Fundamentals of Cover Letters

by Evalee R. Career Counseling

A cover letter is a vital one-page document that helps the candidate fix his place for an interview. It supports the candidate to sell himself in the market and give a brief idea of his potential to the employer.

The candidate must include his top skills, educational background and relevant experience in the cover letter in a meticulous way. It conveys why he is apt for the position and increases his chances of being called for the interview.

How to write a cover letter ?

Writing the cover letter in an effective manner can help in grabbing the attention of the hiring manager and thus boost your chances of being selected for further rounds.

Following things must be noted when the candidate is presenting his cover letter for any position:

Salute the concerned person

Since this is a formal letter; it is essential that you start your letter greeting the hiring manager professionally. It has to be personalized with recipient's name. Avoid making spelling mistakes and make use of colon instead of comma in your letter. Try to obtain the information from the official website of the company or call the HR. In case you are not able to get the same, go for general salutation as this is the simple way.

Be specific in your first paragraph

The way you start your letter can be a decisive moment for the hiring manger. The opening paragraph of your document must be precise and give a brief introduction of the candidate. He must give an explanation behind writing the letter. It must also state the job profile the candidate is interested in and how he came to know about the same. If he is applying with the help of reference, then he must not forget to mention the name and the designation of the referrer in his document. Also, he must specify why he has applied for the particular job profile and reason to be employed.

Summary of skills in the middle paragraphs

Here the candidate can convey why he is suitable for the position by mentioning his past achievements and skills. He can also add credentials obtained by undergoing certification courses, internships and work related to field study. He must include key points that are pertinent to the position and clearly focus why he is the best candidate for the job. Stating good work ethics and strong transferable skills can add an extra effect to the candidate's cover letter. Also, the candidate must mention his goal in life and where he wants to reach while pursuing the career. If the candidate is still not clear on these points, he can always describe his short-term goals and give a brief idea about what he wants to achieve in the future. He must not forget to include information about the organization. Writing few lines about the company's vision and how it matches the candidate's way of thinking can be an added beneficiary for him.

End your letter in a formal manner

Last but not the least, it is necessary that the candidate closes his cover letter in a formal way. The candidate must specify about the enclosed resume with the letter and other documents. These documents can be the ones that have been requested by the employer. Also in the closing paragraph, the candidate must stress on how passionate he is about getting this job and how his skills would be useful for the firm. Also, the candidate must thank the reader for going through the letter and state that he is awaiting the interview call. The cover letter must end with appropriate complimentary greetings. The candidate can follow up with the organization where your application is in the hiring process if you don't get a response, but he must not be too adamant for the same.

The cover letter is a vital document that can help the candidate break through the initial barrier and get selected for the interview. However, a lot depends on how you have drafted it. If you keep these cover letter fundamentals in mind, you will definitely be called for the interview.