for and exhibits the passion you have for the company and the position. Now you only have a few seconds to grab the attention of the hiring official, so you don't want to start with a generic statement like, "please accept this letter as application for the position of..". Rather mention why you want to work for the company and what makes the company unique to you.
Tip number three, show them that you are the solution. In the second paragraph, explain how your skills and expertise are the perfect match for the position. Pinpoint your most relevant qualifications and your most important career accomplishments and discuss them in detail. This will clearly demonstrate what you can bring to the position and how you are the solution the company is looking for and to gain greater insight into what the company's pain points are, make sure you review the job posting carefully and review the company's website and their activity on social media. This will also help you place important key words and phrases throughout your cover letter.
Tip number four, share your story. Now is the time to explain your skills and talents in action. To really stand out from all the other candidates, include a story about you that relates to the position you are applying for. Give clear and direct examples of your greatest accomplishments. Today more than ever you need to show your reader who you really are. You could even include a funny story. Humor is a great way to captivate your audience, just make sure that you include your skills,your expertise and your talents in the story.
Finally,tip number five, give a call to action. In the final paragraph of your cover letter, include a clear and concise conclusion that gives some type of call to action such as a reference to your resume or an invitation for an interview or a time that works best for you to talk. The purpose of the call to action is to get the hiring official to take some type of action and to let them know that you are excited and eager about the opportunity. You want to then enter with a nice friendly close such as "warm regards" and then sign your name.
I hope you enjoyed the article,feel free to ask your questions in the comment section.Also,don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter and share this post to help other job hunters out there.
You might also like to read:
8 Smart Questions to Ask an Interviewer
The dreaded topic of cover letters. I get questions all the time about cover letters. "Do I even need a cover letter? "What am I supposed to say?" "How do I write one that helps me stand out?" The thing is... Cover letters are still used by hiring officials to make decisions like who they should bring in for an interview or what type of compensation package should they offer the potential employee. Now you won't need a cover letter in every situation, however having one ready to go will eliminate some of the stress involved and will help you properly sell yourself. So let's jump into it.
Tip number one is to format your cover letter strategically. The look and feel of your cover letter should match the look and feel of your resume so if you have your name in big bold font with your contact information right below that on your resume, place that same information on your cover letter. This will let the hiring official know that these two documents go together. After your name and contact information, include the date and then the contact information for the hiring official. Then add a customized greeting like "Dear Mr. John Doe" and if you're unable to find the name of the hiring official you can put something like "Dear Hiring Manager" and if you're wondering how to create a winning resume to go along with your knock out cover letter, i have written extensively on it and you can have a read.
Tip number two, include a strong introductory paragraph. You want to start with a strong introductory sentence that explains what position you are applying for and exhibits the passion you have for the company and the position. Now you only have a few seconds to grab the attention of the hiring official, so you don't want to start with a generic statement like, "please accept this letter as application for the position of..". Rather mention why you want to work for the company and what makes the company unique to you.
Tip number three, show them that you are the solution. In the second paragraph, explain how your skills and expertise are the perfect match for the position. Pinpoint your most relevant qualifications and your most important career accomplishments and discuss them in detail. This will clearly demonstrate what you can bring to the position and how you are the solution the company is looking for and to gain greater insight into what the company's pain points are, make sure you review the job posting carefully and review the company's website and their activity on social media. This will also help you place important key words and phrases throughout your cover letter.
Tip number four, share your story. Now is the time to explain your skills and talents in action. To really stand out from all the other candidates, include a story about you that relates to the position you are applying for. Give clear and direct examples of your greatest accomplishments. Today more than ever you need to show your reader who you really are. You could even include a funny story. Humor is a great way to captivate your audience, just make sure that you include your skills,your expertise and your talents in the story.
Finally,tip number five, give a call to action. In the final paragraph of your cover letter, include a clear and concise conclusion that gives some type of call to action such as a reference to your resume or an invitation for an interview or a time that works best for you to talk. The purpose of the call to action is to get the hiring official to take some type of action and to let them know that you are excited and eager about the opportunity. You want to then enter with a nice friendly close such as "warm regards" and then sign your name.
I hope you enjoyed the article,feel free to ask your questions in the comment section.Also,don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter and share this post to help other job hunters out there.
You might also like to read:
8 Smart Questions to Ask an Interviewer
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