5 Tips for Writing a Must-Hire Cover Letter from www.officeparrots.com

A cover letter is more than a generic accompaniment to your CV. It is the first impression you’ll make with the employer you’re seeking to work with and the only chance you get to present a compelling case on your candidacy for the job. Don’t waste this opportunity.

Here are five tips for writing a must-hire cover letter.

1. The Position
Sounds basic enough, but many have been guilty of cold applications seeking “a position with your company”.

If there is a specific vacancy you’re applying for, state what it is and where or how you came across it (e.g., via a job advertisement, a personal contact, etc.).

If you’re not responding to a specific vacancy, indicate that you are aware of this and are writing to enquire if they would be willing to consider you for a role in the organisation nonetheless. It would be helpful to specify the type of job you have in mind.

2. Why You’re Right for the Role
s your experience relevant? Can you provide significant value add? Say so. An employer won’t know your achievements if you don’t tell them and don’t expect them to trawl through or decipher this from your CV. Hiring managers are often snowed in with a mountain of applications and you can improve your own chances by helping them immediately see what’s important.

Over and above technical capabilities, what soft skills make you right for the organisation? Are you able to lead a team and provide guidance? Or are you able to take instructions and work independently? What examples do you have to demonstrate this?

The key issue driving this point is that hiring is an important business decision that has a real impact on the bottom line and culture of an organisation. Demonstrate the value you can bring.

3. Why This Company?
You might have realised that plenty of jobs roles are almost exactly the same, and the differences lie in the organisations that offer them – whether it’s the people, culture, scale, clientele or something else.

Employers need to know why you’ve chosen them out of all the available options you have. Nothing screams more insincere than a generic application without more than one mention of the company’s name.

4. Research
Do you research – look up the employer’s web page and check if they have specific requirements for job applicants. Certain employers require all applicants to answer a few standard questions or to enclose certain documents. Don’t start off your application process on the wrong foot.

Also, make effort to understand what the company really does and how the role you’re seeking fits in. For example, if you’re applying to be a financial analyst in a tax department, don’t quote your excitement to work on the company’s M&A deals that are handled by the corporate department – two completely different roles.

5. Next Steps
Demonstrate that you’re pro-active and always thinking ahead.

Close off your letter with an indication of when you may be available to attend interviews and commence work if you are offered a role.

This helps an employer see how you could fit in with their hiring and business plans more than you know, and provides everyone with a timeline to work with.