Savanna Hoffman
A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume when applying for a job. It is a chance to showcase your written communication skills and organisational abilities, as well as your knowledge of the organisation and role. To write a responsive cover letter, it is imperative to research the company and role, understand what the employer is looking for, and tailor your letter accordingly. This means highlighting relevant skills and experiences that demonstrate your ability to contribute to the organisation and meet their needs. A well-written cover letter should be engaging, unique, and persuasive, with a clear purpose and professional introduction. It should also be narrative, providing specific examples and stories that showcase your qualifications and interest in the role and organisation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Introduce yourself and what you're seeking |
| Understanding of the company and role | Show an understanding of the company, its culture, and the role |
| Skills | Highlight relevant skills and attributes |
| Call-to-action | Include a call-to-action |
| Signature | Include a signature |
| Contact details | Provide contact details that match your resume |
| Narrative | Write a narrative document, avoiding simple repetition of the resume |
| Persuasive argument | Make a persuasive argument about your unique ability to contribute |
| Thesis statement | Outline your reasons for applying and why you are an excellent candidate |
| Achievements | Describe your achievements and distinct qualifications |
| Stories | Tell stories that demonstrate your key skills and experiences |
| Service work | Discuss service work, such as volunteer work, participation in initiatives, or involvement in professional organizations |
| Teaching style | Discuss your teaching style and interest in teaching |
| Examples of work | Include examples of your work, such as articles, multimedia, or research |
| Personalization | Ensure the cover letter is tailored to the specific company and position |
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What You'll Learn
Research the company and role
When writing a cover letter, it's essential to demonstrate that you've researched both the company and the role you're applying for. This shows that your interest in the position is genuine and specific. Here are some tips to guide you through this process:
Understand the Company's Culture, Values, and Goals
Before writing your cover letter, take the time to delve into the company's culture, values, and goals. Explore their website, social media presence, annual reports, press releases, and online reviews. Seek out their mission statement, vision, achievements, challenges, and future plans. By aligning your own goals and values with theirs, you can showcase how you will contribute to their success. This demonstrates a genuine interest in the company and shows that you've gone beyond a surface-level understanding.
Analyze the Job Description
Carefully read and analyze the job description to understand what the employer is seeking in an ideal candidate. Identify the key skills, qualifications, experience, and responsibilities required. Then, match these requirements to your own skillset and highlight them in your cover letter. Use specific examples and numbers to showcase your value and potential. This tailored approach demonstrates that you've considered how your unique strengths align with the role.
Utilize Online Tools and Networks
Take advantage of online tools such as LinkedIn, Google, and the company's website to gather information about the company and the hiring manager. MIT's Alumni Advisors Hub is another valuable resource, offering first-hand knowledge, advice, and insights about the company. You can also leverage your own network by reaching out to current employees, friends, or family members who may have connections to the organization. Their insights can provide you with valuable information about the company culture and role specifics.
Showcase Transferable Skills
If you're applying for a role that doesn't directly align with your academic training or previous experience, focus on transferable skills. Highlight qualities such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, and project management. Demonstrate how these skills can be applied in the new role and provide specific examples of how you've utilized them in the past. This showcases your adaptability and potential contribution to the company.
Address a Real Person
Instead of using a generic greeting, address your cover letter to a specific individual within the company. This demonstrates that you've done your research and are interested in the company specifically. You can use LinkedIn, Google, or the company's website to find the name and title of the hiring manager or recruiter. A personalized greeting creates a more memorable first impression.
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Include a clear purpose and introduction
A cover letter is your first introduction to a potential employer, so it's important to make a good first impression. It should showcase your knowledge of the organisation and highlight your relevant skills.
The main purpose of the first paragraph is to introduce yourself and explain why you are writing. Begin by researching the organisation, considering what intrigues you about it and what you have to offer. This will help you write a tailored cover letter that is unique to your background, skills and experiences. You can also mention any referrals, such as a current employee, friend or family member, in the first sentence.
When writing your cover letter, be clear about the job you are applying for by referring to the job title or vacancy number. You can also mention how you heard about the position. Describe your qualifications for the type of position you seek, using specific examples from your academic, work, volunteer and co-curricular experiences. Connect your accomplishments, skills and knowledge directly to the type of position, organisation and/or field.
For instance, if you are applying for an accounting position, you could mention your experience as a summer associate in the university accounting department, highlighting how it increased your working knowledge of accounting principles and helped you develop a great team spirit. You could also mention your attention to detail, time management and organisational skills, and explain how these will help you thrive in the position.
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Highlight relevant skills and experiences
A cover letter is a powerful tool for university students to showcase their skills, experiences, and motivations to a potential employer. When writing a cover letter, it is essential to highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the employer's needs and demonstrate why you are a strong fit for the role. Here are some instructive guidelines and examples to help university students effectively showcase their skills and experiences in a cover letter:
Understand the Employer's Needs and Company Culture:
Before writing about your skills and experiences, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the employer's needs and the company's culture. Read the job description carefully and identify the specific skills, qualities, and experiences the employer is seeking in a candidate. Additionally, research the company's website, LinkedIn page, and social media presence to gain insights into their values, objectives, and work culture. This knowledge will help you tailor your cover letter and effectively highlight your relevant strengths.
Highlight Transferable Skills:
As a university student, you have likely developed a range of transferable skills through your academic and extracurricular activities. Identify the skills valued by the employer and showcase how your academic and non-academic experiences have equipped you with those competencies. For example, if the job requires strong communication skills, you can mention your experience as a resident assistant, where you maintained written and verbal communication with residents, as this demonstrates your ability to effectively communicate in a professional context.
Provide Specific Examples:
Instead of merely listing your skills, provide concrete examples that illustrate how you have applied those skills in your experiences. For instance, if you are applying for a position that requires teamwork, describe a group project where you effectively collaborated with peers and contributed to a successful outcome. Specific examples make your cover letter more impactful and help the employer envision how your skills can benefit their organization.
Emphasize Academic and Extracurricular Experiences:
As a university student, your academic and extracurricular experiences are valuable assets. Discuss relevant courses, projects, internships, or volunteer work that have equipped you with skills and knowledge applicable to the role. For example, if you are applying for a position in accounting, highlight your experience as a summer associate in the university's accounting department, emphasizing how it enhanced your working knowledge of accounting principles and fostered your team spirit.
Showcase Your Motivation and Enthusiasm:
In addition to highlighting your skills and experiences, it is essential to demonstrate your motivation and enthusiasm for the specific position and organization. Explain how your background, skills, and experiences have prepared you for this role and why you are excited about the opportunity. Showcase your understanding of the company and explain how your strengths align with their needs. This will help the employer see that you are a well-suited candidate who is genuinely interested in contributing to their team.
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Make it unique and assertive
A cover letter is an opportunity to showcase your written communication skills and organisational abilities. It should be unique to your background, skills, and experiences. It is important to remember that employers receive hundreds of applications for each vacancy, so your letter should be well-written and designed to attract positive attention.
To make your cover letter stand out, it is imperative to research the company and the role. This will enable you to give knowledgeable and specific reasons for your interest in the company and how your skills and background relate to the position. Understand the company's culture and objectives, and explain how your qualities will help you thrive in their organisation.
For instance, if you are applying for a position that requires strong communication skills, you can include a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) story that showcases your communication abilities. An example could be your experience working on a group project, where you maintained strong written and verbal communication with team members to achieve a positive outcome.
Instead of simply stating subjective superlatives, such as claiming to be a "great communicator", use your letter to demonstrate your strengths through concrete examples and accomplishments. This could be a successful navigation of a difficult concept or an anecdote that showcases your teaching style.
Additionally, you can make your cover letter unique by providing specific examples of your work experience or achievements that align with the company's needs and goals. If you are a recent graduate or have limited experience, highlight your transferable skills and pitch your qualifications.
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Include a call to action
The call to action is an important part of your cover letter as it gives the hiring manager a reason to take action on your application. It is the final few sentences of your cover letter where you express your enthusiasm for the role and encourage the employer to reach out to you for an interview.
A well-written call to action can impress the interviewer and make them feel more motivated to get in touch. It is a chance to boldly ask for what you want and stand out from other candidates. It is also an opportunity to showcase your assertiveness and confidence.
- Make sure your cover letter contains keywords mentioned in the job description, and consider including some of these in your call to action.
- Visit the company's website to learn about their values and vision, and mention how these align with your own.
- Express your appreciation for being considered for the role and your interest in it.
- Remind the hiring manager why you would be the best fit for the position.
- Use plain, straightforward language, such as "I would love to set up an interview at your earliest convenience" or "I welcome the opportunity to discuss my qualifications in an interview".
- Be polite, courteous, and professional.
- Avoid arrogance and be straightforward yet compelling.
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Frequently asked questions
A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume when applying for a position. It is a chance to showcase your written communication skills and organisational abilities.
A cover letter should include an introduction and an overview of your relevant skills and experiences. It should also demonstrate your interest in the company and role. You may also include a call to action, your signature, and contact details.
Research the company and role to tailor your letter accordingly. Include specific examples and tell a story to showcase your skills and experiences. Be sure to also proofread and revise your letter carefully.
Avoid simply repeating your resume. While some overlap is necessary, the letter should be a narrative document that expands on your resume. Avoid generic letters and always tailor your letter to the specific company and role.
Yes, there are online tools such as Lettersmith that can provide guidance and checklists for writing cover letters. You can also use AI tools to assist with content tailoring, grammar, and style. However, remember to maintain your personal touch and creativity.
