Have you recently graduated and are excited to start working in your field, finally? Or, perhaps you’re looking for a career change and want to apply for positions outside of your current workplace. Looking for a job is exciting; however, it can also be a long and stressful experience. There are hundreds, if not thousands of other candidates out there, just like you — educated, enthusiastic, and experienced.
Applying for positions is not as simple as offering a standard resume to potential employers anymore. Many online applications require lengthy forms, requiring you to submit several professional references and sometimes, even university transcripts. For most jobs, you’re also required to submit a cover letter explaining to the potential employer several pertinent things, including:
- Who you are
- How you found out about the job opening
- And, why you are the best person for the job
Does that sound easy enough for you? Well, the truth is, answering those questions might appear simple enough, but you have to impress the potential employer in your letter. You must stand out from the other applicants and land that interview. You must create a cover letter that’s concise, professional, and genuine.
Let’s look at how to make an exceptional cover letter that will make any employer want to meet you right away!
Read about the Company
While you should aim to keep your cover letter one page in length (two at the most), discussing the company’s mandate will grab the employer’s attention. You may already know a little about the organization because you took the time to find a job opening there. However, it’s not uncommon to apply for a position and not have in-depth information about the company as a whole.
In your concluding paragraph, mention a recent project of the company or talk about why its mission and values statement appeals to you. They’ll see that you’ve done your homework and that you’re serious about the position.
Be Brief
Writing a cover letter is a lot more challenging than you’d think because it must be short and sweet. As much as you’d love to go into detail about the recent case you won, or every single task you performed as a Project Coordinator for an advertising firm, the trick is to sum up all of that good stuff so the reader won’t get bored and move on to the next applicant.
Mention your successes and outline one or two major tasks relevant to the job. The goal of any cover letter is to describe how and why you fit the position you’re applying for.
Consult with Expert Recruiters
While you may be able to write an excellent cover letter, you may lack the tools and specific language to make it perfect. Your best bet is to consult with industry recruitment specialists who can help create the ideal cover letter for you. You’ll sit down with a professional who can hone in on your skills and tailor cover letters to specific industries and positions. Sometimes all it takes to find the ideal job is to ask for help from an expert.
Cover letters aren’t exactly the most fun to write, especially when you’re in the middle of the job hunt and are stressed out and exhausted. However, by working with professional recruiters, keeping the letter brief and clean, and demonstrating your enthusiasm for the company, you’ll get callbacks in no time.