Like many job seekers, you may dread writing a cover letter. Perhaps you look at examples online, get overwhelmed and wonder if anyone even reads them. Yes, hiring managers do read cover letters. They tell who you are, why you should be hired and how you stand out from all the other candidates. For this reason, you want to make your cover letter memorable. Here are six tips to do that.
- Match Company Tone: Show you understand the environment and culture of the business and industry. Read the organization’s website and social media to get in the right mindset. Mirror company language in your cover letter.
- Craft the Greeting and First Paragraph: Customize your greeting with Ms. or Mr. and the hiring manager’s first and last name. Begin your first paragraph by mentioning the job you’re applying for. Introduce yourself with an attention-grabbing sentence highlighting your excitement for the company, passion for the work you do or your past accomplishments.
- Develop the Body: In the body of your cover letter, expand on the bullet points from your resume to create a fuller picture of your experiences and accomplishments. For instance, “By analyzing past client surveys, net promoter scores and key performance indicators, as well as picking up the phone, I used a data-driven approach and human touch to reengage former clients.” Include details as if telling someone a very short story about how you accomplished your objective. Close by emphasizing your enthusiasm for the company or how great a fit you are for the role.
- Quantify Your Accomplishments: Use data to show you had a measurable impact on previous employers. Perhaps you increased the accounting department’s efficiency by 30% or decreased company expenses by 25%. Demonstrate what you are able to do to add value for your next employer.
- Include Anecdotes: Limit your stories to three sentences or less. Introduce the skill you’re highlighting, explain the situation where you showed it off and share what the end result did for the company and shows about your character.
- Edit: Always read through your one-page cover letter several times before submitting it with your resume. Wait a few hours after finishing to look at it with fresh eyes. Make sure your sentences and paragraphs aren’t too wordy, complex or overloaded with vocabulary words. Use active rather than passive voice. Spell check everything. Ask a family member or friend to read through your cover letter as well. Make sure it sells you as the best candidate for the role and gets the reader excited.
Crafting a memorable cover letter doesn’t have to be a challenge. Simply focus on showing how your skills and experience make you best qualified for the role.
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