{"id":3035,"date":"2019-10-13T12:04:52","date_gmt":"2019-10-13T12:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lavenderblush-eland-852205.hostingersite.com\/?p=3035"},"modified":"2019-10-13T12:04:55","modified_gmt":"2019-10-13T12:04:55","slug":"how-to-write-a-cover-letter-step-by-step-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cvbility.com\/es\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-step-by-step-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Cover Letter – Step-by-step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cover Letter Writing Guide for Your 2019 Job Application<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You know it. And we know it. No one enjoys job-hunting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with updating your resume and nervously preparing for interviews, writing distinct Cover Letters<\/a>\n for each position can be tiresome and challenging. It\u2019s no wonder the \nNovor\u00e9sum\u00e9 community regularly asks us how to write a Cover Letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t worry, you can find out everything you need to write a strong Cover Letter right here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First things first for junior jobseekers and recent graduates: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Cover Letter?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Put\n simply, a cover letter is a short introductory letter you provide with \nyour resume and job application to show the employer your skills and \nconvince them to ask you to meet them for an interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, that\u2019s right, the purpose of writing a strong Cover Letter is not to get you the job. As this Forbes<\/em><\/strong> piece explains, the purpose of a Cover Letter is to get your foot in the door<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether\n you\u2019re writing a Cover Letter for the first time or applying for a job \nafter years at your current employer, here\u2019s what this guide will show \nyou:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. A good Cover Letter example<\/a> \u2013 and why it works<\/li>
  2. How to write directly to the hiring manager<\/li>
  3. How to write a sharp introduction<\/li>
  4. Convincing the hiring manager to interview you<\/li>
  5. Finishing your Cover Letter with a call-to-action<\/li>
  6. Keep your Cover Letter short \u2013 and proofread it<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Why is it important to personalize your Cover Letter for each job application?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Well, many people don\u2019t write Cover Letters that stand out. Many don\u2019t write them at all. A Jobvite study found 47 percent of candidates<\/a> didn\u2019t write a Cover Letter for their most recent job application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you write a customized Cover Letter \u2013 and provide a customized resume<\/a>\n with it \u2013 you\u2019re already doing something more than almost half of the \nother candidates. You\u2019re showing the hiring manager you\u2019re an informed \ncandidate. And informed candidates are seen as quality candidates, \naccording to a recent Glassdoor survey of 750 hiring managers<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So a strong Cover Letter can set you apart from the crowd and highlight how your past achievements and skills<\/a> can help the hiring manager and their department solve problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s a quick overview of the key information you\u2019ll need to add to your Cover Letter: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What to Include in a Cover Letter:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    1. The hiring manager\u2019s name, title<\/li>
    2. The company\u2019s name and address<\/li>
    3. Your name, contact details and the date<\/li>
    4. Salutation<\/li>
    5. Useful content and a call-to-action<\/li>
    6. Keywords from the job advertisement<\/li>
    7. A polite sign-off (e.g.: Yours Sincerely or Best Regards).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Cover\n Letters should complement and highlight your resume, not rehash it. A \nstrong Cover Letter will show your personality, explain your hard skills and soft skills<\/a>, and showcase your written communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Let\u2019s look at an example you can learn from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A good Cover Letter example \u2013 and why it works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \"cover<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Create Mine Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. You should write the Cover Letter directly to the hiring manager <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      What did you think? Let\u2019s break this letter down to see why it works and what approaches you can use in your Cover Letter.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      John\n includes a formal salutation and the name of the hiring manager. This \nis good practice. The only time you might not do this is when you know \nthe company\u2019s culture is informal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What if the hiring manager\u2019s \nname is not in the job ad? If this happens, then you\u2019ll need to browse \nthe company’s website or do a company search on LinkedIn. Here\u2019s a hint:\n sometimes the job ad doesn’t mention a person\u2019s name, but does provide \nthe role title you could report to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can often find out who the hiring manager is, by visiting the company\u2019s website or by doing a Boolean search on LinkedIn<\/a> for that role title and company, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If\n your research still leads you to a dead end, don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s OK to \nmake an informed guess. Be as accurate as possible and use a greeting \nthat shows you\u2019re writing the Cover Letter to a particular person in the\n right department of the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      2. You should write a sharp introduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Look\n at John\u2019s letter again. He doesn\u2019t open with a fluffy statement or ask \nif the hiring manager is having a good day. His letter cuts to the chase\n and explains his credentials and experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This is why your \nopening paragraph is one of the most important parts of your Cover \nLetter. So take the opportunity to mention your most valuable skills<\/a> and link them to the keywords and duties in the job ad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If\n you\u2019ve been referred by a company employee who has recommended you as a\n promising candidate, you should mention this too. Above all, make an original introduction<\/a>\n that shows just enough of your personality, while using the same tone \nof voice and language the company does in its website copy, reports, and\n other marketing materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      3. Convince the hiring manager to interview you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Onto\n the heart of your letter – the second and third paragraphs. After \nyou\u2019ve set the tone with your strong introduction, you should explain \nexactly how your achievements and experience are suited to the company \nand job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Look at what John does. He pulls out three of his most relevant achievements<\/a>\n to the employer and puts them into bullet point form for easy reading. \nImportantly, he links these achievements to real business outcomes. He \nmentions his experience in recruiting staff, managing operations, and \ndelivering performance improvements in the sales and technical teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What\u2019s the secret here? John is showing<\/em><\/strong> why he\u2019s a suitable candidate, not telling them why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      4. Finish your Cover Letter with a call-to-action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      You\u2019re\n almost there. Now to finish strongly and leave the hiring manager with a\n strong impression of your candidacy. However, you phrase your closing \nCover Letter paragraph, make sure to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n