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Craft a Compelling Cover Letter

A strong resume can catch a recruiter's attention, but a compelling cover letter enables you to stand out among hundreds of applicants. It introduces you to potential employers and allows you to showcase your career achievements. Use this opportunity to explain how you can contribute to the success of their company and why you are the right candidate for the job.

01 Why You Need a Cover Letter

A cover letter is an essential accompaniment to your resume when applying for an internship or full-time role, for 3 reasons.

Firstly, it allows you to introduce yourself to the employer and explain why you are interested in the position.

Secondly, it allows you to highlight the relevant skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate.

Finally, it demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively and have taken the time to research the company and role.

02 Compose a Cover Letter

What’s the number one ‘don’t’ when it comes to composing a cover letter?

Copying and pasting the exact same content from one cover letter to the next.

Every cover letter MUST be personalised for the position and the organisation you are applying to. This is how you can stand out.

What Do Employers Look For In a Cover Letter?

Your genuine excitement and enthusiasm for joining the company

A demonstrated understanding of the company and role

Insight into your relevant skills and qualifications

An explanation of how you are the right fit for the role

Compose a Compelling Cover Letter in 3 Steps

Step 1: Research The Company and Role

Examine the job description to identify the skills, responsibilities, and requirements so you can craft your letter to demonstrate how closely you match them.
Research into the organisation's goals, mission, culture, products, and services
Reflect on your ‘fit’ for the organisation, your relevant skills and experiences, and what might set you apart from other applicants
Identify your ‘why’ - why do you want to work for this organization?

Step 2: Structure Your Letter

Follow this structure to create a concise and compelling cover letter:

Address and Salutation

Address the letter to the hiring manager or recruiter if you can find out their name. Otherwise, use a generic salutation such as ‘Dear Hiring Manager’.

Opening Paragraph

Create a clear and concise introduction to capture the reader’s attention, with a brief introduction of yourself and why you are interested in the role.

Body Paragraph

Describe how your background aligns with the organization's requirements, values, and/or mission.

Closing Paragraph

Reiterate your interest in the company/position and thank them for considering you.

Step 3: Polish Before You Submit

Grammar, spelling, and accuracy matter. Every detail should look, feel, and sound excellent. After you've made a strong argument for your candidature and given your letter a final polish, make sure to:

Double-check spelling and grammar
Ask a friend/family member to review and provide feedback

Download an example of a good and bad cover letter

“A good cover letter is about them, not you.”

03 Cover Letter Watch-Outs

It is easy to make mistakes when you are writing cover letters for the first time. Check out our list of the most common mistakes to avoid.

No evidence of research

Avoid making general statements about your interest in the company. Conduct your research and explain why you want to work for this specific company.

Exceeding one page

Make sure your cover letter is no more than one page long. Hiring managers don’t want to read your life story. Keep it brief and to the point about why they should hire you.

Not explaining the relevance of your experiences

Rather than simply listing your accomplishments, make sure to relate your experiences to the job requirements.

Repeating your resume

Your resume explains what you have done and accomplished. Your cover letter should explain why you want to work for the company and why you're a good fit for the role.

Focusing on you, not them

Your cover letter should emphasise the value you will bring to the organisation rather than what you expect to get from them.

04 Repurpose your Cover Letter for LinkedIn

Nowadays, it is common for candidates to reach out directly to recruiters via LinkedIn to explain their suitability for the job and follow up on applications. This requires a much shorter cover letter with a more personal tone.

When repurposing a cover letter for LinkedIn, stick with just three main points:

Introduce yourself and why you are contacting this person.

Share your interest in the role and highlight a few of your relevant skills or experiences

Conclude your message with a request for action or an indication that you will be following up.

Sample LinkedIn Introductions:

1. Greeting: Start with a professional greeting that includes their name.

2. Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself, including your current role or professional status.

3. Connection Point: Mention any common connections, shared groups, or interests to establish some rapport.

4. Purpose: Clearly state the purpose of your message. If you're interested in a specific job posting, mention it here.

5. Value Proposition: Briefly describe what you bring to the table. This could be a unique skill set, or how your experience aligns with the role you're interested in.

6. Call to Action: Conclude your message by requesting for a meeting, call, or suggesting the next steps.

7. Polite Close: End with a professional closing and your name.

Hello [Recruiter's Name],

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], a software engineer specialized in frontend development.

We are both members of the LinkedIn group 'JavaScript Developers', and I've noticed that your company has an open role for a Senior Frontend Developer. I'm very interested in this position.

With over five years of experience working in diverse projects and my proficiency in React.js and Vue.js, I believe I could be a strong fit for this role.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how I could contribute to your team. Could we arrange a time for a brief call or a meeting?

Thank you for considering my message.

Regards,
[Your Name]

Follow these tips to craft compelling cover letters, and you will be one step closer to landing your dream job!

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