A cover letter is an essential piece of communication during job applications. In addition to a good résumé, sending out a great cover letter to recruiters is a necessary and vital step towards getting a job. This, therefore, means that in order for your cover letter to stand out among the many others, it has to be really great. What makes a good cover letter?
It is correctly addressed.
Strictly speaking, a cover letter is to be addressed to a certain person or a certain department in a company. Usually, the name and contact details of the receiver are placed at the bottom of the job advert. A great cover letter is addressed to the right person, through the listed channel. The receiver is also addressed properly as ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Ma’ as the case may be.
However, in situations where the job advert provides an office and email address, without specifying exactly who the letter should be addressed to, you should address the receiver as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.
A good cover letter is well formatted.
Cover letters are written in paragraphs. The goal of a paragraph is to discuss one idea at a time. One feature of a fantastic cover letter is that it is well organized and neatly arranged in paragraphs. Also, each paragraph deals with one idea, while the next deals with another idea.
In addition to discussing one idea per paragraph, you should also make sure that the paragraphs are formatted with the same spacing.
It is straight to the point.
A remarkable cover letter does not beat about the bush; it is straight to the point. It focuses on your goal as an applicant, which is to inform the recruiter of your interest in the job advertised and how suitable you are for the job. An effective application letter does not derail from its aim
It has your contact information.
As you may have noticed, an application letter is not just a letter. It could be the beginning of correspondence between you and the company you are applying to. So, your cover letter should have your contact information. If you are sending your cover letter via email, ensure you use your email address to send out the application, and not someone else’s. This is to ensure easy and quicker communication, in the event that the company gives you a callback or an invitation to an interview.
It states its purpose.
Recruiters and HR Managers communicate back and forth with people, in the course of doing their jobs. The day-to-day activities of HR Managers involve sending and responding to internal memos and emails, as well as receiving emails from outside the organization. Bearing this in mind, it is important that you craft your cover letter to state its purpose in the first paragraph. This tells your addressee what the letter is about, right from the start. It also helps the receiver reach a decision quickly.
It is easy to read and understand.
Good writing of any kind on any subject must be easy to read and understand. A great application letter is no exception. The language of your cover letter should be simple and unambiguous. So, avoid complex sentences with so many ideas lumped together. Short and simple should be your watchword, if you want to craft an outstanding letter.
It contains the necessary information.
Keeping in mind your aim of writing the letter—which is to secure a job—put in the necessary information. Such information include: your educational qualifications, your work experience (particularly those that are related to the one you are presently applying for), your contact information and whatever skill or non-work-related experience that show you have what it takes to excel at the job, if you get it.
A cover letter is not like just any other letter. It must have certain characteristics or features if it is going to be effective in getting you the much-desired job.
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