Inevitably, every cover letter is going to have some sort of mention of the applicant’s current work experience. But is it appropriate to include this information in every case, and if not, when is it appropriate to leave it out? Here are some guidelines on how to write a cover letter in a way that will make your potential employer sit up and take notice.
Short And Sweet
A cover letter is a short, sharp introduction to your prospective employer. It is usually less than two paragraphs and should not take up more than a couple of pages – perhaps a single A4 page. Like an elevator pitch, the aim is to keep it to the point and save the rest for another occasion. This is not a lengthy, rambling letter; it’s a concise summary of your skills and qualifications.
Keep it light and short. If you go into unnecessary detail about your previous jobs, your prospective employer is more likely to skim over it than read it in full. The key to a short and sweet cover letter is to keep it to the point and save the rest for another occasion. This is particularly important if you are writing a letter of introduction in response to a job advertisement. In that case, you will find it more effective to keep it short and sweet and then, perhaps, attach further documentation such as a résumé or a portfolio of previous work. A one-page cover letter will do just as well as a three-page version if the one-page letter is sharply focused and to the point.
The Benefits Of A Nontraditional Template
The trend right now in cover letter-writing is toward a more informal, creative approach. It seems that many employers are realizing the value that an interesting, creative writing sample can add to a candidate’s application. It can really stand out among the competition.
Traditional templates can still be found – probably because many employers don’t want to appear too trendy or innovative by using cutting edge language or an unusual form. But the overall feel of a cover letter is becoming less and less formal. Creative non-fiction writing is one of the biggest topics right now in English classes around the world, and the demand for people with an eye for narrative and strong storytelling abilities is only going to continue.
If you are following any sort of guidebook for writing cover letters, you are going to fall into using some sort of formal language. After all, that’s what the guidebooks say to do. But if you really want to stand out, go ahead and take a more creative approach. It can be a simple narrative about a difficult time in your life, a few personal anecdotes about the job search, or even a short story about a promising young inventor who creates life-changing inventions but struggles to gain recognition until he finally succeeds. Whatever you do, make sure that it is interesting, quirky, and demonstrates your creative writing abilities. Don’t worry about being fancy – your employer will appreciate your creative writing talents far more than you know!
Understand The Purpose Of A Cover Letter
Every cover letter has a different purpose. Some are designed to convince the reader that you are the best person for the job. Others are trying to land you the job. There are even those that are meant to both objectives. So, before you begin writing your cover letter, you need to decide its purpose.
If you are writing to convince your reader that you are the best person for the job, then be sure to include details about why you are the best person for the job. For example, you might say, “I am the best person for the job because I can demonstrate strong initiative,” or “I am the best person for the job because I have years of experience in the field,” or “I am the best person for the job because my résumé illustrates that I have the required skills necessary for the position.”
On the other hand, if you are writing to land your reader the job, then be sure to include everything the employer is looking for. For example, if the job posting detailed that the employer is looking for bright, enthusiastic individuals who can hit the ground running, your cover letter should reflect this and mention how happy the employer would be to have you on their team. Alternatively, you could include some sample work that you have done, either at a previous job or as a freelance writer. It really depends on your particular situation and what you hope to gain from the letter.
Keep It Objective
A cover letter should always remain objective. Even if you are writing to convince your prospective employer that you are the best person for the job, you are still writing to them as a candidate – not as someone already holding the position. So, as much as possible, you want to keep the tone of the letter formal and impersonal. This will help your letter to land its objective.
Many people get so absorbed in their own experiences during and after their time in Higher Education that they forget that they are writing a letter to someone else. As candidates for jobs and graduate schools we sometimes lose sight of the fact that we are writing for someone else and, instead, go into detail about our own search for knowledge and the various difficulties we encountered along the way. While this may be interesting and even helpful to a degree, it can also mean that we fail to remain objective and end up appearing overly biased and, perhaps, even a little bit desperate. This, in turn, may affect our chances of landing the job or graduate school of our dreams. So, while it’s definitely acceptable to include experiences that are personally relevant to you, it is still important to keep the tone and content objective and, therefore, not appear overly biased or desperate.
Focused On The Essential Skills
One of the major mistakes that people make when writing cover letters is that they focus on the wrong things. A cover letter is not the place to show off your wit, your charm, or your engaging personality. A cover letter is simply a tool to get your foot in the door – and, once there, you can show them what you truly offer.
As a general rule, try to keep your cover letter focused on the skills and qualifications that are essential for the job. If you have a strong sense of these skills and can communicate them in a crisp, concise manner, then you will have a much better chance of getting the job. Remember: your cover letter is not an extended CV. Keep it concise and to the point.
Include keywords and phrases in the text that are relevant to the position from which you are applying. If you are responding to an advertisement, then use the keywords and phrases used in the advertisement. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job and the advertisement lists “marketing, “social media,” and “email strategizing,” then you should include these keywords in your letter. Doing this will dramatically increase the likelihood that your letter will be found by people who are already working in the field and will help you get the edge over other applicants. In a nutshell, use the keywords and phrases used in the job posting to describe your qualifications.
Once you have decided what your cover letter’s objective is, it’s time to start building. Begin by mapping out the details of your candidacy. This includes things like setting up a profile for yourself on LinkedIn and other social media, creating a blog post to share your stories and expertise with potential employers, and – if necessary – preparing a supporting curriculum vitae (CV). Mapping out the details of your candidacy will help you establish a framework for your letter. Remember: you are writing to convince the reader that you are the best person for the job. So, make sure that your letter is well-crafted and carefully researched. Once you have laid the groundwork, it’s time to start throwing out ideas and concepts. Start by drafting a short, concise, and compelling opening paragraph.
From here, you can start to build on your opening paragraph and add more details to your letter. The aim is to keep it concise yet interesting and to the point. Once you have finished drafting your letter, take a little bit of time to edit it and polish it up. Then, when you are happy with the end product, you can send it off to potential employers. And, if you are following the advice laid out here, you will find that your chances of getting the job will skyrocket because it will appear that you are the cream of the crop. Good luck out there!