There is a fine art to letter writing – especially with cover letters. The words, the tone, and the purpose are all essential ingredients. Make it count.
There’s a fine art to letter writing, whether you’re saying thank you for a gift or just dropping a note to say hello. The choice of words, the formality of the tone, and the specific purpose are all essential ingredients that help make it work.
And when it comes to developing a cover letter that will land you the job interview, the art of letter writing is elevated to a whole new level—understanding how and what to say can make the difference in whether or not an employer gives you a call.
Be Bold, Yet Humble
No doubt you’ve heard that to stand out from other job seekers, you must market yourself. Essentially, you want to know what sets you distinct from other prospects.
However, in selling yourself as the candidate of choice, you must make sure to do it to interest employers and not put them off.
Like any product you might sell on the open market, your first step should determine what you have to offer. Knowing what you have accomplished in your career and what this new position requires will help you explain how your abilities can help the new company.
Clarify Why
One of the best ways to sell employers on the idea of interviewing you is by answering why. Specifically, why do you want the job? Why do you deserve the job? Why employ you?
Telling employers in your cover letter why you are interested in the job helps them understand your motivation. But it can’t be simply unemployment. Think more about how your skills and experience complement the new job and company perfectly.
Why you are suitable for the position is somewhat similar. However, focus more on the real-life advantages you bring. Look at it this way: these are your skills and experiences, which is why that’s a good thing.
Finally, they should hire you because of what you can accomplish. So the third leg of the tripod explains how your skills helped you be successful before and how they can help you be successful in the future.
Ultimately, you should wind up with a letter that highlights and further explains, but doesn’t just repeat, what is in your resume.
Make Sure it’s Right.
It is essential to ensure that anything you write is visually appealing and grammatically correct.
The visual appeal comes down to using the correct font type and size and leaving sufficient white space. Make it simple to read. Avoid overcrowding the page with text or visuals. And your font should match what you use in your resume.
Of course, you’ll check for grammar. However, it would help if you also considered word choice. Finally, speak with vigor. Here’s a short example of how these pieces might all come together:
“In my current position as Assistant to the Director of Marketing for the XYZ Company, I am frequently required to work independently to organize company-wide sales and marketing events. This ability to work without direction, combined with my superior organization skills, enables me to move quickly to complete projects in an efficient and timely manner. And for this reason, I have been rewarded with the company’s Annual Achievement Award three years running. Your current opening of Senior Marketing Coordinator as described online at HireMe.com indicates your need for someone with these skill sets.”
Notice how this candidate states what they have done, backs it up with the accomplishment of earning the awards, and then ties it into the new company’s current needs. And the job seeker was sure to include the job she was applying for, too.
That’s how to compose a cover letter to get an interview.
