Write The Perfect Cover Letter in 5 Simple Steps

In addition to your resume, cover letters can play a key role in making your job hunt successful. However, even very accomplished professionals can feel intimidated by the prospect of writing a letter about why they are the best fit for a specific job.

The good news is once you have a blueprint to follow, writing a great cover letter isn’t nearly as hard as it initially seems. So if you’re ready to get started, here’s how to write an awesome cover letter in five easy steps:

1. Use the Ideal Length

The biggest mistake job seekers make with cover letters is writing too much. Hiring managers are very busy people. So if they see a cover letter that’s filled with text from top to bottom, they’re not going to read it. Two paragraphs is the ideal length for most cover letters. It’s short enough that it will get read, and still long enough to make a compelling pitch for yourself as a candidate.

If you write the first draft of your cover letter and it’s significantly longer than two paragraphs, start editing it down. You can use a list within the body of your cover letter. Just be sure that you limit it to 3-4 bullet points.

2. Don’t Repeat Your Resume

Blank pages are intimidating. That’s why people often copy sentences from their resume into their cover letters. Although it’s fine to have some overlap between your resume and cover letter, simply repeating yourself isn’t going to help your job search.

Instead of simply copying directly from your resume, look through it and take note of the accomplishments that are most relevant to the job you want to land. Then you can use your cover letter to elaborate on those accomplishments. As you write, always ask yourself if what you’re describing is going to impress a hiring manager.

3. Make It Memorable

Professional copywriters know that the goal of every sentence they write is to get someone to read the next sentence. You should take a similar approach with your cover letter from the very first sentence. By making every sentence in your cover letter impactful, you will keep a hiring manager’s attention. Writing a memorable cover letter also means you will stay top of mind as other candidates are evaluated.

4. Customize Every Copy

If you’re applying for a number of similar positions, you can use the same basic cover letter multiple times. Just be sure you customize each copy before sending it. Customizations should include putting a hiring manager’s name at the top, as well as referencing the specific position and company in your letter.

5. Don’t Forget to Proofread

A two-paragraph cover letter that showcases your relevant accomplishments in a memorable way can set you apart from other candidates. But if your cover letter has any typos, it can hurt your chances to get the job. Since you don’t want a hiring manager to think you lack attention to detail, be sure to proofread every copy of your cover letter before sending it. Catching mistakes in your own writing is hard, so it’s even better if you can get a friend or family member to proofread for you.

Now that you know exactly how to write a perfect cover letter, all you need to do is grab your favorite drink, sit down somewhere quiet and start writing your first draft, after that you then to visit CareerPedal for jobs hiring now.