How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Stand Out

Yes! Your cover letter also is an important in your shortlisting and make you stand out of the crowd.

Your cover letter is your introduction to a company and an opportunity to make a great first impression on a prospective employer. If carefully written, your letter can entice the hiring manager to give your resume a closer read and help determine whether your name moves to the “must interview” list. But one that’s hurriedly slapped together, or a resume that arrives without an accompanying letter, can be fatal to your candidacy.

Here are some tips for writing cover letters that will help make your application rise above the competition’s.

1. Don’t just rehash your resume

Your cover letter should do more than restate details from your resume. These two documents are of course related to each other, but give the hiring manager reason to read them both. While your resume lists such details as your work history, training, awards and education, your letter can do the following:

Draw attention to specific skills and experience that make you an ideal candidate for the job in question.
Mention other relevant skills your resume may not illustrate.
Explain why you would love to have the job.
Show you’ve done research on the company, its mission and key leadership.

2. Tailor your cover letter to a specific job

Don’t use a one-size-fits-all template for all the positions you apply for. A letter that’s targeted to the job at hand has a much better chance of making a positive impression. Write a cover letter that matches elements of the job description to your unique skills and experience. What is the employer asking for that you’re especially good at? Those are the points to stress in the cover letter.

Just as important, gather facts and figures that support your claims. For example, if you’re applying for a managerial role, mention the size of teams and budgets you’ve managed. If it’s a sales role, describe specific sales goals you’ve achieved.

In addition to highlighting your talents, you can further personalize your cover letter by demonstrating your familiarity with the specific industry, employer and type of position you’re applying for. Whether you were applying for a role as a project manager or cloud security architect in the healthcare industry, for example, you might not only include mention of your professional certifications but also that you’re HIPAA-trained.

3. Be proud of your past accomplishments

Companies want confident employees who love their work. They know these are the people who tend to perform better, serve as stronger team members and have greater potential to grow along with the business. Don’t hesitate to brag a little about your achievements.

4. Keep it brief

The barrage of information coming at all of us today has created attention spans that are shorter than ever before. Cover letters are no exception. Managers are often inundated with applications, so economy of words matters. Keep your cover letter to no more than three or four paragraphs. Short is sweet.

5. Address the hiring manager personally Address the cover letter to the person who is hiring for the position. If it’s not given in the job posting, call the employer’s main phone number and ask for the name and title of the hiring manager. If you’re still in school or just out, your career services office may be able to help you identify the right contact at a company.
6. Use keywords from the job description

Many employers use resume-filtering software that scans for keywords and evaluates how closely resumes and cover letters match the preferred skills and experience. That means your cover letter should incorporate key phrases you’ve identified in the posted job description (if they honestly match with your background and strengths, of course). Before you start writing, carefully review the job ad for such specifics as the type of education or training required, the number of years’ experience needed, specified software skills, and preferred organization and communication abilities.

7. Address any concerns

The cover letter also is a place to preemptively explain anything that might give a hiring manager pause, such as a gap in employment. If you have been out of work — not uncommon in this economy, unfortunately — briefly explain what you’ve done to keep your skills up to date.

8. Proofread

Once you’re convinced you’ve made a strong argument for your candidacy, proofread your work. Typos signal carelessness or a cavalier attitude to an employer. Even a single typographical error can damage your chances of landing an interview. After you’ve given your letter a final polish, ask a friend with strong grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to review it. Consider providing a copy of the job posting so your friend can make sure you’ve hit all the right points.