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Cover letters are a fundamental part of any job application. While your resume simply lists off your experience, your cover letter is your chance to speak directly to the hiring manager and explain why you believe you are a good fit for the position.
Writing a cover letter can seem intimidating, but luckily there is no shortage of cover letter advice, and there is plenty of cover letter templates you can use as a starting point — almost every word processor has them, including Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
In this article, we’re going to make it as easy as possible to write a cover letter by taking you through the writing process step by step.
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To make writing a cover letter more manageable, think of it as being split into three parts: the opening, the body, and the closing.
If you imagine for a moment that you will actually be mailing your cover letter, the opening consists of the information you would include on the envelope: your contact information, the recipient’s name, and job title, as well as the company’s address.
Openings also include today’s date and a formal greeting.
The body of the letter is where you will shine. This is where you’ll explain what position you’re applying to and why you would be the ideal candidate for this position. You can use these paragraphs to highlight your skills and experience, or you can use them to talk about things that your resume mentions but doesn’t go into detail on. This will take up the majority of your letter
.Finally, your closing lines will include a conclusion and a formal farewell.
To start writing your letter, make sure you are typing in 12pt Times New Roman font, single-spaced. In the header of your document, include your name, phone number, email address, and any other information you’d like the hiring manager to have on hand, such as your Linkedin profile.
The first line of your document should be today’s date, formatted as Month Day, Year.
March 30, 2021
Next, you are going to include the information of the hiring manager. Sometimes their name will be included with the job listing, but if you cannot find it there, try doing some preliminary research on the company. Check out their LinkedIn and other social media pages to see if you can find someone with a title like “hiring manager.”
Once you’ve found it, consider how to address the person. If the company seems to have a more formal or traditional attitude, consider using a prefix such as Mr. or Ms. before the person’s name. If they seem more casual, use just their full name. Also, use their full name with no prefix if you are unsure of which prefix to use — say, they have a unisex name such as Jessie or Pat.
If you cannot find the name of the person, simply addressing them as “Hiring Manager” is fine.
After this, you’re going to do a bit more digging to find the company’s main address. Scan their website or do a quick internet search to find this. If they have multiple locations, use the address that you will be going to each day if you get the job.
Then, start a new paragraph, and address the hiring manager. Using “Dear So-and-So” is an acceptable format.
Once you’ve compiled all of this information, it should look something like this:
John Doe
Hiring Manager
ABC Company
123 Main St
Anywhere, USA 12345Dear John Doe,
This is probably going to be the hardest part of the letter to write, so don’t get discouraged if it takes you a few tries to get a draft you’re happy with. This section will be mainly tailored to you, but it still follows a general format.
First, state the position you are interested in, as hiring managers may be hiring for more than one role at a time. This gives them a heads up and reminds them of what qualities they should be looking for in your resume and cover letter. Be sure to capitalize the job title that you’re applying for.
I am writing to inform you of my interest in the Regional Sales Manager position.
The next sentence should tell the hiring manager, in a single phrase, why you are a good fit for the position. You can get into specifics later on in the letter, but for now, illustrate that you are the person who checks off their biggest boxes.
For example,
I am an experienced salesman with great marketing skills and a proven track record of creating and maintaining beneficial customer relations.
Once your opening sentence is complete, you now have an opportunity to illustrate why you are perfect for the job.
The easiest way to do this is to refer back to the job listing itself. Often, hiring managers will list skills that the ideal candidate will have. Make a note of which skills they are looking for and which of these skills you possess. This becomes your list of things to mention.
When describing your skillset, do not be afraid to use language similar to that used in the job listing. You can also choose to list off your technical skills or skills that do not require much explanation in a bulleted list.
Try to keep this short, to around four or five bullet points, since they take up a lot of room on your letter but do not reveal vast amounts of information about you.
For example,
I believe I would make a great addition to your team, as I have:
Ten years of sales experience
The ability to maintain client relations
Skills in developing and generating leads
Knowledge of managing sales teams
In this section of the letter, you can also choose to talk about your career journey so far. You can talk about the education you received as well as past positions. When talking about jobs you have had before, stay positive, and explain how these jobs have given you the skills you will need to succeed in the job you are applying for.
I graduated from State University, earning my MBA in 1999, and I have since worked in multiple sales positions in several firms. My experience working as a Customer Service agent has given me valuable insight into creating and maintaining positive relationships with customers and has allowed me to form long-term relationships with clients.
This section is your chance to underline your achievements, whether that be a particularly successful project or an obstacle you overcame. Try using data to back up your claims, as using data makes your claims more credible and helps the hiring manager understand the scale of your achievements.
This section can be the hardest to write, but this is your chance to shine. You deserve to have your hard work recognized. Don’t be afraid to brag a little, as this is the time and place to do it.
Now that you have painted yourself in the best light, it’s time to wrap up your letter with a conclusion and a farewell. Just like the opening, this section follows a general formula.
Start by reiterating your interest in the position.
I would like to discuss this opportunity with the ABC Company, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Include your contact information one more time.
You can reach me at (555) 555-5555 or at FirstnameLastname@gmail.com.
Thank them formally, and end with a professional signature.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Firstname Lastname
“Regards” and “Yours” are also appropriate closings.
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Once your letter is complete, it should look something like this:
March 30, 2021
John Doe
Hiring Manager
ABC Company
123 Main St
Anywhere, USA 12345Dear John Doe,
I am writing to inform you of my interest in the Regional Sales Manager position. I am an experienced salesman with great marketing skills and a proven track record of creating and maintaining beneficial customer relations.
I believe I would make a great addition to your team, as I have:
Ten years of sales experience
The ability to maintain client relations
Skills in developing and generating leads
Knowledge of managing sales teams
I graduated from State University, earning my MBA in 1999, and I have since worked in multiple sales positions in several firms. My experience working as a customer service agent has given me valuable insight into creating and maintaining positive relationships with customers and has allowed me to form long-term relationships with clients.
I would like to discuss this opportunity with the ABC Company, and I hope to hear from you soon.
You can reach me at (555) 555-5555 or at FirstnameLastname@gmail.com.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Firstname Lastname
Though it can be scary for all of us, writing a cover letter does not need to be a difficult process. It can actually make good practice, as writing a cover letter allows you to practice an elevator pitch or explaining yourself to a stranger, which is an important skill in any interview.
Cover letters are what set you apart from the competition and what gives the hiring manager a glimpse into the person behind the resume. They can be what makes the difference between never hearing back and landing the highly coveted interview. Luckily, there are dozens of resources out there that make writing a cover letter as easy as possible.