You need to have a solid resume and more in today’s competitive job market. That initial interview, which can lead to a spot in the world-renowned medical school of your dreams, is yours for the taking as long as you have a killer cover letter. However, most of us are guilty of using generic cover letters littered with cliches and buzzwords that make you come across as just another candidate – not exactly the image you want to project.
Today, this blog will guide you in creating a strong cover letter that catches the sight of hiring managers and makes you different from others.
Why a Compelling Cover Letter Matters
Your cover letter is an opportunity to truly shine beyond the resume. This is your stage for letting the hiring committee see who you are as an actual person, how excited & passionate you are, and where your unique strengths lie outside of just what appears on paper.
The fact is that in order to land the jobs you want, your resumes are first going through many online nets such as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before they ever reach human eyes. Customize your cover letter for the job description and company to get your application past these automatic screeners and, hopefully, straight to HR.
Writing Your Story: What to Include in a Winning Cover Letter
Next, let’s break down exactly how to write a cover letter that compels action. Below are a few takeaways to keep in mind:
Personalisation is the Key: Your efforts will bounce back if you take a one-size-fits-all approach. Research the employer and visit their website, beyond just looking at their About page or Googling them. Learn their mission, values and current initiatives. Next, craft your cover letter to demonstrate how you are exact match for your potential benefactor in terms of skills and experience. Remember to include pertinent keywords from the job description — it helps you defeat the ATS hurdle.
Structure for Success:
Your Cover Letter Is a Mini-Sales Pitch So here is the simple structure to work with:
- Salutation: Begin your cover letter with a personal salutation to the hiring manager, if you can find their name. Some research can go a long way to prove that you did your homework.
- Strong opening paragraph (hook…keep your reader interested from the get go! Start off with an appealing opening line. That might be a notable accomplishment, cool information about the company, or a stat relevant to what you would be doing at the job. If possible, personalize it with a project from the company website or an interesting value that you share and admire. But first, tie your opening to the job you are connecting for.
- Body Paragraphs: Proving Your WorthThis is YOUR chance to brag! Your body paragraphs should highlight your skills and experiences while bringing them to life in a way that shows off not only what you have accomplished but how that value aligns with the company. Here are some tips:
- Highlight achievements, not just responsibilities: Utilize the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating examples. Give an example of a situation you met, the specifics of the task you did, what you completed and obtained a favorable end result. Wherever you can, put a number to your successes — did sales increase 20%? Streamline a process by 30%? Numbers speak volumes!
- Highlight how your skills and experience match the job description: When listing out your skill sets, do not just present them on a platter; give examples of how they can be used to respond to certain needs within the company.
- Use strong action verbs. This is where the initiative and achievements will be well-acquainted. Power words are specific action verbs in a lengthier sentence structure Greenfield advises, such for example using developed instead of the generic responsible for. Conclusion: Action Item (End on a high note!) Restate your interest, mentioning the most relevant experience you possess. It is also a space to write a call of action. The hiring manager can then follow up and either go through your resume or schedule an in-person meeting to assess your qualifications. Thank them for taking time to consider.
Formatting and Presentation for a Professional Cover Letter
- Your cover letter should also be well presented and addressed.
- Keep your cover letter short and easy to read, preferably 1 page.
- Choose a clean looking font with good spacing.
- Proofread ( with no typos and grammatical errors) Spelling mistakes say you do not take pride in details, and it can work against you forever. Check with spell checker and Grammar tools but also check it manually in the end to verify everything is fine or not.
Pro Tip: The Personalization Power
While customization is very essential, if feasible sprinkle some flair in your cover letter too. Refer to a project or company aspect that proves that you took the time to research and are genuinely interested in the opportunity. The extra mile is what can make you stand out from the average applicant pool.
Conclusion
By following these tips and adding your own personality to it, you can churn out a cover letter that draws attention, presents the value and gets you the dream