Job Seeker’s Journal Part 2: Writing a Cover Letter

Are you a job-seeker hoping to wow potential employers?

Write a cover letter that gets you the job

When it comes to your job hunt, writing an attention-grabbing cover letter that highlights your experience and skills is what will initially impress the employer enough to want to interview you.

This is your chance to showcase the best parts of your resume. Keep in mind, however, that this should not restate your resume in its entirety. A cover letter’s job is to tell the employer what you can do for them and why their company is attractive to you.

Structure and formatting

A cover letter, like a resume, should never be more than one page. The shorter, the better. Summarize who you are, what your skills are, why you like the company, and how you can be contacted in three to four paragraphs. Your first paragraph should include the basic information of your name, your school, your graduation year and major, and the position you’re applying for. If you have an internal referral, you should also list his or her name here.

In the second paragraph, choose two to three experiences from your resume that are the most relevant to this position and describe an achievement related to that position. For example, if you prepared an operation model that measured company growth, include the details. This paragraph should also acknowledge specific company value’s or job qualifications and provide an explanation for why you’re a qualified candidate who is passionate about their brand mission. Take the time to do your research with this because it shows that you care about the job. If this paragraph looks long, it can be split into two.

Your closing paragraph should thank the reader for their time and consideration, provide the best contact information with which the reader can reach you, and any other miscellaneous information they should know. Say you live in Maryland now but the job is in New York. Let them know you intend on moving to New York so the commute will be manageable.

Addressing your cover letter

“To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager” are nowadays instant ways to get rejected. It’s well worth taking the time to peruse the company site for a specific name of the person reading your cover letter.

Sometimes, the human resources manager will be conveniently listed within the application or on the website, but not always. In this case, start with a simple internet search of “Company X HR Manager,” or do an advanced search on LinkedIn. To be on the safe side—or if you still can’t find the right person—it can’t hurt to call their office and explain that you’re applying for a job and want to know who their HR manager is. Chances are they’ll be willing to provide you with the correct information.

Overall, your cover letter should be a clear balance of noteworthy details about your qualifications and succinct paragraphs that get to the point. It ensures your letter will be read through to the end and will result in a follow-up from the employer.

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