More From Forbes
How to craft a compelling cover letter.
- Share to Facebook
- Share to Twitter
- Share to Linkedin
During the job application process, you should always submit a cover letter alongside your resume. This is particularly important when you’re applying for more competitive, senior positions.
A carefully crafted cover letter allows you to grab the recruiter’s attention and explain to them why you're the best candidate for the job.
But this will only happen if it’s well-written, so your cover letter needs to be persuasive, concise, and engaging. That’s a lot of pressure on just a few sentences, but getting it right will boost your chances of getting a response.
Here is how to craft a compelling cover letter, along with some top tips to increase your chances of securing an interview.
Understand how to set out your cover letter
Your cover letter should appear in the body of an email or as a message if you’re applying through a job site. You should avoid attaching your letter as a separate document, otherwise the recipient is unlikely to read it.
It’s also important that you keep your cover letter short and sweet, remembering that recruiters are busy people and they have to review a lot of applications every day.
With that in mind, it’s best to stick to between 4 and 6 short and snappy sentences.
Make your subject line appealing
The first thing the recruiter will see when they open their inbox is the subject line and a bad subject can instantly ruin your chances of them opening your email at all.
In One Massive Attack Ukrainian Missiles Hit Four Russian Ships Including Three Landing Vessels
New gmail security rules you have 5 days to comply google says, donald trump s social media stake hits 5 6 billion.
Instead, you need to stand out and give them a reason to read on.
Don’t simply label the email with the job title or the phrase ‘job application’. Go one step further to prove you are the perfect candidate in just a few words.
What this means is providing a subject line that is a short summary of your experience. For example, ‘project manager with 15 years experience’ or ‘web developer with JavaScript experience’.
Kick-off with a strong introduction
The purpose of your cover letter is to engage the reader instantly and make them want to review your resume and get to know more about you.
So you need to kick off with a strong introduction.
This means addressing the recipient by their name, whether that’s the hiring manager or the employer. You might need to do a little research to find this information, either using the job description, LinkedIn, or the company website.
You should also try to steer clear of overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam” and instead, take a professional but friendly tone starting with ‘hello’ or ‘hi’.
Next, your introductory sentence should outline which role you're applying for and demonstrate what makes you the most suitable candidate for the role.
Crafting a compelling cover letter can be the key to securing your next role.
Showcase your most relevant skills and experience
It can be tricky to know what to include in your cover letter , but the body of your email (or message) should be made up of three or four sentences that highlight your key skills and experience.
You can use the job description to determine which skills and abilities are most important to the employer. That way, you can highlight these and show them what you have to offer.
You should also provide examples from past roles that prove how your previous experience has shaped you and made you the ideal candidate.
Just remember that you only have a few sentences in which to impress them, so first focus on any requirements that are essential to the job. That way, the reader can instantly see that you’re a good fit.
This will encourage them to open your resume.
End with a strong call to action
You should conclude your letter by once again expressing your enthusiasm for the role and stating your desire to secure a personal interview.
Remember, recruiters are busy people, so it’s also important to thank them for taking the time to read and consider your application.
Proofread your letter very carefully
Once you've finished writing your cover letter, you need to proofread it thoroughly to make sure there are no errors. In fact, it’s best to do this several times.
A polished and compelling cover letter should not have any spelling or grammatical mistakes.
This looks unprofessional and sloppy, so take the time to re-read your application. You might even consider using an online spell checker or have a friend or family member review your letter before you send it off, just to be sure.
A well-structured cover letter, complete with tailored, impactful writing is the key to standing out in a crowded job market, and help you to land a job quicker than the average time of 3.8 months.
So, if you hope to secure an interview, be sure to use these tips and insights to craft an engaging and compelling cover letter. It may only be a few sentences long, but it really can give you a competitive edge.
- Editorial Standards
- Reprints & Permissions
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Here's how: Click Add next to Supporting documents at the bottom of the application review page. Select a reference letter, transcript, or portfolio from your device after clicking Upload file. Other files can still be added even if you've added a cover letter. Click Update to save the attached file (s). This takes you back to your ...
Discover Indeed's best practices for adding a cover letter.
Then yes. Otherwise it's probably not worth it. You absolutely should add a cover letter but make sure it's tailored to the job you're applying for. I've been mulling this over myself lately. I have been applying to jobs since May and have gotten several interviews but haven't landed a job just yet.
Applications that require a cover letter give you a valuable opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities and authentic personality. Use the cover letter to let your most significant strengths shine while showing you respect the hiring manager's time and attention. For inspiration, you can browse cover letter samples by job title on Indeed.
Here are some benefits of including a cover letter in your job application: 1. They showcase your personality. Cover letters typically reveal insights into a candidate's values, character traits and outlook on work. Many hiring managers prefer candidates who align with the organization's culture, so highlighting your unique personality in your ...
What optional really means. If a job posting says submitting a cover letter is optional, take this to mean that a cover letter would be a welcomed addition to your application and also, take it as an opportunity to show the employer not only your initiative but your writing skills. An optional cover letter ultimately leaves the decision up to ...
Need a cover letter, a letter of interest, or a thank-you letter? Use Career Guide's letter-writing tips and templates to create the best cover letter and make a lasting first impression. Cover letter or application letter. Reference letter. Follow up letter. Thank you letter. Letter of resignation.
Cover Letter Samples. When you're applying for a job, a cover letter lets you show a personal side and demonstrate why hiring you is a smart decision. Cover letters should be around three paragraphs long and include specific examples from your past experience that make you qualified for the position.A cover letter should include the following ...
Upload a cover letter. We don't currently support uploading cover letters, however, you can enter your cover letter in the message/cover letter field of jobs with the Apply Now button.
Once there, you can click the 'download resume' button and a dialog box will open and prompt you to choose a style. Indeed offers several styles for downloading your resume. Simply choose your favorite style and download it to your device. Read More: 10 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Land a Job Create a new resume with Indeed's resume maker ...
Quick question. I've been using indeed for years and it used to give you a text box in which you could write a brief cover letter. It also allowed you to upload your cover letter as a file, and you could upload other docs, which I used to upload certifications and writing samples. Now I'm applying to jobs a few months later and those options ...
A cover letter has the well-structured elements of most business letters. For more inspiration, you can browse our library of over 300 cover letter samples by job title. Here are some primary cover letter templates you may use to write your own cover letter: Application cover letter template
3. Open a new document. To begin combining your resume and cover letter into a single document, start a new file on your computer in your preferred application or platform. Choose a file name that's professional and use your full name without any numbers to differentiate your application from the candidate pool.
2. Use an appropriate greeting. If you know the name of the hiring manager for this job, begin your cover letter by addressing them directly (Example: Dear Jane). When writing your CV, it's important to avoid weak and passive verbs, stay away from business jargon or clichés, and watch out for tired words and phrases.
Here are 12 tips to consider that make your cover letter stand out: 1. Find a direct hiring contact. A direct hiring contact is often included within a job posting. If it is, be sure to include the contact's full name in your cover letter. If no hiring contact has been provided, do some research about the company.
Here's a list of steps on how to create a signature for an e-mailed cover letter: 1. Select a closing phrase. Like with a hard copy letter, you can start the process of creating a signature for an e-mailed cover letter by selecting a closing phrase. You may thank the hiring manager for reading your cover letter by including a closing phrase ...
If you're sending a paper copy of your cover letter, include the following on the top left-hand side: Date Your name. Address. Phone number. Email address Hiring manager's name. Company name. Company address If you're submitting a digital copy online, feel free to only use your city and state, phone number and email.
The following steps can help you prepare the best cover letter: 1. Establish formatting. Following a few guidelines can help you write an effective cover letter. It's common for a cover letter to use left-aligned paragraphs with equal breaks between them and double spacing between the paragraphs.
When submitting a digital cover letter, it's unnecessary to include your recipient's contact information. Salutation: Start your cover letter with a professional greeting, such as "Dear," followed by the recipient's name. If their name is unavailable, you can address them as "Dear Hiring Manager" or by their specific job title.
To start your cover letter, introduce yourself. This means including your full name, your specific interest in the position and the reasons you've chosen to apply. If you got a referral to the job from another party, ensure to mention this in the first paragraph. 2. Mention your skills and qualifications.
Keep your cover letter to a single page made up of three paragraphs. You can add an extra middle paragraph if absolutely necessary. Before doing this, however, always ask yourself if you can communicate the essential information in fewer words. Margins and alignment Align your text to the left and use standard 1-inch margins all the way around.
1. Note the date. Document the date you are sending the letter. The date line is usually in between your address and the address to which you are sending the letter. 2. Include your name and address. It is standard practice to begin with your name and address at the top of your cover letter.
A well-structured cover letter, complete with tailored, impactful writing is the key to standing out in a crowded job market, and help you to land a job quicker than the average time of 3.8 months.
Discover when you might need to hire a job search expert, what you might consider when finding one and what are some advantages you'll get when hiring one. Career advice on how to find a job, write your resume and cover letter, ace your interviews, start a new job, and choose career paths.
To highlight your secondary skills, you can mention your strongest skills in the resume and give examples of how you use them at the workplace in your cover letter. Here are some ways in which you can highlight your secondary skills: Make a dedicated section A dedicated and well-structured skills section is a crucial part of your resume.