What Is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a letter of introduction that accompanies your resume when applying for a job. The purpose of a cover letter is to express your interest in the job and briefly state your qualifications. A good cover letter will grab the employer's attention and make them want to read your resume. Follow these tips to write a great cover letter.
Is a Cover Letter Necessary?
This question often comes up among job seekers because writing a job-specific cover letter is a time-consuming process. Additionally, it can be very frustrating to spend hours writing tailored cover letters for different jobs only to hear nothing back. Reasonably, many job seekers ask if cover letters really necessary. There are definitely instances where a cover letter can give you a leg up on the competition. Here are some situations where a cover letter can be helpful:
When the job posting specifically requests a cover letter. In this case, not including a cover letter is likely to eliminate you from consideration.
When you are applying to a large company that receives many applications. A cover letter allows you to introduce yourself and stand out from the other candidates.
When you need to explain a gap in your employment history a cover letter can be a good way to do so.
When you have little or no work experience. A cover letter gives you a chance to highlight your skills and explain why you would be a good fit for the job, even if you don't have a lot of experience.
When you are applying for a job that requires a high level of qualifications. A cover letter allows you to elaborate on your qualifications and explain why you are the best candidate for the job.
If you have relevant experience or qualifications that are not apparent in your resume, a cover letter is a great way to highlight this information.
With those benefits in mind, including a cover letter with your application is a great idea. However, it is still a time-consuming process. How can you make the most of your time and optimize your cover letter writing? Ideal Resume provides a fantastic tool for this. Our AI writing assistant will instantly generate a job-specific cover letter for you. How does it work? Simply paste the text of the job description you're applying to into our AI writing assistant and write an amazing cover letter for you. You can then modify the cover letter to your liking and include specific points relevant to yourself. But the hardest part is done for you. No more starting from a blank page, no more going back and forth between a job description and your cover letter trying to tailor your wording. Let the Ideal Resume AI writing assistant do the heavy lifting for you.
How to Start a Cover Letter
To begin a cover letter be sure to include your contact information at the top of the page along with the date. Your contact information should include your full name, a professional email address, and your phone number. In the first paragraph, introduce yourself, explain why you are writing, and mention the job you are applying for.
How to Address a Cover Letter
Address your cover letter to the right person and use a professional greeting. Start the letter with a formal greeting, such as “Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name.” If you have a contact person at the company, address the letter to them.
How to Address a Cover Letter Without a Name
It may not always be possible to obtain the name of the hiring manager. In this case, you can address the letter to the hiring manager or the human resources department. For example, “Dear hiring manager” or "Dear Human Resources Department".
How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
A cover letter should be concise, with a word count of 250-400 words. It should be no more than three to six paragraphs long and should introduce you to the prospective employer while outlining why you are the best candidate for the job. Employers generally have limited time to read through applications, and a shorter letter is more likely to hold their attention. If you have relevant experience and qualifications that you would like to highlight, you may find it difficult to fit everything into one page. In this case, you should focus on the most important information and leave out any superfluous details. The goal is to make a strong impression in a short amount of time, so brevity is key. If you are unsure of how to get started, look to the job description you're applying to for inspiration. The job description reveals what is most important to the company you're applying to. So use your cover letter as an opportunity to hone in on specific requirements from the job description and describe why you are a great fit.
What to Include In a Cover Letter
When applying for a job, your cover letter is your first opportunity to make a good impression. To ensure that your cover letter makes the best impression possible, there are certain elements that should always be included.
The first element of any good cover letter is a brief introduction. In this section, you should briefly explain who you are and why you are writing. This is your opportunity to grab the reader's attention and make them want to read on. Next, you should explain why you are the perfect candidate for the job. This is your chance to sell yourself and highlight the skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate. Be sure to back up your claims with specific examples.
If you're having trouble deciding on what accomplishments to put in your cover letter, start by brainstorming a list of all your major accomplishments, both professional and personal. Once you have a list, narrow it down to the accomplishments that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. For each accomplishment, be sure to include specific details and statistics to illustrate your impact.
For example, if you're applying for a job in marketing, you might want to include an accomplishment like, "Increased sales by 20% through innovative marketing campaigns." Or, if you're applying for a job in customer service, you might want to include an accomplishment like, “Successfully resolved 98% of customer complaints within 24 hours.” Including specific accomplishments in your cover letter will show employers that you have the skills and experience necessary to excel in the role. You can also include specific examples of your successes in previous roles. Use our AI writing assistant for inspiration.
Finally, you should thank the reader for their time and consideration. A simple but sincere thank you can go a long way. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your cover letter makes the best possible impression and gives you the best chance of landing the job you want.
What Does a Cover Letter Look Like?
Here are some example cover letters for inspiration.
Example Customer Service Representative Cover Letter
Example Marketing Associate Cover Letter
Example Project Manager Cover Letter
Example Software Developer Cover Letter
How to End a Cover Letter (11 Examples)
When you're writing a cover letter, how you end it is almost as important as how you begin it. Your closing should reaffirm the employer's interest in you and leave them wanting to learn more about you. Here are 11 tips on how to seal the deal.
Thank the employer for their time and consideration.
Reiterate your interest in the role and the company.
Highlight key skills or qualifications that make you the perfect fit for the job.
Share a relevant accomplishment or two that demonstrates your value.
Use a call-to-action to encourage the employer to get in touch.
Offer to provide additional information or answer any questions.
Thank the employer again and express your excitement to meet with them.
Close with a professional sign-off, such as "Sincerely" or "Best Regards".
Include your full contact information below your signature.
Proofread your letter carefully before sending it off!
Here are 11 sample phrases for ending a cover letter:
"I look forward to hearing from you about this exciting opportunity."
"I'm eager to discuss what I can do for your company."
I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you further.
"Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon."
"I'll follow up soon."
"I look forward to meeting with you."
"Thank you for the opportunity to apply."
"I would be a valuable asset to your team."
"I'm excited to learn more about your company."
"I'm confident I can exceed your expectations."
"I look forward to contributing to your success."
Conclusion
The decision of whether or not to write a cover letter is no longer about how long it will take because Ideal Resume will do it for you in just seconds. Generate up to 3 cover letters for free now. In conclusion, if you are unsure whether or not to submit a cover letter, err on the side of caution and include one. It is better to have a cover letter that is not always necessary, than to need a cover letter and not have one.