The Importance of Cover Letters: What They Are and What Makes a Great One

October 20, 2022

Now Calling: Your Dream Job

We don’t intend to be future predictors but if you’re here, chances are your dream job still awaits you somewhere out there ;). For all we know, you could be closer to it than you think and we’re here to give you that much-needed nudge.

A perfect job application often requires a CV/resume, a cover letter and probable prayers to both god and satan. In this blog, we’re going to talk about everything you need to get your cover letter ryte.

Introduction: The Importance of Cover Letters

The cover letter is a crucial part of any job application. It can be a total deal breaker between getting or not getting that interview call.

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume and provides more information about you as a candidate. It should be concise and professional, but also personalize who you are as a person and why you want to work for the company.

The purpose of the cover letter is to ensure that your resume does not get tossed in the trash because it doesn’t have enough information about why you’re qualified for the position. A cover letter should also include any information that may be pertinent to your qualifications, such as degrees or certifications since these are often not included on resumes due to space limitations.

What’s the Difference Between a CV and a Cover Letter?

A resume is a document that includes a person’s education, work experience, and other qualifications. A cover letter is a document that accompanies the resume.

It usually contains information about why the individual is suitable for the position and what they will bring to the company if they get hired. While a lot of companies don’t outrightly ask for a cover letter, it’s always a good idea to include one with your application.

What Makes A Cover Letter Effective

A cover letter indeed adds some extra spice to your otherwise vanilla application. This little document is a golden opportunity for you to show that you have researched well enough about the company, its culture and expectations. Moreover, one CV might work for all but do not forget to tailor your cover letter for each and every job you apply for.

A good cover letter should be brief and to the point, while highlighting the most relevant qualifications and yes, do ensure that it’s not longer than one page.

Still confused about how to get started? Let your AI buddy do some leg work for you.

Four Ways To Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

Now that we have established that they are a must to give your potential employer a good impression of you, it becomes very important to impart these 4 elements before you structure your next cover letter.

A friendly introduction: Always remember, opening lines of ‘any text’ matter the most. Take the liberty of introducing & presenting yourself as ‘approachable’ in 1-2 sentences.
A concise summary of qualifications: Yes, we get it that you’re proud of being state level basketball player but try to stick to educational and work qualifications as much as possible. Although, dropping a subtle hint of your sportiness won’t hurt either 😉
An explanation of why you want the job and your interest in the company and position: Before sitting on this, spend a good half an hour or so researching the company, founders, your possible hiring manager, etc. and try to connect things with your interests and how you can be a good addition to the team.
An indication that you are available for an interview, including contact information where to send the follow-up email or phone call to schedule the interview

Conclusion

In order to write an effective cover letter, it is important to follow these guidelines:

Address the reader by name
Keep it concise and relevant
Use active language and strong verbs
Provide specific examples of when you have demonstrated these skills in previous work or school projects.
And for everything else, you do have your friendly AI writing assistant by your side. ALWAYS!