What is a Job Cover Letter?

A job cover letter is a letter that can be a good accompaniment to a resume or a CV when you are applying for a job. This letter is sent to the employer or hiring manager. In the job cover letter, you introduce yourself, express your interest in the job position, and highlight your skills and qualifications. Some examples of job cover letters are a teaching job cover letter, a part-time job cover letter, a cleaning job cover letter, a driver job cover letter, a data entry job cover letter, and a marketing job cover letter. There can be a perfect cover letter for any job if you can make a general letter that can be applicable to any position.

To make a great job application cover letter, you can use a job cover letter template or a job cover letter sample. Job cover letter examples can guide you on the things that you can say in your letter. You can make a great cover letter for resume that can accompany your high school resume or college student resume, for example. If you want to make a strong first impression to the employer, you must be careful in choosing what to say in your job cover letter. You have to be persuasive so that the employer will have an interest in your job application. Customize your application and explain why you are the best person for the role. Give the employer a reason why they should hire you.

Elements of a Job Cover Letter

Before you can be in a hurry to create your job cover letter, you must know first the elements of a good job cover letter. By doing this, you can create a complete and compelling job cover letter. Each element is important so you must pay attention to how you can make each element good. Below are the elements that you need to be familiar with.

Contact Information: Your contact information can be a good element in your job cover letter. Through it, the employer may be able to reach you anytime they want. You can include this at the beginning of your letter or at the end of your letter where you can include a call to action. State your name, address, phone number, and email number in the letter. You must leave this information to ensure that the employer can have easy access in contacting you.Salutation: Be polite in your letter. Show courtesy by giving a polite salutation. You can use the word “Dear” if you like. Address the letter to the hiring manager or to whom you are going to address it using their specific name. If you do not have their name, use the job position or you can simply write “Dear, Hiring Manager.” Giving a salutation denotes professionalism so you must be sure that you will provide it. It is essential to build rapport with the hiring manager or employer just at the beginning of your letter. If they will see that you are polite, they can like you and give you a chance for the job.Introduction: A good introduction is needed in your job cover letter. You need to start strong. The hiring manager or employer must be hooked on your first words. They should have an initial interest to hire you. So, you have to be sure that you can start your letter with good words. Remember, you have to be persuasive with your letter so you have to do this even at the beginning of your letter. Capture the heart of the reader even at the start of your letter. You must get their approval just with your introduction. If you do this, you can ensure that they will read your whole letter. With this, you can have a fair chance that they can consider your application.Body Paragraphs: The body of the paragraph is where you should be fully persuasive. You have to convince the employer or hiring manager that you are suited for the job. In this section, you should highlight your skills and qualification. Explain why you are the best person for the position. Mention some reasons why the company should hire you. Make them convinced that they will not go wrong with you if they will choose you above other applicants. Let them know that you can contribute well to their company. Show them that you are the best candidate for the role. If you do not have all the skills in the job description, you must make the company know that you are willing to learn. Show a good character that can surpass any skills. Make them believe that you are able to accomplish any work list or task list because of your enthusiasm. Let the hiring manager or employer know that you have the full willingness to do a perfect job. Amaze them with the body of your letter. This is your time to shine so you must not waste this time. Make your letter perfect.Closing Paragraph: To end your letter, make a closing paragraph. Summarize your qualifications here to remind the hiring manager or the employer that you are perfect for the job. Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity of an interview. If needed, make a call to action so that the hiring manager will have some instructions for continuing your application. Mention in this section that you have attached your resume with this letter.Closing and Signature: The last section of your letter will be the closing phrase and your signature. End the letter with a polite closing like “Sincerely” or “Best Regards.” Then write your full name and include your signature.

Benefits of a Job Cover Letter

A job cover letter is not a letter that we should take for granted. Know that successful job applicants get a job because of a great cover letter. Through a winning job cover letter, they have convinced employers and hiring managers to hire them. They are able to sell themselves with a good job cover letter. The following are some benefits that can better convince you to make a job cover letter for your employment application:

Personalization: Through the use of a job cover letter, you can introduce yourself to the employer or hiring manager in a personalized way. You will have the chance to express your character and show a good attitude that can convince the employer that you are a great worker. An opportunity will be given to you to explain why you are interested in the job. If there are other things that you would like to mention like your availability or you would like to brag about your past projects, you can do so with the job cover letter. This is also a chance where you can include a link to your project portfolio so you can be able to provide a portfolio sample or work sample. This is the opportunity for you to add a personal touch to your application.Highlights Relevant Skills and Experience: The job cover letter is your opportunity to elaborate on your skills and qualifications. Yes, you can include your skills and experiences in your resume, but it can be better if you can explain them to the employer or hiring manager. Through the job cover letter, you can showcase your skills by giving a portfolio and talking about the great things that your skills can provide to the company. This is a great opportunity for you to show that you are truly adept at the job. Through this, the employer or hiring manager will know that you are perfect for the role because they may be able to know all the things that you can do.Addresses Potential Concerns or Gaps: With the job cover letter, you can be given the freedom to communicate with the employer or hiring manager. If ever you have some problems regarding your application like your availability, you may be able to address this to the employer or hiring manager. For example, if you want to have a definite work schedule, you can express this in your letter. If you cannot start until a specific date, you can let them know about this in the cover letter. Or if you have no experience with the job but is so willing to learn, you can express your sincere interest in the letter. By using a job cover letter, you can address the potential concerns or gaps in your job application. What may not be possible may be possible by having a job cover letter that can let the employer understand your situation.Shows Communication and Writing Skills: Your communication and writing skills will be reflected in your job cover letter. With this, the company will know whether you have good communication and writing skills or not. Communication skills are vital in any work. By showing them that you can communicate well, they can have an interest to hire you. They will know that you will be able to communicate any issues that you can have at work. Because of this, you are going to be an efficient worker. So, with a job cover letter, you can impress employers with your good communication and writing skills.

How to Create a Job Cover Letter

If you are looking for a job, the first thing that you should learn is how to create a good job cover letter. This is what can give you an ace against other job applicants. Here are the steps in creating a great job cover letter:

1. Gather Information

Collect relevant information that you can use in your job cover letter. This includes the job description and your resume. You can also use the information that you can gather about the company you are applying for.

2. Format Your Cover Letter

A good job cover letter format is needed. Use a professional format. Be sure that your format can impress the employer or hiring manager.

3. Write the Letter

Begin with a salutation. Then write an engaging introduction. Grab the reader’s attention and express your enthusiasm for the job. Highlight your qualifications and skills. Address any concerns or gaps. Make a closing paragraph while expressing your gratitude.

4. Proofread

After writing your letter, you must proofread it. It will be meaningless if the readers will find some mistakes in it. Proofread it a couple of times to ensure that it is perfect. When it is, send it to the employer together with your resume.

FAQs

How long should a job cover letter be?

The ideal length of a job cover letter is one page or less. Remember to make it concise and focused.

How important is the cover letter?

A job cover letter is important because this is your chance to build rapport with the employer or hiring manager. Through it, you can personalize your application.

When you are applying for a job, do not forget to send a job cover letter together with your resume. This is your chance to showcase your skills and qualifications. You will also start to build a good relationship with the employer. Know that a job cover letter is effective so create one for your job application.