A cover letter is your opportunity to showcase your skills, personality, and fit for a library job. It can make the difference between getting an interview or being rejected. But how do you write a cover letter that stands out from the crowd? Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling and professional cover letter.
Don't send a generic cover letter that could apply to any library position. Research the library, the role, and the hiring manager. Identify the specific requirements, expectations, and goals of the job. Then, highlight how your experience, education, and achievements match them. Use keywords and phrases from the job description, but don't copy them verbatim. Show how you can add value and solve problems for the library.
responsible for ensuring the right capability is provided across the function to support the delivery of projects and programmes. enabling the design of a long-term resourcing model, capability uplift and cultural shift for Programmes. establishing and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships across all parts of Waka Kotahi. Leveraging these relationships it will lead the development of an enterprise community of practice to build capability in a smart and joined up way.
The article mentions using keywords and phrases, though not verbatim- I'd also add not too many! Chances are your resume will be algorithmically scanned, which is where you'll need more of them, but your cover letter should be working alongside with your resume so you'll need fewer there.
A cover letter is not just a summary of your resume. It's also a chance to show your enthusiasm and interest in the library field. Explain why you want to work for this particular library and what makes you a good fit for its culture and mission. Use a friendly and professional tone, but don't be afraid to inject some personality and humor. Avoid clichés and jargon, and use concrete examples and stories to illustrate your points.
A cover letter is also a great place to note what draws you to librarianship in general- what do you think are the big themes and challenges in the field? This helps to establish not just your financial value, but also your ethical value to the organization (an increasingly big deal in a lot of places!)
A cover letter should be clear, concise, and easy to read. Use a standard font, size, and margin, and align your text to the left. Include your contact information, the date, and the hiring manager's name and address at the top. Use a formal salutation, such as "Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. LastName," or "To Whom It May Concern" if you don't know the name. Divide your letter into three or four paragraphs, each with a clear purpose and focus. End with a courteous and confident closing, such as "Sincerely," or "Best regards," and your signature.
This may sound silly, but also, don't save your cover letter as a PDF format if you don't have to. Those can mess with systems that are trying to match it with your resume as PDFS don't always scan well.
A cover letter with typos, grammatical errors, or factual mistakes can ruin your chances of getting an interview. Before you send your letter, proofread it carefully and check for spelling, punctuation, and consistency. Use a tool like Grammarly or Hemingway to catch any errors or improve your readability. Ask a friend, colleague, or mentor to review your letter and give you feedback. Make sure your letter is no longer than one page and fits the specific instructions of the job posting.
A cover letter is not the end of your communication with the employer. It's the beginning of a conversation that can lead to an interview and a job offer. After you send your letter, follow up with the employer within a week or two. Send a polite and professional email or call to restate your interest, confirm that they received your application, and ask about the next steps. This can show your initiative, enthusiasm, and persistence, and keep you on their radar.
In the letter, I tend to offer the option to email them any documents (even the letter they're reading!) and then follow-up (usually via email as well) to confirm they received it and ask if there are any questions. Keeps my name fresh!