Ready for some cover letter tips that will get you an interview?
Writing a great cover letter can be challenging and time-consuming.
Why do you need a cover letter?
The best cover letter tips will answer that question and more.
Imagine that someone asked you to write an email explaining why you’d be a great employee.
Would you start by reciting a list of previous employment and qualifications?
Probably not.
Instead, you’d explain what you’re good at, how your skills fit the job described and include a couple of specific examples.
That’s what you should write in a cover letter.
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If you’re interested in learning more top tips for cover letter writing, then keep reading! Learn how to write
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Expert Advice
Hiring managers, especially those recruiting candidates for the IT industry, have seen good cover letters and bad cover letters.
The CVJury team knows that a good cover letter can make the difference between getting an interview and getting rejected.
Trust us, 80% of professionals write poor cover letters.
Learning what it takes to create a good one is necessary if you want to succeed.
A good cover letter allows you show a prospective employer how your experience and skills align with the job requirements.
With our top 10 cover letter tips, you’ll be winning interviews regularly.
And don’t forget to add a great CV to go with your cover letter; write yours on our online CV builder.
Top 10 Cover Letter Tips
1. Know the Purpose of a Cover Letter
If you don’t know the purpose of a cover letter, you probably don’t know how to write a good cover letter.
Although a CV provides an overview of a candidate’s qualification, skills, and experience.
However, it’s rarely enough to determine your suitability for a given role.
That’s why hiring managers request a cover letter and an interview in addition to a CV.
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Your cover letter should bridge the gap between an impersonal CV and a face-to-face interview.
2. Make an Impression with the Opening Line
You don’t need a grand opening; a simple but direct opening sentence will get the reader’s attention. See examples below:
- I’m interested in your project manager role because
- I’m writing to apply for your project manager position
- I am writing to express my interest in the recent posting for the project manager position
- I’m excited to apply for your project manager position
- I was excited to learn about your need for a project manager
- I’d like to be considered for your project manager position
- I am a business college graduate, and I am excited to start my career in professional project management
3. Don’t Repeat Your CV
Regurgitating the contents of a CV in a slightly different order is a common mistake.
Avoiding this is one of the best tips for cover letter writing we can give you.
Instead, use your cover letter to state why you’re the best fit for the role, rather than repeating your basic work experience.
For example, if the job requires a disciplined and hardworking individual, this is your opportunity to demonstrate your skills by using personal examples.
Perhaps you faced challenges in a high-pressure workplace but still managed to complete your tasks successfully.
Perhaps you grew-up in an under-privileged area but still finished school with high grades.
Whatever your situation, you can use your background to your advantage in a cover letter.
Let’s look at some other examples.
Assume you were the best data analyst for your former supervisor, or she depended on you anytime additional she needed help.
Perhaps you have excellent social skills and excelled in handling aggressive customers.
Maybe a senior staff member in your workplace sees you as a problem-solver because you’re great at resolving complex issues.
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Examples of personal experience demonstrate non-technical skills that you can transfer to any job role but may not include on a CV.
For more inspiration, take a look at the 40 best cover letter templates. And our free online resume builder.
4. Use the Hiring Manager’s Name
Another of our tips for cover letter writing is to address your cover letter to a specific person (e.g., Dear Bella Whitefield).
As trivial as it seems, it could make you stand out from the crowd.
And, it’s preferable to using an impersonal introduction like “Dear Sir/Madam.”
However, if you’re unable to find the name, you can address your cover letter to the position.
For example, ‘Dear Recruitment Team’ or ‘Dear Hiring Manager.’
Don’t worry about finding the exact name if it’s not accessible via the company website.
Plus, addressing your cover letter to the department team is preferable to addressing the wrong person.
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Use the hiring manager’s name because it shows two important things.
- You’ve taken the time to research the company and staff.
- You know who the audience of your cover letter is.
5. Show, Don’t Tell
Ever heard of the saying, “action speaks louder than words.”
It’s easy to state that you’re hardworking, a great communicator and committed.
Most people will include one of the above descriptors in their cover letter or CV.
Those statements hardly hold water because they are not measurable.
Instead, show precisely how you’re hardworking, a great communicator, and committed by providing examples of achievements and experiences that demonstrate those traits.
Let’s compare these two statements.
1. “I pay exceptional attention to detail, have excellent communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects by prioritising and multitasking.”
2. “In addition to being flexible and responsive, I’m also a fanatic for details — particularly when it comes to presentation.
One of my recent projects involved coordinating a 200-page grant proposal.
I proofread and edited the narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets, made sure that every line was letter-perfect and that the entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the RFP.
As a result, a five-year, $1.5 million award was granted.
I believe in applying this same level of attention to detail to all tasks, from preparing the materials for a top-level meeting and to making sure the copier never runs out of paper.”
The first sentence is generic and unconvincing.
Meanwhile, the second is engaging, well-explained, and believable.
Most job applicants write cover letter lines like the first example.
If you use our cover letter tips, you’re guaranteed to be a step ahead of other applicants.
6. Address Any Grey Areas
Our next cover letter tip involves addressing any grey areas, but what do we mean by that?
For certain jobs, you may find that you’re over-qualified or under-qualified.
You may be significantly older or younger than the average candidate.
Or, you may be a career changer with tons of work experience but not in the field you’re applying for.
In these situations, a cover letter is your golden ticket.
It offers you a chance to say, “Wait a minute — here’s the reason I could be the perfect match for the position.
And therefore you should take a chance on me.”
For instance, suppose you’re overqualified, acknowledge that you’re aware of the situation and explain why you’re interested in the job.
Conversely, if you’re under-qualified, explain why the hiring manager should consider training you.
Furthermore, if your work experience is another field and you’ve been retraining for the role you’re currently applying for.
Highlight that and explain your reasons for changing career paths.
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If you don’t provide context and a compelling explanation, the hiring manager may dismiss your application.
7. Write a Custom Cover Letter for Each Application
Sending a generic, one-size-fits-all cover letter is almost certainly going to fail.
If it’s vague and you think another candidate could write something almost identical, it’s not good enough.
Instead, tailor your cover letter to the specific organisation and job position.
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