When it comes to a cover letter, one can get confused what actually to mention there if all the achievements and skills he/she possess were already extensively described in the CV. You might have already noticed that in some cases a cover letter has another name ? a motivation letter. In our view, it gives a much better insight to understanding what lies behind this concept: not only does the cover letter describe your motivation, but it should motivate recruiters to invite you for an interview!
What to start with to make your cover letter work?
A respectful opening is important to make recruiters read further. Be personal and use appropriate words. Here are the most common salutations: “Dear Mr. White” (writing to a man), “Dear Ms. White” (writing to a woman), “Dear Dr. White” (in case a person has a PhD title). Only in case you really do not know the exact receiver of your cover letter you can use one of the following options: “To whom it may concern”, “Dear sirs/madams”.
What to put in the main part/body of your letter?
Replicating your CV is not the best idea. Keep in mind that your cover letter is a unique chance to stand out and put extra arguments on your side, so show something more than your biography facts – tell a story. This should be your personal story that demonstrates what made you so interested in a company that you decided to apply for a job there. That will serve three main goals:
1. to indicate your true enthusiasm about the company,
2. to show your deep comprehension of a particular business industry and the company’s place in it,
3. to prove your have sufficient knowledge and skills to solve specific contemporary issues of the company.
To meet these goals, what may you concentrate on?
Example 1. Your positive experience of a company’s products as a customer. Expand on that telling how exactly these products have changed your life by making it more comfortable and exiting, helping you to learn something or making new friends etc.
Example 2. Company’s marketing and sales activities that inspired you. This point is must-have for candidates aiming to all the client-focused roles. Emphasise which campaigns you consider the most efficient and how could you personally contribute to the global business strategy.
Example 3. Company’s HR brand. For most of recruiters, it would be flattering to hear that you have heard about the company as being a comfortable place to work in. However, you should not go too sweet. Try to explain how these precise working conditions correspond with your personality and can boost your own performance.
Example 4. Company’s social and environmental responsibility. This is your strongest point, if you are sincerely concerned about these kind of problems. Your awareness of such activities is not only a good predictor of whether you can fit well in the specific corporative culture, but also of whether you are ready to give out (to the society ? in general and to the company – in particular), rather than take in (salary, benefits, contacts etc).
While your CV mostly shows recruiters who you are as a professional, your cover letter gives them an initial idea of your personality. Avoid being self-centred in writing: recruiters are interested in what you can give to the company, not what you want to get from it. Think of the company you are applying to as your client and behave accordingly – as a customer-oriented professional. Restrain from looking desperate and complaining, even if you are in a very difficult financial situation. Companies hire people to solve their challenging business issues and not interested in people who apply for their jobs just to pay bills. Pay attention both to the content and the length of your letter. Sometimes less is more: exclude all the irrelevant information from your narrative and verify if the final version serves your main goals (see above).
Finally, closure. How to conclude?
At the end of your letter you can thank receivers for their time spent on reading. It is important to mention your full name and your contact details with possible links to your social media profiles so recruiters could easily contact you. An appropriate closing in a professional manner is the following: “Regards/Kind regards/ Best regards/Sincerely/Sincerely yours, (your name)”.
We hope these tips will help you to approach the right company! We are here to support you with advice so keep checking our blog.
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Qreer.com team
Keywords: cover letter, motivation letter, application, job search, CV, engineering, technology, science
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