The art and science of writing a good cover letter is really a dying form of communication. What even is a cover letter in the age of digital? And yet, the cover letter persists among those of us in the know. Taking the time to write a cover letter shows prospective employers that you care enough about the job to write thoughtfully about not only the open position, but also about them. But what to put in it? That's what we'll be answering in this article, "What to Put in a Cover Letter."
What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?
Like many tasks today, the cover letter is often approached with a sense of getting the writing over with, without attention to why we're even doing it. Before we begin explaining what to put in your cover letter, we want to touch upon the reason we're writing it.
Your Mission: To Get the Job
Being the Best Isn't Enough
What to Put in a Cover Letter
Before we begin telling you what to put in your cover letter, it's probably useful for you to know that, despite what you may think, writing a good cover letter is not as simple as giving us a step-by-step guide of what to put in. The reason is simply that if you're going to grab the reader's attention - the guy or girl hiring you - then they're going to be able to tell if you just went to the internet and copied and pasted from a template.
For this reason, even if your English isn't that great, you should make an effort to write as if you were talking to the person who's going to be hiring you; although of course you want your letter to be written in formal style. Do not let that formal style keep your passion for the job from shining through. At the same time, proof-read it twice, three times, even five times before sending it; and don't be afraid to enlist the help of your English-major friends!
For this reason, even if your English isn't that great, you should make an effort to write as if you were talking to the person who's going to be hiring you; although of course you want your letter to be written in formal style. Do not let that formal style keep your passion for the job from shining through. At the same time, proof-read it twice, three times, even five times before sending it; and don't be afraid to enlist the help of your English-major friends!
We can't stress enough that this guide is just that - a guide - and that ultimately, some of the best art, including writing, has been art that breaks the rules. That said, you must learn the rules before you break them, and when you do break them, it must have a purpose.
The Boring But Essential Stuff
Stand Out From the Crowd
Give the Cliff Notes Version of Your Qualifications
It Doesn’t Have to Be Shakespeare
Leave Out What Doesn't Fit on a Page
Keep It Professional
Conclusion
- You'll want to review several templates of cover letters before delving into the job of writing one. If you rush into the job, you may not be aware of a potential setup for your letter that best fits your purposes. Choosing a career and a workplace to fulfill that career is an important position.
What will make the difference is your time, effort, and persistence in forming a cover letter that almost perfectly expresses why you are an asset to that prospective employer. Give the task everything you've got. If you don't get hired the first time, keep writing more and more cover letters. Also, seek the help of a career professional at your local college or at the free career help clinics in most parts of the United States.
Follow these principles of job hunting and cover-letter writing, and you'll have secured employment before you know it. Above all, remember that in the event you get a rejection letter, it doesn't mean that you're a failure. It just means that you're really simply not a good fit for that particular position, but somewhere there is a job with your name on it. And if you stick with the search long enough, you'll find the right job and be rewarded for your smart persistence.
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