Job Application ABCs: How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job

There's more to applying for a job than making the best resume and answering the interview well. Applicants must also know how to write a cover letter. But what is it, and how does it benefit a person's job application?

The most effective cover letters highlight how the candidate's experience and education match the advertised position's needs and the company's goals. Even though cover letters aren't always necessary, many employers still 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, sometimes called an application letter, is a brief memo explaining your qualifications and expressing interest in a particular job or organization. It's a document often included in a job application alongside a resume. The cover letter usually has three to four paragraphs and is only one page long. Regarding a letter of interest vs. a cover letter, the latter is a document that accompanies your resume and briefly explains why you are interested in the position.

While your resume must be brief, 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. For one, having a good cover letter sets you apart from the competition. To avoid generic cover letters, research the company and position you're applying for in great detail before writing your cover letter.

Why Is a Cover Letter Necessary?

One of the best ways to impress a potential employer with your qualifications is to write a well-written and compelling cover letter. A well-written cover letter should do the following:

• Prove that you took the time to do research and are committed to the job
• Confirm your familiarity with the challenges facing the company
• Demonstrate that your values coincide with theirs
• Show how you can solve a problem with your expertise and experience

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

What to Consider Before Writing a Cover Letter

Now that you know what a cover letter is, you’re almost ready to write one. Before crafting your cover letter, ensure you’ve gathered enough information. Use a simple, professional font like Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica in size between 10 and 12 points for your cover letter. The cover letter length should be one page long at most. Your letter should be single-spaced, with one-inch margins, and left-aligned.

Moreover, consider the following before writing a cover letter:

Follow the cover letter format

A cover letter is like any formal business letter. Here are examples of how to write a cover letter for each part:

1. Header A header is the first element of a well-crafted cover letter. It is recommended that the headers of your cover letter and resume be identical for continuity, so feel free to reuse the same format for both documents. Here’s what you should include in the header:
   • Full name
   • Career Title
   • Contact Number
   • Email address
   Once you've finished the header, include the date and place of composition.
2. 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. Write it like this:
   • Dear Rachel,
   • Dear Ms. Karen
   • Dear Mr. Green
   Follow this format for this section: [Location, Date]
   
   [Name of Hiring Manager or Recruiter]
   [Title of Recruiter/Hiring Manager]
   [Name of Company]
   [Address of the Company]
   
   Dear [state the name],
3. Introductory paragraph The hiring manager's interest in reading your cover letter will depend on your opening sentences. You need to immediately get the reader's attention and keep it with a solid opening paragraph in your cover letter. Start your cover letter off right by using one of these tried-and-true methods:
   • Emphasize accomplishments
   • Exhibit your interest and enthusiasm
   • Mention names
   • Use all of them
   Here’s an example: 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 in assisting 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.
4. Body/Middle paragraph(s) When learning how to write a cover letter for a job, you should know the flow of the main body. 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 will allow you to meet those requirements.
   
   Take a look at this sample content:
   
   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 strategic products of the company. This would improve our SEO results and the user experience.
   
   As a result of my optimization efforts:
   • Seven of the eight websites I worked on consistently rank in Google's top three. These results are unpaid, organic, and rank for 10+ important search terms.
   • Inbound search traffic from major search engines accounts for 47% of all organic search traffic for targeted keywords across all nine 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 for me. With this project, I aim to use my expertise in search engine optimization and online growth marketing.
5. Concluding paragraph The conclusion is as important as the paragraphs preceding it. Know how to write a good ending for your cover letter by telling the hiring manager that 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 would 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.
6. 6. Complimentary close and signature Simply add a formal closing to your cover letter after you have finished the body. Sign your full name after "Sincerely" and close the letter. A handwritten signature is welcome in more formal cover letters but not required. Here are other complimentary closings to use when writing your cover letter:
   • Kind regards,
   • Thank You,
   • Best regards,
   • Respectfully yours,

Research the company

Cover letter writing involves thorough research and knowledge about the company you’re interested in.

What do you know about the company? Do you agree with the values it represents? Research the company to find out whether its goal statement and vision are something you can get behind.

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

• Check out the company website
• Visit their social media pages to know them further
• Connect with the company on LinkedIn
• Learn more about company culture through reviews
• Get insights on their competitors

Address the letter to the right person

Who are you addressing in the cover letter? Look for the hiring manager's name and contact information on the company’s website. If it isn’t shown, try sending them a message through email or their social media pages to get their contact information. If there’s no reply, address the cover letter to "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Human Resources."

Relate your work experience

How would you like to relate your work experience to the hiring manager? What achievements, talents, or skills would you like to highlight in your cover letter? Detailing your work experience related to the position you're applying for is crucial. This will give potential employers a sense of your approach to problem-solving.

Remember the job opportunity's source

Mention where you learned about the job posting in your cover letter. How did you know about the job opportunity? Was it from a personal contact, a referral, or a job posting? Don’t forget to jot down this information and note the specific instructions in the job description.

Examples of a Good Cover Letter

Curious as to what a well-written cover letter looks like? From our examples in the previous section, here’s an example of how to write a cover letter for digital marketing:

Phoebe Geller
Digital Marketing Specialist
202-555-0182
[email protected]

Manhattan, NY, 03/15/2023

Chandler Green
Hiring Manager
InSquare Inc.
100, Charming Avenue
Brooklyn, New York, USA

Dear Mr. Green,

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 in assisting 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.

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 strategic products of the company. This would improve our SEO results and the user experience.

As a result of my optimization efforts:

• Seven of the eight websites I worked on consistently rank in Google's top three. These results are unpaid, organic, and rank for 10+ important search terms.
• Inbound search traffic from major search engines accounts for 47% of all organic search traffic for targeted keywords across all nine 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 for me. With this project, I aim to use my expertise in search engine optimization and online growth marketing.

I would 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.

Kind regards,

Phoebe Geller
==========

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

Evelyn Wang
Human Resources Director
202-654-0173
[email protected]

Manhattan, NY, 03/17/2023

Chandler Green
Hiring Manager
InSquare Inc.
100, Charming Avenue
Brooklyn, New York, USA

Dear Chandler,

It gives me great pleasure to submit my application for the Human Resources Manager position at InSquare. As a certified human resources professional, I feel gratified when I assist service-oriented businesses like InSquare in finding and keeping talented employees. I'm looking forward to helping InSquare improve employee relations by creating and implementing initiatives that help employees from when they're hired until they retire.

As Prime Communications' director of human resources, I played a significant senior leadership role in the company. I was in charge of enhancing the productivity and performance of the 600 staff members. In my previous role, I oversaw HR initiatives at Tribbiani Solutions, focusing on diversity and equal employment opportunity issues. With my employee retention plan at Tribbiani Solutions, we were able to cut our turnover rate by 52% by instituting a wellness initiative, a comprehensive internal training program, and a transparent promotions selection procedure.

My background in human resources management and organizational development for the past decade has equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to serve as the team leader for HR and assist in recruiting and retaining top talent, making InSquare a top workplace. I have an undergraduate degree from New York University in Leadership and Management Studies and a graduate degree in Human Resource Management from Claremont Graduate University.

I appreciate you giving me a moment of your time. I'm eager to meet with you and share more about my background and experience in human resources management.

Sincerely,

Evelyn Wang

Tips on How to Write a Cover Letter

With this data, you should be able to craft a powerful cover letter quickly. Here are a few best practices to remember:

1. Make sure the content is unique per job

   Don’t write generic cover letters. You must customize your cover letter for each job and company you’re applying to. They should be tailored to each position by incorporating relevant information from the employer's posting and your research. Moreover, many people treat their cover letter as a paragraph version of their resume. Instead of regurgitating the information you’ve already mentioned, use your cover letter to expand on things not detailed in your resume. Identify tangible and intangible reasons why you’re the perfect person for the job. Your cover letter is also ideal for clarifying anything in your resume that warrants an explanation. Examples are having an employment gap or going through a drastic career change.

2. Open strong

   To write a good cover letter, you should know how to open with a strong lead sentence. Give the employers the nutshell version of why you want this job and what you can bring to the table first. Then you can add a few sentences about your background and relevant experience, but don't just repeat what's on your resume. Mentioning a personal connection to the company or an employee within the first couple of sentences is also a good idea. In addition, refrain from using humor in your introduction. It might not work or come off as arrogant. Instead, use a direct, impactful sentence like, “Let me highlight two points that make me an ideal candidate for joining your team.”

3. Demonstrate enthusiasm

   Hiring managers may pick a candidate who makes it seem like this is their dream job. Therefore, express your excitement for the opportunity and clarify why you want the job. Enthusiasm reveals character. If there is something about the company or the job that you aren’t enthusiastic about, don't apply.

4. Watch the tone

   The tone you use when writing a cover letter is essential. Nevertheless, avoid overdoing the flattery or saying anything untrue. It's important to be genuine. Also, your tone shouldn't appear desperate, even though you've been unemployed for months. Maintain an air of maturity and professionalism, so your message isn't weakened. The best way to impress a hiring manager is to imagine yourself in the manager's role and use the same language the manager would use when speaking with a client.

5. Keep it short and straightforward

   Cover letters can vary in length, depending on the position being sought. Carefully read the job description to find the best opportunities to highlight your qualifications. What professional accomplishments are you most proud of? Connect one or two of them to the skills and experience the hiring manager seeks in just a few concise sentences. Find the qualities the job description is looking for in a candidate, and use the cover letter to highlight these qualities.

6. Proofread the content and get feedback

   Make sure your application is error-free in terms of spelling, grammar, and punctuation before submitting it. Reading the work aloud is a good way to catch awkward wording or overly long sentences. It's important to focus on every word and analyze every sentence while reading to avoid any potential mistakes. Another important tip on how to write a cover letter: triple-check the hiring manager’s name to ensure you won’t misspell it.

7. Use hyperlinks for online applications

   If you’re sending your application online, hyperlinks are handy items to include in your resume and cover letter. 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. Also, never use long URL strands. Again, you want your resume to be concise, and long URLs defeat the purpose.

8. Make it ATS-friendly

   More companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort resumes, so ensure your cover letter is ATS-friendly. An ATS is a piece of software that helps with applicant screening. The software evaluates applicants and makes hiring decisions based on the company's standards. It doesn't matter how qualified and experienced you are; if your cover letter doesn't match the company's requirements, the applicant tracking system (ATS) will pass it over. Follow these simple rules to make sure the applicant tracking system reads your cover letter:
   • Use keywords ATS uses keywords to screen applicants, so mention the keywords when writing your cover letter. The keyword could be the skills the company needs. Even if you don't have the necessary credentials, state in your cover letter that you’re working on them or plan to work on them.
   • Clearly state your contact information Many ATS programs don't search the header and footer. Instead of the header or footer, the letter's body should include your contact details. If the program detects missing contact information, it may exclude you from consideration.
   • Keep it simple Avoid using columns, QR codes, fancy fonts, non-standard bullet points, images, or charts. The ATS will not comprehend them. Doing so increases the possibility of being disqualified during the screening process.

Craft the Perfect Cover Letter with Resumeble

Learning how to write a cover letter is an invaluable skill in any professional's toolkit. It’s a skill that gets you closer to your dream job. With our tips and tricks here, you are now well-equipped to create the perfect cover letter. If yours needs double-checking, don’t worry! Contact us today, and we'll help you craft a cover letter that gets you interviews.