What Is A Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a one-page document that you include in your job application alongside other supporting documents. Its objective is to introduce yourself and concisely summarise your professional background. You should tailor your cover letter to the position you’re looking for to tell the employer why you’re the ideal candidate for the job.
In general, cover letters can be divided into four categories:
1. Application cover letter
2. Referral cover letter
3. Letter of interest
4. Value proposition letter
Cover Letter vs Resume vs CV
Hmm... are they the same? Let's go through this table to understand and differentiate them.
Why Is It Important To Our Job Application?
After a brief explanation of the differences between a cover letter with a resume and a curriculum vitae, let's discuss the importance of a cover letter in your job application. 53% of the employers think just a resume doesn't provide enough information to determine a candidate's suitability for the position. When there are too many applicants, hiring managers are more likely to pay more attention to those who provide a resume together with their cover letter. Here are several reasons why we require a cover letter:
- Lessen the chances that recruiters will reject our resume
- Increase the probability that the company will continue reading our attached resume
- A good opportunity to impress the hiring manager with your traits
- Offer a concise explanation of your most previous employment while highlighting your applicable qualifications as well as your seriousness and interest in the position you're looking for.
Here are some scenarios and cases when you require a cover letter or vice versa.
Tips In Writing A Convincing Letter
- Read the job description and understand the company background precisely.
- Abide by the recommended cover letter length criteria.
- Keep it concise and tidy with relevant content and format.
- Capable of demonstrating your interest in the position, enthusiasm for the organisation, and the value of your previous employment.
- When composing the letter, proofread your work and avoid the "do not" list.
- Ensure that the letter contains the information that the employer values.
According to Linda Spencer, associate director and coordinator of career advising at Harvard Extension School, a good cover letter addresses two essential concerns such as “Why are you qualified for the position?” and “How would you contribute to the organisation?”.
How To Construct An Outstanding Cover Letter?
The structure of the cover letter consists of five parts.
- Try to address your cover letter to a specific individual, typically the recruiting manager or department head, by including their name, position, company and address instead of "to whom in concern".
- Accentuate your personal value and enthusiasm.
- Be solid and real with the right tone.
- Be polite and avoid negativity when outlining your past job experience
- Utilize action words and avoid overusing the pronoun “I”.
- Always remember to express gratitude to the reader.
You may refer to some samples of cover letters here:
Keep up-to-date with the latest tips and guides by visiting our blog. Whether you're looking for a new job or a talent, CollaTeam will be here to help!
Sign up now at https://colla.team/blog or contact us at https://wapp.my/60189782066 (Carmen) to secure a better future career opportunity with us! Only for you!
