Do you know that creating a stunning resume is not always enough to land an interview? Take a well-rounded approach to seize an opportunity at the job market. Sometimes, nailing your dream job will require reaching a professional cover letter writer in order to ensure your job application lands at the recruiter’s desk.
Still having second thoughts on writing a professional cover letter? Check out what experts think about why you should add a cover letter to your CV.
What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is like an application letter you once sent to the college of your dreams. This document follows the structure of a traditional letter. First, an applicant mentions their contact information in the header. They later proceed with the reasons they apply for the job. The goal of a cover letter is to persuade the recruiter that you’re the top candidate for the position.
The common structure of job applications are as follows:
- Header. Mention your name, address, phone number, date, and email;
- Greetings. Use proper official greetings here – no slang;
- Opening paragraph. Mention the position you’re applying for and how you’ve learnt about it;
- Body. Describe your background, qualification, education, and key skills. Add one more paragraph if needed to mention your soft skills;
- Closing paragraph. Restate your interest in the position and end your letter with the last goodbyes.
#1: Increases Your Chances to Win an Interview
A hiring manager that values CVs accompanied by cover letters will read your application documents. If you don’t apply for a job in a corporation (most of them use ATS bots nowadays), writing a cover letter is beneficial. In fact, small- and middle-scale businesses might ignore the need for an applicant tracking system. Hence, the recruiters at smaller firms will give a go to your cover letter.
A cover letter is a sign of your diligence and commitment to the job search. Once your resume lands in hiring hands, it will boost your acceptance rates and increase your chances of getting more interviews.
#2: Allows You to Add More Career Info
The space of your curriculum vitae cannot always encompass all career facts or accomplishments. This is when a cover letter comes in handy. In the body of this document, you can mention courses, awards, or special skills. You can use your creativity to the fullest when it comes to persuading the reader.
The main tip from a career advice expert is to stay realistic. No need to mention you’ve completed a course in management if you haven’t done it in reality.
#3: Highlights Your Personal Qualities
An average resume focuses on the candidate’s work experience, education, and job responsibilities. Regardless of how you craft a winning resume, it won’t emphasize your personality. Sure, you can list ‘empathy’ and ‘attention to detail’ in the Soft Skills section. But soft skills don’t tell a story.
Use a cover letter to highlight your personal strengths by showcasing how you can apply them in job-related experiences. Add how your personal traits have already helped you become a more effective employee.
#4: Necessary for Recruiting Firms
If you’ve delegated the job search to a third party, compose a cover letter. Modern recruiting firms read cover letters in order to understand the candidate better. They also help recruiters find whether the candidate is the best match for a particular company. At the end of the day, these firms communicate with many job seekers. Yet the reason to write a cover letter is to let the recruiting firm see you among other candidates with the same qualifications and experience.
#5: Adds Enthusiasm to the Job Search
Yes, a cover letter is a document composed with an official tone. But at the same time, it’s a place for human emotion. A standard resume demands candidates to list the facts regarding one’s work in the least joyful way. Meanwhile, a cover letter encourages individuals to show optimism and enthusiasm.
For instance, you may complement the company’s product or tell the reader how much you agree with the company’s values. Is the organization famous for its environmental policies and aims to change the future? Mention that the values coincide with your beliefs, yet you’d be happy to work for the company. Show excitement to persuade the reader that the position is your dream job.
#6: Adds a Perfect Explanation
A resume is not a place to mention why you’ve been jobless for 5 years or why you’ve changed a career field. It certainly doesn’t have a section where one can explain why they left their previous occupation. However, a cover letter gives you a chance to tell the recruiter about the reasons for your job-related decisions.
If you tell the reader that you’ve been a freelance writer for 5 years, they won’t consider you lazy or irresponsible.
#7: Expresses Genuine Interest in the Job Position
Unfortunately, your enthusiasm won’t beat an ATS system because it’s not designed to do so. However, along with a bot-beating resume, you’ll win the reader’s heart by being sincere in your cover letter. This is especially important if communicating with people will be a part of your future duties. By presenting your written communication skills, you ensure the recruiter that you’ve been tailored for the job position.
Final Thoughts
We advise you to craft a professional cover letter to expand your career resources. The research shows that most hiring managers read the cover letters of their candidates. Writing a cover letter will increase your chances to win an interview and get a job even when your education document is a high school diploma.
We hope the article was helpful to you. Good luck!
Author Bio
Gloria Lunsford
Content Writer at ResumeService24 with more than five years of experience in the resume writing service industry. Her primary specialization is English and Marketing, but she writes on a great number of other topics.
Website: ResumeService24.com