Most candidates who have never written a cover letter before in their lives, or have obviously struggled to craft one, have probably referred to cover letter samples at some point. It is not surprising that they have used such samples as their own.
While doing this may be useful and definitely lighten the burden of having to craft an original one, here is some news flash: Hiring managers have probably seen such samples before in many other cover letters of job applicants, and they immediately lose interest. How are you supposed to stand out from the pack of competitive job hunters when you probably have the same cover letter as some of them?
While most applicants get the rough idea of the format of a cover letter and what to include in it, the trick is to market yourself in the cover letter by showing your creative yet professional side. A boring sample cover letter cannot get you anywhere near that desired interview and eventually, that job that you have always wanted.
Into The Bin
Research shows that hiring managers take less than 30 seconds to skim through cover letters and resumes before deciding who gets the interview. With a boring, mundane cover letter taken from the internet, yours will probably go into the bin without a second glance from the prospective employer.
Sample cover letters taken from the internet probably feature the standard format and structure that applicants are supposed to follow. However, this is precisely the reason that the cover letter will not catch the attention of the hiring manager because it is too generic and ineffective. So how do you go about writing a cover letter that screams you?
Personalize your cover letter
According to Janet Daley, director of internship programs at Stevenson University, personalised cover letters will definitely distinguish a candidate from another because he or she is seen to have taken the effort to and time to research the organization and demonstrate what makes him or her as an excellent candidate. So what should you do?
Be aware of what hiring managers look for in a cover letter and provide all those information.
Be straight to the point. This is not a storytelling session so be brief and direct.
Ensure that the first paragraph of the cover letter reflects the job that you are applying for and where you found the posting.
Personalize the second paragraph of the cover letter by relating relevant skills to the job description.
Your closing paragraph should include your contact number and always remember to thank your hiring manager for taking the time to read your cover letter. After all, you will be working with him or her!
Show that you are awesome!
Be confident and positive. Don’t showcase yourself as weak, timid, desperate or needy. You have to show your hiring manager that you are an excellent asset to the company in a competitive field.
List down one or two qualities that you have developed to a greater degree, and emphasize those qualities. Show that these qualities will help you be ahead in the job race and that they are useful for the company. Showcase your strengths, creativity and optimism. Because if you can’t share anything that makes you seem different and better, someone else will. They will get hired, you will get ignored.
Be the King of Resumes
Now that you have established some dos and don’ts in writing that cover letter, start perfecting that cover letter right now! But it will definitely be better with the top resumes writers who have been specializing in this field for many years! At Style Resumes, we provide the best cover letter services for you so you will not feel helpless in this competitive world of job-hungry wolves. Equipped with years of experience and in-depth knowledge, we will assist you in securing that dream job with the perfect cover letter that totally screams you. So why hesitate? Leave all your worries behind and let us handle this for you!