A well written cover letter could increase your chances of an interview by 50%. We'll show you how to write an awesome cover letter that impresses employers.
Source : https://www.zipjob.com/blog/write-awesome-cover-letter-samples-included-zipjob/
Writing a good cover letter is a crucial step in the job search process, yet many people don’t write one or don’t put in the time to write an effective one.
So how do you write the perfect cover letter?
This short video will give you the necessary steps to create an effective cover letter that helps you land interviews.
We often hear people ask - Do I need to send a cover letter?
The answer is yes. You should always send a cover letter unless the job posting says no cover letter is required.
The point of a cover letter is to give a bit of an introduction as to who you are, your interest in the position, and why you think you’d make a good fit. It also adds a human touch to the plain old boring resume.
Ok, So let's get started….
The first thing we’re going to cover is the format and then we’ll cover the things you absolutely need to mention in your cover letter if you want to stand out from the hundreds of other job seekers.
Ok let's take a look at how a cover letter should be formatted..
As you see in our template, your header should be your name , contact number and email address. You can keep it similar to the header on your resume but don’t include your address.
You should then include the receiver's name, title, company name and address. If you can’t find the name of the hiring manager, you could leave that off. You can address the letter as “dear hiring manager” but always try to make an effort to find out the hiring manager in charge.
You should try to keep your cover letter between a half a page to ⅔ of a page long. Remember that most employers only spend a few seconds going through your resume and cover letter. No one wants to read an in- depth page long cover letter.
Three paragraphs is a good length and we’ll go through what each paragraph should contain - we’ll then show you an example of an excellent cover letter.
Paragraph 1 should be an introduction to who you are and the position you’re applying for. Include where or how you found the opening, The title and a job ID number if there is one. You should also lead into the next paragraph by stating a brief summary of qualifications or your interest in the position.
The second paragraph should discuss your qualifications and the achievements which show why you’re a good fit for the position.
Remember that you want to stand out from the other hundreds of candidates that are applying for the position. So don’t just give examples of what you did in your last position, show how you went above and beyond. Mention a few examples of quantifiable or measurable achievements in your career.
Use compelling language and don’t repeat the information in your resume. Try to bring your experience to life and this will encourage the reader to look into your resume in more detail.
In the third and last paragraph, Close it out by saying you feel that you’re a good fit based on your qualifications. Remember, you should include a call of action - which in this case would be inviting you to an interview. Ask them to give you call and schedule in interview.
And the The last thing you should do is thank them for taking the time out to consider you.
Lets put this template into action. Here is an example of a great cover letter:
Hi Susan,
I’m writing to you to express my interest in the Accounting position you have open on your company website with the job ID# 11220. I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and am confident that my experience and skill set would be a great match for this position.
I have a strong knowledge of accounting principles backed by experience I have gained in the last 12 years. In my previous position, I managed the accounting of a financial consulting firm with over $30 million in revenue. I not only met expectations but exceeded them by increasing cash flow by $4 million. I helped achieve this by changing our accounts receivable policy and negotiating better contracts. There is more depth on my experience and skills in my resume which I would appreciate you looking over.
I am certain that my experience and skill set would make me a great candidate for this position as well as a great asset to your company. Please give me a call at the number above to schedule an interview at your convenience. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
John Smith
So there you have it. Remember to include these 3 points in your resume -
* Who you are
* Your qualifications and how they can benefit the employer
* And a call to action asking to schedule an interview.
