When applying for jobs, there’s nothing worse than coming across a job posting that reads “candidates who do not submit a cover letter will not be considered”.
As recruiters, we get it! Creating, crafting and customizing a cover letter can be daunting and time-consuming. But, it can oftentimes be the tip of the scale to landing yourself that interview with your dream company.
We’re sharing our tips for customizing your cover letter.
Do your research
If a company is requiring a cover letter, it likely means they’re looking for not just talented candidates, but candidates who are passionate about their company and mission. You have a much better chance of standing out in your cover letter if you take 10 minutes, research the company’s mission and values, and integrate that language into your cover letter.
Show don’t tell.
It can be tough to depict all of your successes in a 350-word document, but one of the best pieces of advice we can offer is to use visualizing language in your cover letter. If you grew your company’s social media, tell us how you did that and to what extent. Using statistics, numbers and explicit strategy can help show the hiring manager that you don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk.
Be professional but relatable.
It’s always important to remain professional in your job application process, but don’t be afraid to let a little bit of personality shine through your cover letter. Help the hiring manager understand who you are as a person and what working on a team with you would be like. We spend so much time engaging with our managers and coworkers, a cultural fit is just as important as a skilled skit.
Keep it short and sweet
Hiring managers often get hundreds of applications for one job posting, so unfortunately there’s not always time to read every single cover letter—especially if the cover letter is multiple pages long. We recommend keeping your cover letter short and sweet with concise language that speaks to your accomplishments. One page should be plenty!
Taking the time to craft a cover letter can be tedious, but it truly can be the one part of your application that convinces the hiring manager to talk to you. By using these tips, we hope you’re able to have a little bit of guidance and can land that interview!
