Contrary to popular belief, the cover letter is not just a mere formality. Complementing the CV, it plays a very important role in an application. Follow these tips to write it effectively and optimize your job search.
Pay attention to tone and spelling
Be careful, even the slightest spelling mistake in a cover letter can be a dealbreaker for many recruiters. Keep in mind that this document should reflect your motivation as well as your professionalism. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the tone and spelling of your writing. To catch any typos, have it proofread by someone else and possibly someone from the industry you are applying to.
Use examples for structure inspiration
Writing a cover letter is not always an easy task. Rest assured, there are many online templates to help you. Take the time to browse through them to create one that reflects you. The idea is not to copy/paste, but to get inspired by examples from your field to be relevant. To make reading easier, remember to separate your ideas into several paragraphs.
Define keywords to use
A recruiter spends an average of 30 seconds per application. To capture their attention, use simple sentences by introducing keywords related to the company and the skills expected for the targeted position. To help you, carefully read the job posting, visit the company’s website, and check its social media. Find out about its history, values, latest news, etc.
Have a perfect structure
A good cover letter fits on one page and is divided into three parts: you, me, and us. The first part is about the company. Without exaggerating, demonstrate your interest in the company. Why do you want to join it? Feel free to address a specific aspect of the job offer that matches your profile. The second part is about your background. Without repeating your CV, elaborate on one aspect of your experience. Why would you be the ideal candidate for this position? Be positive! The cover letter should be an added value to your CV. This is the time to promote yourself while remaining humble and open to learning. Finally, the third part aims to demonstrate the benefits of your potential collaboration. What could you bring to the company and vice versa? Remember to end this part with a call to action by mentioning a meeting.
Refine the opening line
Be convincing from the start of your cover letter by refining the opening line.
Avoid impersonal phrases that have very little interest; get straight to the point to capture the recruiter’s attention. As you understand, to get a job interview, the CV alone is not enough. You also need a clear, convincing, and personalized cover letter.
