When writing a good cover letter, a good sample cover letter is a necessary tool in your job search kit, as it is often the case that the resume cover letter is more important than the resume it is attached to. Covering letters are important because they are the first thing the recruiter sees when sifting through a pile of applications.
Reviewing resumes is a task that is often sidelined by busy managers and left until the last minute, so don’t expect the recruiter to give too much attention to individual resumes. That’s why you have to grab their attention with a resume cover letter that is tailor made to the requirements of the job.
While it’s true that your resume will contain all the necessary information, the idea is to stand out from the crowd. Covering letters also show good application etiquette because the cover letter is about the recruiter. It says you have singled out that particular employer as someone you would like to work for. View it as an opportunity to persuade the recruiter that you have what they are looking for. A good resume cover letter will cause the recruiter to pay closer attention to the details in the resume and invite the job seeker for an interview.
The recruiter will read your letter with a few questions in mind, the most important being, “why does this person want to work for us”? And “why do they want to work in this particular role”? Therefore, make sure you tell them what they want to hear. The job spec or job ad should indicate what attributes the recruiter is looking for and what aspects of the role are most important.
When writing a cover letter, view the job specification as an extended question. Pick out three or four of the main components of the role and briefly illustrate your skills and experience in that area. If you don’t have a required skills set, write about your transferable skills in that area.
A good sample cover letter will include your name, address, contact telephone numbers and email address. (If you are using a job search database, in the interest of safety, leave out your street address, post code and home telephone number; just include your name, district, city, mobile number and email address.)
Make an effort to find out the name of the person who will do the recruiting. This is important because a letter addressed to “To Whom It May Concern” will probably end up in the bin, as it shows that the job seeker has not done the necessary research.
The first sentence of your cover letter should show how enthusiastic you are about the role and your ability to do the job. Confidence and self belief is the key. Make sure your grammar, punctuation and spelling is accurate; and avoid using the word “I”, as a cover letter is for the recruiter so should speak in terms of the recruiter’s interests.
A covering letter for an Executive Personal Assistant role should typically highlight skills in diary management, organising travel and events and project management. While a cover letter for an executive role would illustrate skills in sales and business development.
Keep it simple and easy to read. Use short sentences composed in plain English, as opposed to convoluted sentences, and do not exceed 5 paragraphs. Briefly indicate that you are aware of who they are and what they do. Then state what it is about them that makes you want to work for them. Do your homework; find out if they are active in the community or activities to save the environment. If so, use it as one of the reasons why you would like to work for them.
After you have stated why you would like to work for them, refer them to your resume; specifically to 3 or 4 things in your resume that show you are the best person for the job. You should also use the opportunity to tell them about anything outside the requirements of the role that makes you interesting and/or a star; all the better if it demonstrates that you have the right attributes for the job.
Finish the letter by staying that you are seeking an interview to discuss the requirements of the job. Then invite the recruiter to contact you: include your mobile phone number. Finally, thank the recruiter for considering your application.
