A cover letter is an effective tool to provide a personalised and noteworthy introduction of the candidate while submitting the job application. A cover letter which is well-crafted and framed well it summarises the information that the candidate has provided on the resume. Apart from that it further illustrates the information that the reader is presented with. It is a well-informed letter comprising the candidate’s career accomplishments and achievements.
A cover letter should ideally not be generic for all cases. The candidate should customise and re-write the cover-letter for based on the different needs of the job.
A resume is a template of facts related to the employee. It states the timeline of the candidates’ education in addition to his achievements, skills, hobbies, etc. A cover letter, on the other hand, is more dynamic and conveys more personality. A cover letter comes even before the resume. Hence, it appears to be the first document in the candidate’s hiring process. Hence, it is vital that it creates a strong ad lasting impression.
This is why framing a customised cover letter for every job is this important. The demands and prerequisites of every job is different. Hence, a cover letter does not follow a specific pattern or format. There is no predefined template on which a cover letter can be formed. It completely depends on the demands of the company and how good the company can market himself/herself to them.
Guide to Writing a Cover Letter
It is already mentioned that there is no specific format to write a cover letter. But indeed, there are pointers to keep in mind in order to make the cover letter attractive, visually pleasing thereby increasing the chances of its success. A proper cover letter should be organised and concise. The contents should be in an orderly pattern. Also, it should not be haphazard but very organised. There is a rough sketch to making a cover letter organised and its mentioned below.
- A catchy and impressionable introduction of the candidate. Writing a catchy introduction is important because, if not, the recruiter or interviewer would lose interest in the beginning.
- The body should comprise of the relevant experiences of the candidate to the current job. It should include his/her prior experiences, his/her roles in other organisations, his/her relevant skills to the job etc.
- The conclusion should be concise and include a necessary call to action.
Dos and Donts Of a Cover Letter
There are certain dos and donts that determines the success of a cover letter. They are as follows:
- Make the cover-letter curated according to the demands of the job.
- State the skills that may be helpful or are relevant to the current job.
- Comprehensively mention why you want to be a part of that organisation.
- Do not provide generic internet cloned answers. A cover letter should showcase the personality that makes you the best suit for the job.
- Always be honest and true about your information on the cover letter.
- Do not blatantly mention skills like “leadership”. Instead, add specific stories and experiences that prove that you are a good leader.
- A cover letter should be personalised and catchy but do not cross the limits of professionalism. You should come off as rude or overconfident.
- Be unique in your cover letter. Add your own touch to it.
- Choose a tone of voice that you want to portray in the cover letter. Different cover letters demand different tones.
- The call of action in the conclusion should be polite and spontaneous. It should not be rude and unprofessional.
- Always proofread your cover letter for any possible errors.
Cover Letter Samples
Below provided are a number of samples for a cover letter.
Sample 1: Cover Letter for Internship
To
*Name*
*company Name*
*Location*
*Date*
Dear *name*,
I am writing to express my interest in the Summer Internship Programme by your company. I got to know about your company from the placement cell at my University. After going through your website, I have completely immersed myself in the groundbreaking work in the automobile industry.
My current major is on marketing while I have also done a number of volunteering works on the sidelines. I feel your company is great assimilation of these two domains. Upon getting the opportunity to work in your company, I would not only get to learn comprehensively but also get an opportunity to advance my career in the desired field. With my preset knowledge in marketing, analytics and campaigns, I can add value to your company as well.
I previously had an internship with an organisation pertaining to digital marketing and analytics. In that position, I learned a lot about SEO, Web analytics and Adobe suit. I also learned how to curate campaigns and lead them. I believe these skills of mine can be of use to you since I heard that your company is looking to expand in the field of social media.
I would love to meet you and discuss about available internship opportunities. *number* this is my phone number and *mail address* and this is my mailing address. Please contact me if you have any questions or choose to see work samples.
Thank you for your consideration
Regards,
*Name*
Sample 2: Cover Letter for a Graphic Designer
To
*Name*
*company Name*
*Location*
*Date*
Dear *name*,
I am writing this letter to apply for the post of Graphic Designer in *company name*. I have had a long experience of 5 years in this specific field and served two top-notch media houses in their graphic department. I believe I will be a good cut out for this job and that I can add value to this company.
While serving as a graphic designer in the previous firm I had in hand knowledge and experience of all the current trends in the market include digital marketing, Adobe suite, Social media campaigns etc. My work was appreciated and hence I was aligning with the top clients of the firm.
Also, my leadership skills were tested and rewarded. I was working as a team leader and yielded profits worth huge amounts. My up-to-date knowledge and real-time experience have helped me bag projects worth lakhs.
*Company name* is one of the leading companies in this field. I believe that my knowledge and skill-set would align with the company’s present and future goals and hence makes me a good cut-out for this job. You can contact me at *Phone number* or drop me a mail T *email id*. Thank you for your time and I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
*Name*
Sample 3: Concise Cover-Letter
To
*Name*
*company Name*
*Location*
*Date*
Dear *name*,
I am writing for the current opening in sales in *company name* which I believe will report to you.
As an experienced professional in the field, I will offer you practical experience in the biggest firms in this country along with all the soft skills best needed to succeed in sales. I have made sales worth tens of lakhs for my previous companies and wish to do the same and better for yours.
I have attached my resume for all the detailed knowledge that you might have to consider. But I believe with my experience I can add a lot of value to your company’s future plans.
My contact details are attached and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
*Name*
A cover letter is of high importance to an employer as it is a detrimental factor in hiring an employee. For an employee too it is of no less importance, as it provides the very first information of the employee to the recruiter and can easily make or break the deal.