Customizing a cover letter for every job application that you send can be tedious work, but it is worth the time and effort, as you’ll be able to showcase why your skill set fits the job description you’re applying for.
Hiring managers often ignore your application when you use a cover letter template, as it shows a lack of dedication in the applicant’s eagerness to join their organization. On the other hand, crafting your own cover letter will pique hiring managers’ interests as it allows them to gauge the applicant’s personality and skills further. Working on a great cover letter will definitely increase your chances of landing an interview.
The standard is to keep your resume short and informative, souse the cover letter creatively to make an impressive first impression. You can do so by expressing your enthusiasm for the job and explain how you make a good fit for it.
Read onto get more tips on how to write a cover letter tailor fit for each role that you apply for.
Tips on customizing your cover letter
1. Align your ambitions with the role
Align your letter with the current job position you are applying for. Do the research and know more about the company, and what your potential role would be.
Highlight your past and present skill set relating to the position. Emphasize what makes you a great choice in terms of experience and as a resource. Doing this will make your application look more precise and professional, will helping you stand out among other applicants.
Try to demonstrate your passion for the job as hiring managers look forward to bringing dedicated people to the team. Write what you are looking forward to in this job—if you can, research on what you can bring to the table.
2. Bring in a personal touch
Don’t be afraid to bring in a bit of your personality in your cover letter. Hiring managers appreciate it when you give a friendly yet professional impression as it is a sign of a diligent employee. You can also write the name of your referee, if you have one, on your job application letter. Referrals work to speed up a job application. You can also mention the platform where you discovered the job listing, especially if it’s a job portal.
3. Follow the instructions
Some job role descriptions come along with specific instructions that recruiters have asked for. Read the job posting, provide the information they require, and what highlight makes yours stand out. Not addressing certain requests will reflect that the applicant has not taken out the time to read before applying and might not favour the application.
4. Add relevant information
Use your resume to list out facts and accomplishments related to your education and career and use the job cover letter to add character and make yourself a desirable candidate for a particular job. You can also use it as a tool to emphasize your best assets for the job.
For example, if the role you are applying to is unrelated to your current work, you can use your cover letter as a tool to describe how your past experiences make you the best candidate to for your desired position.
Use simple language. Your cover letter will reflect on you as a person, besides from demonstrating what makes you the right candidate for the job.
5. Address personally
It goes a long way when you take time to explore necessary information about the company you’re applying to. Starting a letter with “to whom it may concern” sounds very generic; you want to address yourself personally and help the recruiter remember you. Do a little bit of research and look for the hiring manager’s name, important details about the company, and so on. Try to address the hiring manager by their name and add certain aspects about yourself that match with what the company is looking for.
Don’t write about skills only because they are popular. Highlight your skills that match job role. Only include professional, relevant information.
Before submitting the cover letter, have someone else read it and give you feedback on the cover letter before you send them out. Your cover letter is the first thing you tell your employer about yourself; choose what you wish them to know about you. Make sure it is free of grammatical errors, a little care given early will go a long way.
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