I know you’re wondering about the cover letter. Should it be one page? Do you need to write a cover letter for a resume? Is it okay to include bullet points in my cover letter? Can I use a different color paper for my resume than for my cover letter?
These are all valid questions that we’ll address in this article, but first, let’s start with some basics. A cover letter should be sent along with your resume when applying for a job.
It’s typically used by candidates who have never met the hiring manager before and don’t know if they’ll get an interview-this is called “cold contact.” It’s also used by candidates who have already set up an interview but want to help their chances by sending over another document explaining why they’d be great at the role being advertised.”
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Using bullet points in a cover letter can help emphasize your qualifications and make your letter easier to read. |
| Bullet points should only be used when relevant to the position you are applying for. |
| Use a consistent and professional formatting style for your bullet points, including parallel sentence structure and standard bullet symbols. |
| Bullet points can be used in various sections of a cover letter, such as the qualifications summary, skills section, or accomplishments section. |
| Be concise and focused with your bullet points, using only as many as necessary to make your points clear and compelling. |
Does A Cover Letter Have To Be One Page?
A cover letter doesn’t have to be one page. You can write a cover letter that’s as long or short as you want, depending on what the position is and what you’re trying to accomplish with your application.
However, one page is a good rule of thumb for most cover letters because it allows you to give a brief overview of who you are and why you’re applying for the job without going overboard or boring the reader into submission by giving too much detail.
A well-written cover letter can be the difference between getting the job or being overlooked. Our article on the importance of cover letters provides valuable insights and tips to help you craft a compelling cover letter that will grab the employer’s attention.
What Do You Write In A Cover Letter?
Bullet points are great for listing relevant information about yourself, so it’s a good idea to use bullet points in your cover letter. However, there are some things you should keep in mind as you write a cover letter with bullet points:
Make sure your paragraphs aren’t hard to read. If they are too long and unwieldy, then the hiring manager will have trouble reading them and understanding what you are trying to say.
Make sure that the points you make in each paragraph relate to the overall message of why you want this job and why they should hire you instead of someone else.
How Do I Write A Cover Letter For Multiple Positions At The Same Company?
If you are applying for multiple positions at the same company, you should write a separate cover letter for each position. You may even want to tailor your cover letter slightly by including the position title and job description in the cover letter. For example:
Hello there! My name is James Smith and I’m applying for the [position]. Here’s why I think I’m a great fit:
This shows that you have done your research about their company, which gives them confidence that you will be able to do an excellent job once hired.
Email is a common way to submit job applications, but can it be used as a cover letter? Find out more in our career advice article on using email as a cover letter to learn the dos and don’ts of this approach.
How Do You Address A Cover Letter If You Don’t Know The Hiring Manager’s Name?
If you don’t know the name of the person who will be reviewing your application, address it to the company. If you don’t know, then say something like “Dear XYZ Company.”
If you are applying for a job and have interviewed with another employee of the organization before, then address your cover letter to that person — just put “Dear John Doe” or “Dear Susan Smith” at the top.
If there is no one specific person in mind that will be interviewing or hiring you, then address it to anyone who might do so (make sure they have power over hiring).
What Is The Best Way To Address A Cover Letter?
The first thing to know about addressing a cover letter is that you should always address it to someone specific. This could be a person, or it could be the company as a whole (for example Dear Mr. Smith at Your Company).
If you don’t know who to address your cover letter to, try looking up the hiring manager’s name and department on LinkedIn or Google. If this doesn’t work out for you, use “Dear Hiring Manager” as your salutation instead.
You should also make sure that whoever is reading this letter can easily determine who wrote it by looking at the salutation and closing paragraphs of each section of the document (more on those later).
A cover letter should be concise and to the point, but how long is too long? Our career advice article on the ideal length of a cover letter can help you determine the optimal length for your cover letter based on the industry and employer requirements.
What Should Be Included In A Good Cover Letter?
When writing a cover letter, you should include:
Your name and contact information.
A brief introduction of yourself. Talk about your relevant experience, education, and skills that make you a good fit for the job.
A statement of interest. Tell the hiring manager why you’re interested in working at their company and what specifically drew your attention to this particular job listing.
A summary of your qualifications (this could also be called “strengths/weaknesses” if you want to play it safe). Point out how you can contribute to the organization’s goals while sharing an example or two from previous jobs that demonstrate those abilities in action.
A request for an interview makes sure this part is crystal clear! You want them to know exactly what they need to do next so they can schedule time with someone who will get them results (you!). You should also let them know when would be best for setting up an interview; otherwise, there may never be one!
Should I Write More Than One Cover Letter To An Employer?
Should I write more than one cover letter? In a word, yes. If you are applying for multiple positions at the same company, it’s usually a good idea to write a general cover letter and then tailor it to each position. You can also write separate letters for each job position (or group of jobs) that you apply for.
Alternatively, if you are applying for multiple positions at different companies or organizations, it’s fine to use the same basic template with slight modifications based on what each employer is looking for in terms of skills and experience.
If an employer wants specific details about your work history, be sure to share those details but avoid repeating information from other applications unless requested by the employer.
How Can I Make My Cover Letter Stand Out?
Be professional. There’s no need to overdo it and be overly formal, but you should use a cover letter format that is professional and easy to read.
If you’re applying for an internship or entry-level position, this means using a simple one-page layout with Times New Roman or Calibri font at 12 points with 1-inch margins. You can include bullet points if you’d like, but make sure they’re relevant to the job or industry.
Be specific about the job you’re applying for and how your experience fits into the company’s mission statement and goals.
Be creative in how you express yourself by using examples from past experiences that clearly show why your skills are relevant in this position (see bullet point above).
Be concise by keeping paragraphs short and including lots of white space so that important information stands out visually at first glance!
If possible, address something specific within the advertisement itself (even if it’s just saying “I would love more than anything else in this world than working at Company X.”).
This will help differentiate you from all those other applicants who want nothing more than working at Company X but don’t do anything special enough about it here.)
Likewise emphasizing any previous experience related directly related things like being bilingual (for example), volunteering abroad, etc…in order words, anything differentiating factors can help make sure potential employers notice yours most quickly!
Short and sweet or long and detailed? The length of your cover letter depends on various factors. Learn more about the pros and cons of a short cover letter in our career advice article and find out when it’s appropriate to keep it brief.
Do I Need To Put My Address On My Cover Letter?
You should not need to include your address on your cover letter. Your resume should have it, and if you’re applying for a local job, you can include it there as well. If you’re applying for a job that’s not local or if the company doesn’t have an office in town, leave that part off of your application materials altogether.
Do You Need A Cover Letter In 2020?
In the past, cover letters were essential for getting your foot in the door. They made it possible for you to stand out from other candidates and get noticed by employers. However, this is no longer necessary because online applications make it easy for recruiters to search through resumes electronically instead of relying on paper copies.
However, a cover letter can still help you show that you are serious about getting a job and want to make an effort toward applying (or applying again) for specific roles within an organization.
The best thing about having a well-written cover letter is that it will give potential employers something else besides your resume or application form on which they can base their decisions about whether or not they want to interview with you and potentially hire you!
Can I Use Bullet Points On My Resume But Not On My Cover Letter?
You should use bullet points on your resume, but not on your cover letter.
Here’s why:
Bullet points highlight key points. A resume is a summary of what you’ve done and where, so it’s important to make it easy for the reader to find relevant details quickly.
Boring blocks of text can be confusing and overwhelming for hiring managers who are skimming a lot of information in just a few minutes. Bullet point lists are an effective way to break up long paragraphs so that readers can quickly scan through them without missing anything important!
Bullets show organization and attention to detail. Listing achievements or other relevant points as bullets make them easier to read and understand than paragraphs full of text because they’re shorter, simpler statements that have been broken down into categories (e.g., “Education” or “Professional Experiences”).
It also shows that you’re organized you’ve taken time out from writing this cover letter so far ahead as well as prior drafts before sending something out; therefore, we trust you’ll do good work once hired!
Bullet points can help highlight your skills and experience in a cover letter, but when and how should you use them? Our career advice article on using bullet points in a cover letter provides tips and examples to help you effectively incorporate bullet points in your cover letter.
What Color Paper Should A Cover Letter Be Printed On?
If you are printing your cover letter on colored or patterned paper, make sure that the font is large enough to read.
If you’re writing a letter in cursive, make sure that it’s readable.
If you’re writing a letter on plain white paper with a black ink pen, make sure that it looks professional and easy to read!
What Are Some Tips For Writing A Good Cold-Contact (Unsolicited) Cover Letter With No Connections At All To An Employer?
A great cold-contact cover letter will be personal, specific to the job, and concise. It should also have a clear structure that allows you to highlight your skills and experiences in a way that shows off your best qualities.
Here are some tips for writing one:
Be specific. Don’t use generic language like “I’m interested in working at X company.” Instead, focus on what you can offer the employer: “My experience with ABC Company makes me an ideal candidate for this position.”
Be personal. In a cold contact letter, it’s especially important to stand out from the crowd by being personable instead of just listing off your credentials or history as if they were bullet points on an Excel spreadsheet this means using full sentences rather than short phrases (like “I have experience with”)
When describing past jobs or schooling; referring directly to specific aspects of their organization or mission statement; sharing details about yourself (e.g., hobbies/interests) that might make them more likely to hire you based on personality fit rather than just job qualifications alone; etcetera!
For example: “I’ve always been fascinated by how individuals learn styles like jazz piano even though they don’t come naturally at first glance…which is why I decided to study psychology.”
Or maybe even “I admire how [company name] has grown exponentially over the last ten years without losing sight of its core values and I think those traits would be beneficial here too!”
You Shouldn’t Include Bullets Points In Your Cover
A cover letter is not a resume. It’s a letter of introduction that should be customized to the company, position, and your unique qualifications.
When you’re writing a cover letter, don’t write like you’re listing bullet points on a resume or CV that will make it seem like you’re trying to fit yourself into this role in any way possible, instead of taking the time to show them why they want you in particular.
Conclusion
There are many ways to write a cover letter and make it stand out. It’s important to know what the job posting expects from applicants and how you can show your skills in these areas. As long as you’re writing an honest, well-crafted letter, there will always be someone who appreciates what you have to say!
Further Reading
Bullet Point Cover Letter: How to Write & Examples: Indeed provides tips on how to incorporate bullet points effectively in a cover letter, with examples.
How to Include Bullet Points in a Cover Letter: The Balance Careers offers advice on using bullet points in a cover letter, with sample phrases and sentences to use.
When Should You Use Bullet Points in a Cover Letter?: Resume-Now explores the situations when using bullet points in a cover letter can be appropriate, and provides tips on how to do it effectively.
FAQs
Can I use bullet points in my cover letter?
Yes, bullet points can be a useful way to highlight your qualifications, achievements, or skills in a cover letter. However, it is important to use them judiciously and only when they are relevant to the position you are applying for.
How many bullet points should I use in my cover letter?
There is no set number of bullet points that you should use in a cover letter. It’s important to be concise and focused, so use only as many bullet points as necessary to make your points clear and compelling.
Where should I use bullet points in my cover letter?
You can use bullet points in different sections of your cover letter, such as the qualifications summary, skills section, or accomplishments section. Use them to break up long paragraphs and draw attention to specific achievements or qualifications.
How should I format bullet points in my cover letter?
It’s important to use a consistent and professional formatting style for your bullet points. Use a standard bullet symbol and keep them aligned and indented consistently. Use parallel sentence structure for each bullet point to make them easier to read.
Are there any situations when I should avoid using bullet points in my cover letter?
Yes, there are situations when using bullet points may not be appropriate, such as when applying for a creative or artistic position where you want to showcase your writing skills. Additionally, if the employer specifically requests a traditional cover letter format, it may be best to avoid using bullet points.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.