Job Application ABCs: How to Write a Cover Letter

Even though cover letters aren't always necessary, many employers use them to gauge potential hires. In this article, we’ll provide the knowledge you need to craft a winning cover letter for any job application.

What is a Cover Letter

A cover letter or application letter is a brief memo explaining your qualifications and expressing interest in a particular job or organization. It's a document you include in a job application alongside a resume. The cover letter usually has three to four paragraphs and is only one page long.

Unlike a letter of interest, which inquires about job opportunities at a company that's not currently hiring, a cover letter responds to the job description of an open position. A cover letter is where you can elaborate on your experience and explain why you'd be an asset to the company. In today's competitive job market, knowing how to write a good cover letter is essential. It sets you apart from the competition. 

Why is a Cover Letter Necessary 

One of the best ways to impress a potential employer with your qualifications is to craft an excellent and compelling cover letter. With the advancement of AI, many employers are becoming more adept at recognizing automated, generic applications. A well-written, personalized letter helps you stand out by showcasing your unique voice, experiences, and motivations - qualities that AI-generated content often lacks. Taking the time to write it yourself demonstrates authenticity and a real interest in the role. 

If you want an organization to hire you, your cover letter needs to answer the questions, "Why should we hire you?" and "What's in it for us?" The best strategy is to focus your attention on them rather than yourself. This will help you stand out from the other applicants.

Before Writing Your Cover Letter

Now that you know what a cover letter is, you’re almost ready to write one. Before you begin, carry out the following steps:

✔️ Research the Company - Cover letter writing involves thorough research and knowledge about the company you’re interested in. Read its goal statement and vision to determine if they are values you can get behind. Use these questions to guide your research: What do you know about the company? Do you agree with the values it represents?

Here are ways to research the company before writing a good cover letter:

• Check out the company website
• Visit their social media pages to get to know them better
• Connect with the company on LinkedIn
• Learn more about company culture through reviews
• Get insights on their competitors
• Reach out to people you know who work at the company to ask questions

✔️ Address the Letter to the Right Person - Look for the hiring manager's name and contact information on the company’s website. If you can't find it, try sending them a message through email or their social media pages to get their contact information. Address the cover letter to the hiring manager or human resources if there’s no reply. Avoid using impersonal language such as “to whom it may concern” or “dear sir/madam.”

✔️ Relate Your Work Experience - Detailing how your work experience relates to the position you're applying for is crucial as it will give potential employers a sense of your approach to problem-solving. As a result, take some time to research the connection between the two and identify the critical points and numbers you'll highlight.

✔️ Insert Keywords - While prioritizing natural, quality writing, add relevant keywords from the employer's job description to your cover letter. Using these keywords will help your document pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and demonstrate to the recruiter that you understand the role.

✔️ Remember the Source - In your application letter, mention where you learned about the job posting. Whether it was from a personal contact, a referral, or a job board, remember to jot down this information so you can include it in your letter.

Cover Letter Format

Your application document should have the following parts:

Header

A header is the first element of a well-crafted cover letter. The headers of your cover letter and resume must be the same for continuity, so please feel free to use the same format for both documents.

Greeting or Salutation

Following the header and the date, direct your cover letter to the hiring manager's attention. When writing a cover letter, using the recipient's name in the salutation is vital to elicit a positive response.

Introductory Paragraph

The reader's interest in your cover letter will depend on your opening sentence. You need to immediately grab their attention and keep it with a solid opening paragraph. Start your cover letter off right by using one of these tried-and-true methods:

Here’s an example of a cover letter introduction:

I've been an avid supporter of InSquare's marketing efforts for many years, so I was thrilled to see your job advertisement for a Digital Marketing Manager. I'm confident I can assist InSquare as it faces future challenges. I've managed online marketing campaigns with budgets of over $200,000 on a national scale. In addition, I have increased DigiAd's clientele by 25% since 2015.

Body/Middle Paragraph(s)

The second paragraph (main body) of your cover letter should accomplish two goals: provide the hiring manager with the requested information and demonstrate how your skills and experience allow you to meet those requirements.

Take a look at this sample:

At DigiAds, I oversee both the technical and creative sides of our online marketing efforts. My main goal from the year before was to redesign and optimize eight product websites that covered most of the company's strategic products to improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results and user experience.

As a result of my optimization efforts:

• Seven out of the eight websites I worked on consistently rank in Google's top three. These organic results rank for more than 10 important search terms.
• Inbound search traffic from major search engines accounts for 47% of all organic search traffic for targeted keywords across all eight websites.

I am aware that one of InSquare's current objectives is creating a comprehensive healthcare-themed website. This opportunity to build a one-of-a-kind online knowledge base for patients and healthcare professionals speaks directly to my professional and personal interests, making it a perfect fit. With this project, I aim to use my SEO and online growth marketing expertise. 

Concluding Paragraph

The conclusion is as important as the paragraphs preceding it. Write a good ending for your cover letter by telling the hiring manager you’re looking forward to meeting in person. Also, explain how your skills and background will contribute to the success of your prospective employer.

It should look like this:

I'll be happy to meet with you to discuss your digital marketing goals and provide examples of how my experience at DigiAd can help InSquare expand its online presence.

Close and Signature

Add a formal closing to your cover letter after you have finished the body. Sign your full name after "Sincerely," or "Warm Regards," and close the letter. A handwritten signature is welcome in more formal letters but is not necessary.

Examples of a Good Cover Letter

Here’s an example of how to write a cover letter for digital marketing:

Here’s how to write a cover letter for a human resources job application:

Cover Letter Best Practices

Follow these best practices when writing a cover letter for a job:

✔️ Use the Right Formatting

For your document, use an executive font like Helvetica, Arial, or Cambria in a font size between 10 and 12 points. The document should be one page long at most, single-spaced, with one-inch margins, and left-aligned.

✔️ Hyper-Customize Content

Avoid generic cover letters by discussing anything in your resume that you need to explain further (like employment gap), or expand on things missing in your resume. Tailor the letter to each position by incorporating relevant information from the employer's posting and your research.

✔️ Open Strong

Give the employers the nutshell version of why you want this job and what you can bring to the table first. Avoid using humor in your introduction, which may fall flat or come off as arrogant. Mention a personal connection to the company if you have one within the first couple of sentences.

✔️ Demonstrate Enthusiasm

Hiring managers pick a candidate who makes it seem like this is their dream job. So, express your excitement for the opportunity and clarify why you want the job. Enthusiasm reveals character. If you can't find anything about the company that excites you, reconsider applying for the role.

✔️ Watch the Tone

The tone is essential. Focus on honesty and avoid flattery. Maintain an air of maturity and professionalism and avoid sounding desperate — even if you've been unemployed for months. 

✔️ Keep It Short 

Cover letters can vary in length, depending on the position you're seeking. Carefully read the job description to find the best opportunities to highlight your qualifications. 

✔️ Proofread 

Make sure your letter is error-free in terms of spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Reading the work aloud is a good way to catch awkward wording or overly long sentences. Triple-check the hiring manager’s name to ensure you don’t misspell it.

✔️ Use Hyperlinks 

They save the reader time locating the extra information you want them to see. When hyperlinking, the most important thing to remember is to showcase your best work and projects highly relevant to the job you’re applying for. 

✔️ Make it ATS-Friendly

ATS evaluates applicants and makes hiring decisions based on the company's standards. Follow these simple rules to make sure the software reads your document: use keywords, make sure your contact information is clear, and keep it simple (no images, charts, or unusual bullet points). 

✔️ Include Metrics

Quantify your accomplishments to make your application stand out. Specify that your efforts generated 10% new customers in a single quarter or that you saved your previous company $10,000 over a certain period through customer retention tactics. 

✔️ Highlight Your Skills

Recruiters want to hire candidates who exhibit strong skills in leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, people management, and teamwork. Highlight an interpersonal skill and provide an example of how you demonstrated it to fulfill a past role.

✔️ Display Your Value

Determine which challenge the company is facing and explain how you can solve it. Providing a solution to a potential employer shows them that you're serious about the job and can add value to the organization.

✔️ Work With an Expert

When you work with a professional team experienced in resume writing, you can experience several benefits. Some advantages of choosing an expert resume writer include:

• Expertise: Our writers have seen countless resumes, enabling us to draft an effective cover letter and resume to make you stand out.
• Regular communication: You'll have access to a dedicated writer who will stay in close contact with you throughout the writing process.
• Guarantees: Our Executive Pro package promises to land you a job, while the professional and premium ones ensure an interview.