First, let’s remember that our cover letter is there to read, and our resumes are to scan. It is a well-known fact with the resume; that HR only gets to know who you are professional and what experience you have had; however, when it comes to the cover letters, that is where HR gets to know YOU.
Your cover should not be long; one page would be more than enough. You start with your name, desired position, location, and contact information in the top left corner. After that, you greed your reader. If you know the name of the person who will be reading it, you start with that, for example: “Dear Mr./Mrs. Smith,” in case you do not know the name of the person reading your cover letter, it would be a great idea to have a general greeting such as: “Greetings,” or even “Good afternoon.” Here you are trying to show that you care about the person who will be reading your letter.
Now we are jumping to the central part, to the body of your cover letter. The easiest way to go about a cover letter is to have around three paragraphs. In the first paragraph, you state the position you are applying for. As with any piece of writing, you need a hook here. It might be a good idea to start with a question like: “Are you looking for an open-minded and enthusiastic [your position]?” Then, you should provide an answer so that the person reading your letter understands that you are the one for this position. Use the qualifications in the job description as your qualities and show how these qualities will help you to succeed in their company.
Moving on to paragraph number two. Here you should show that you know what the company is doing, that your ideas align, and that you will fit right in their community. Also, include a few words from the job description and their website to show that you have done your research.
Last but not least, the third paragraph of your cover letter. State your goals and provide some ideas of what you can accomplish as a part of their team. Show gratitude for the opportunity to apply for the job. Finally, write a statement about the upcoming interview, and give them a hint that you are waiting for an interview. Now, finish it off by closing your letter like you would any email, saying something like “Regards” or “Sincerely yours.”
That is a pretty basic structure of a cover letter, and that is something that HRs are looking for when it comes to reading a cover letter from an applicant. Some final notes, do not forget to throw in words from the job description right to your cover letter, and make sure you proofread it a few times before sending it in.
If you have any questions or want to check our cover letter feel free to reach out, and our team will be happy to assist you.