Cover letters got you down?

To include or not to include – that is the age old question when it comes to cover letters. To some they may seem like an outdated waste of time, to others they are your first impression on a recruiter. While you may fear that no one is even going to read what you wrote, it may be more important than it seems. So, should you take the time to write a cover letter during the job hunt and what should you include to make it stand out from the competition? A well-crafted cover letter can make you stand out from other candidates, boost your career prospects, make a lasting impression, and help you land the dream job you truly want.?

Writing your first cover letter: what information can you include?

Writing a cover letter might seem like a whole lot of pointless hard work, especially when you’re writing your first cover letter. You might even wonder if you really need to include one, does anyone still read cover letters anyway? Heidi Giusto , a career consultant and Resume Writer , says yes. As long as the instructions don’t tell you not to write one (always follow the instructions in a job application), then it’s worth spending some time crafting a killer cover letter. It may not be the first thing a potential employer looks at but when it comes to narrowing down the field of applications for potential interview, it could just be what sets you apart.

When you have little or no work experience and you’re applying for your first job, it can be hard to think of things to say in your cover letter. But the chances are you have more transferable skills than you think. Here are Giusto’s top tips for writing a cover letter for your first job.

What are you trying to achieve?

When you start planning your first cover letter, you need to consider what you’re trying to do with it. Giusto reminds us that, “Your resume and cover letter are strategic marketing documents, you never share anything just for the sake of it. Think about what the cover letter should be doing, it should not simply restate the resume.” Your first cover letter is about forging a different type of relationship with the reader, giving them a way to get to know you from different angles. It’s your chance to address things that aren’t in your resume , tell them why you’re looking for a new role, show how excited you are to work for the company or industry, and demonstrate your alignment with their mission and values .

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