In a world of mass-sending CVs, sending a well-written cover letter can be one of the most important and powerful moves that you make – in this post, I’m going to provide you with three quick and powerful cover letter writing tips.
Employers receive hundreds of CVs and applications, why should your CV stand out? Enter, the cover letter. This short document explaining why you would be perfect for the position is how you distinguish yourself from other candidates, instantly scaling the list into the top 10%. All by just committing an extra 15 minutes to your application. It doesn’t matter what the job is, sending a cover letter drastically increases your chances of getting hired.
Cover Letter Writing Tip 1 – Repeatedly Check The Job Description
When HR writes a job description and posts it on either social media or sites such as Indeed, they are essentially providing you with exactly what you need and who you need to be to get the position.
The more you can show that you are the right candidate for that position, the more likely it is that YOU will be that candidate. You do this through writing in your cover letter the skills that you have which are applicable to the job, providing relevant evidence,
Explain why you believe that you are the right candidate – why do you think you’re the best to provide those skills to that company specifically?
Cover Letter Writing Tip 2 – Make It Personal
People love to be the center of attention. They also love to be recognised. By tailoring your cover letter to that company specifically, you make it seem that they are the only company (or person) in the world. They’ll feel a sense of warmth as they read, feeling better about your application than if you were to speak generally and only about yourself. Do you know what that means? They associate you with positive feelings and are more likely to hire you.
Which parts of the company align most with you? Do they share similar values, or do you align with their mission statement? Does the company sit in a sector that you’re passionate about – and are you already a fan of their work? Answering these questions, either specifically or broadly, can create a positive image of you, therefore making you more likeable and increasing your chances of success.
Cover Letter Writing Tip 3 – Know Yourself
If you don’t know what you personally like, what you’re good at, what your goals are, etc, how do you expect to sell yourself to a potential employer?
In order to truly give yourself the best chances, you need to know yourself. What are your key skills? What are your passions? What are your long-term goals?
Take some time to learn more about yourself and reflect on your ideal career before writing any cover letter. It will massively help to put things in perspective, for both yourself and the person reading your cover letter.
A level of self-awareness is always beneficial throughout life, and one of the best ways (if not the best way) to develop self-awareness is through meditation.
Thanks for reading.
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