The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Game-Changing Application Cover Letter.
Amr Al-Haidari, PhD
Postdoctoral associate at the University of Rochester Medical Center, New York
In job applications and professional networking, one document stands as a key to unlocking the doors of opportunity: the cover letter. Often overshadowed by its accompanied CV or resume, the cover letter is the game-changing playing card that has the power to captivate and distinguish you from the competition.
In the following steps, I will be guiding you to uncover the strategies that can transform your cover letter from a mere formality into a compelling narrative. Let's embark on this enlightening journey together and discover how mastering the art of the cover letter can open doors you never thought possible.
Understand the cover letter structure
The cover letter consists of 5 main components: (1) The header (2) The opening paragraph (3) The letter's body (4) The closing paragraph.
Customize your letter and start strong
Many people tend to develop a one-to-go cover letter. While in fact, this might be simple, if you don’t want to spend so much time, tailoring your cover letter for each job application is essential to increase your chances to be selected during the screening process. As mentioned above, begin with a solid opening paragraph that grabs the reader's attention and addresses the specific requirements and responsibilities mentioned in the job posting. Mention how you learned about the position and express your enthusiasm about the role. The stronger your start is, the better chance that the recruiter will continue reading your cover letter.?
Address the Hiring Manager
Whenever possible, address the cover letter to a specific person, ideally the hiring manager or relevant department head. Try to avoid using generic greetings like "To Whom It May Concern, or several persons at the same time." This adds a personal touch and shows that you've done your research. If you were referred to the position by a current employee or someone within your network, mention this in your opening. Referrals can lend credibility to your application. I strongly recommend briefly mentioning the source of the job posting to contextualize how you came across the opportunity. This shows that you are actively engaged in your job search.
Elaborate on your motivation
Explain why you are interested in the specific role and how it aligns with your career goals. Try to convey your genuine enthusiasm for the role and the company. You can use positive language that shows your eagerness to contribute to both the growth of the workplace and your improvements. Emphasize the skills and qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the role. According to my experience, it is critical to provide specific examples of how your experience aligns with the job requirements. Don’t feel down to provide a short story to surface yourself about dealing with some relevant situations. I used to write on a piece of paper with bullet points of the job description and then I go through them one by one and write how I meet this point based on previous experience and how my selection will have an impact on each point.
Show your research
Many cover letters fail to convince recruiters because they show that the applicants have not spent some time exploring the company in question. Therefore, it is advisable that you mention something specific about the company or its ongoing projects to demonstrate that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested. I usually grab some info from Google and I look after some news relevant to products in the pipeline if it's a company or research outcomes if it's in academia. Try to align these achievements to what you have done before and how they are crossed together or have the ability to be further developed.
Address gaps or concerns
If you have gaps in your employment history or a career change, briefly address them in a positive and honest way. For example, if the gap is due to a job loss or health issue, you can briefly address it while focusing on your ability to overcome challenges and your readiness to contribute positively to add value to the company. focus on your skills, and qualifications and turn your concerns into strength points you can take off. If you have been volunteering somewhere or you had an internship elsewhere, try to elaborate on this more and how skills gained from such experience make you ready for your next role.
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Keep it concise
A cover letter should be concise, typically between one and two pages. However, it could actually be more than that. I have seen myself decent covering letters almost three pages. The point here is you need to magnetize the attention of the recruiter in your first 2 – 3 paragraphs so it is pleasing to the recruiter to continue learning about you through your letter. No matter how long the cover letter as long as you catch the momentum. Try to maintain a professional and positive tone throughout the letter and avoid negative language or sounding too casual. Being concise about how your skills align with the job role is key to addressing your capabilities in adding value to the role.
Follow-up
Concluding your letter by expressing your interest in an interview and thanking the reader for considering your application is another important piece of your cover letter. Hiring managers often receive numerous applications, and yours might get buried among them. A follow-up serves as a gentle reminder and prompts them to review your application again. I strongly recommend following up on your application sometime after the deadline. This shows that your proactive attitude and commitment to the role are solid, and most importantly, can give you feedback that you can use to improve your future cover letters.
Finally, remember that the goal of your cover letter is to showcase your qualifications, enthusiasm, and fit for the position. Use these tips to craft a cover letter that effectively communicates your value to potential employers.
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