No one is an island and although it may be easy for some to hide away in their shells, getting a job is still about connecting. Even if you feel like you’re doing everything right and you follow every procedure step by step, if you don’t connect with the person reading your cover letter, you’re wasting your time.
When it comes to getting a job, there are so many ways that you can go wrong but if you want to write a cover letter that gets you the job, here are some useful suggestions.
Be Original
When it comes to applying for jobs, it is incredibly important to stand out from the crowd. While it is great to be like everyone else and to follow the procedures, it is crucial that you add your own spin to the mix. To get the attention of the recruiter, you need to show that you are different and that you can bring something new to the table. The worst thing you can do is to send out a routine and somewhat boring cover letter. If the person reading it feels like it’s been sent out a zillion times before, they might even skim through it without even bothering to open it.
Instead of using common words and phrases, which can often be found in job descriptions, you need to find language that is tailor made for each role that you apply for. If you want to write a cover letter that gets you the job, you need to give the recruiter an example of how you communicate.
Be Concise
Your cover letter should not be overly long. Even if you have the best of intentions and you write an epic 20 page letter, you may end up losing the recruiter’s interest. They may not have the time to read through a 20 page letter and if they don’t have the time to read through it all, they probably won’t even glance at it.
If you follow this advice, you’ll be able to cut down your cover letter to a brief and to the point summary, which will make you stick out among the candidates. A well-written and concise cover letter can make all the difference in your job search.
Be Direct
Avoid using general phrases and words. Instead, you need to be as specific as possible when answering the question of what makes you stand out among other candidates. You want to be able to catch the attention of the recruiter and engage them long enough to get the job. This means cutting out all the fluff and getting straight to the point.
Even if you’ve followed every bit of advice in this article and you’ve written an outstanding cover letter that gets you noticed, if you don’t follow up with a phone call or an email, you’re losing out on the chance to put your best foot forward. So many people forget about these little details but a simple follow up can make all the difference in the world.
Avoid Plagiarism
Just because something is “politically correct” does not mean that it’s OK to steal other people’s ideas. Even if the language in your cover letter is unique and tailor-made for the role that you’re applying for, if it sounds like something that others have said or written before, you’re going to lose out on the job because you’ve committed plagiarism. Even if you don’t intend to steal, you’re still going to lose out because you haven’t added your own spin to the mix and instead have just repeated what someone else has said or written. This is a red-flag for potential employers and if they catch you in the act of plagiarism, you’re going to lose out on the job.
If you want to write a cover letter that gets you the job, you need to avoid being original and you need to avoid plagiarism. These two guidelines will help you to find the right job and if you want to write a cover letter that gets you the job, you need to avoid doing anything that could be considered plagiarism. Even if you think that what you’re doing is OK because it’s “politically correct”, you’re going to trip up somewhere along the line and you’re going to need to fix it. So, to start fresh, write a brand new cover letter, from scratch, for each and every role that you apply for. This is the only way to make sure that you’re going to be considered for the job that you want and that you’re going to be able to impress upon completing the hiring process.