How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

Are you wondering how to grab the attention of your future employer? Writing a persuasive cover letter is a crucial step in landing your dream job. Although resumes are an extremely important resource in the job application process, cover letters should not be tossed to the side. Cover letters are useful in explaining how previous experiences an individual has that will translate well to the current position the individual is applying for. 

A strong cover letter starts with a heading, including your name, address, email, and phone number. Below this information should be a section containing the name of the recruiter or hiring manager, their title, the company's name, and the company's address. 

Instead of starting your cover letter off with "Dear Hiring Manager," try to personalize your letter and find the name of the hiring manager who will be reviewing your application. Once you've completed this step, you're on to the first paragraph of your letter. In the first paragraph, you should include the name of the position you're applying for and how you found out about this position. You should also do your research and include a small snippet about why you are interested in working for this particular company. This could include a statement about their company culture or the position in particular. 

Although it may be tempting to copy and paste previous cover letters into a word document, take the extra steps and go above and beyond to make sure your cover letter really relates to the company and the job listing you're applying for. 

When writing a cover letter, you should make sure the overall tone is fitting for the company that you want to work for. If you're applying for a job at a startup, you may be able to use a more casual tone. If you're applying for a job with a Fortune 500 Company you, may want to use a more formal tone.

Your cover letter should not be a detailed summary of your resume. Instead, include a couple of key experiences that relate to the job you're applying for. Look at the job description and highlight key experiences you have that overlap with the tasks and responsibilities described in the job description. If possible use, numbers and statistics to back up your claims and show the added value that you can bring to the job you're applying for.

Use your closing paragraph as a place to summarize the contents of your letter and highlight skills you believe makes you valuable to the company and their team, and why you're the perfect fit for this particular job. 

Finally, make sure you proofread before sending your letter off to your potential future employer. If your cover letter mentions that you're a person who pays attention to details and your writing is riddled with spelling and grammar errors, you will lose credibility. If possible, have a friend or loved one you trust to proofread and point out any potential errors in your spelling, grammar, or formatting. 

All of these tips will help you write the perfect cover letter for your next potential employer. Express Employment is here to help during your job search. For more information on how to create a solid resume, finding the best career for you, and the importance of having a mentor, check out our other blogs. Considering using Express Employment? Find more information as a job seeker or employer about all the services that Express Employment provides on our website.