Although far less common than in their heyday, some firms do still ask for cover letters as part of their recruitment process. Other firms have opted for a questionnaire-style approach to gauging your attributes and suitability for the role in question. Either way, much of the thinking behind both recruitment tools is similar.
You should look to write a cover letter with these three key objectives in mind:
- To link your skills and attributes to the role, and more specifically, the job description or advert
- To ‘humanise’ yourself as a prospective candidate
- To explicitly state your interest in the role and firm ahead of being shortlisted for interview
Although we have a CV Business, writing high-quality CVs for professionals in a range of industries, we have always said that cover letters should be written by the applicant. Cover letters may seem laborious and secondary in importance to your CV or interview prep, but a poorly written or uninspirational cover letter could jeopardise your chances of being shortlisted for interview. Equally, whilst using one of the many cover letter templates available online might seem like a tempting shortcut, this too is far less effective than simply writing your own.
Here are five things to consider that will help you to write a compelling and well-written cover letter:
- Do your research: Even if you are applying for similar roles at similar firms, there will be key things that set them apart, which is why it is key to tweak your cover letter accordingly. Be thorough in your research: it goes without saying to look on the company website, but delve further to find out more about their company culture, ethos, employees, recent successes, priorities, etc. Look at their social media and see if they’ve been in the news recently. If possible, reach out to anyone you know at the firm. This will allow you to tailor the tone of your cover letter accordingly.
- Sell your genuine interest: Unlike a CV, a cover letter is where you can really showcase your passion and interest for the job that you are applying for. This can be one of the main ways of setting yourself apart from the crowd; rather than writing a generic, boilerplate cover letter, tailor it to each role and ensure you are really conveying your enthusiasm for the role. If you are struggling to sell your interest, then maybe this is in and of itself a telling sign - are you applying for this job for the right reasons?
- Keywords and mirroring: A great cover letter should be tailored to the job description and company website if you want to have a real impact on your potential employer. As with a CV, making sure your cover letter is peppered with keywords will help showcase your suitability for the role. Also aim to mirror the firm’s ethos and philosophy in your cover letter. This will highlight that you have done your research into that specific firm and that you are invested in the application process. and role.
- Summarise your Core Value Proposition: Before starting on your cover letter, you should have already thought about your Core Value Proposition. What is it that you bring to the table, and distinguishes you from other applicants? How can you uniquely add value to the firm? How will you help move their business forward? You should aim to have a consistent message that runs through both your CV and cover letter, and eventually in the interview itself. In turn, you also need to be able to validate your claims with relevant and persuasive evidence.
- Be concise (and pay attention to your grammar): Some firms will outline a page limit for cover letters, but as a rule of thumb, aim for no longer than one page of A4 in 11pt in a classic font, such as Calibri or Times New Roman. Keep your sentences punchy, and avoid including too many multi-clausal sentences. A cover letter is itself a reflection of your writing and your ability to translate a large amount of important information in a concise and convincing way. Alongside this, make sure that you proofread your cover letter closely: loose grammar, typos and errors will give a poor impression to the reader.
Cover letters may get less attention than they used to, but in many cases, they remain a core part of the recruitment process. Rather than focussing your attention solely on your CV, give sufficient time and thought to your cover letter, which alongside your CV, should send a clear message to a prospective employer about the value that you bring to the table.
