The cover letter is an important part of your job application. It can help you stand out from other applicants, but it can also ruin your chances of getting the interview if not written correctly.
So what should you include in your cover letter? What should be avoided? In this guide, we will answer all of these questions and more.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Addressing a cover letter is important as it shows that you have done your research and are making an effort to personalize your application. |
| If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, use a generic salutation such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter.” |
| Avoid using “To Whom It May Concern,” as it can sound impersonal. |
| While it’s best to address a cover letter to a specific person, if you are unable to find the hiring manager’s name, you can address it to the company or department. |
| If you accidentally address a cover letter to the wrong person, acknowledge the mistake and apologize in the letter. |
| To find the hiring manager’s name, you can search LinkedIn or the company website, check the job posting or advertisement, or call the company and ask for the name and title of the hiring manager. |
Do You Need A Cover Letter For A Resume?
Do you need a cover letter for a resume? Yes, it’s true. Cover letters are an important part of your job search.
But why should you bother with a cover letter when you already have a resume? Because they allow you to explain any gaps in your employment history or to highlight other skills that may not be obvious on paper.
A well-crafted cover letter also helps the hiring manager get to know who you are and what drives you and those things aren’t always easy to convey through a document as short as a résumé.
When you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, it’s important to take the right steps to address your cover letter. Our article on what to do instead provides tips and tricks to help ensure your cover letter is professional and effective.
Should You Title Your Cover Letter?
You should title your cover letter. It’s a good idea to have a formal, professional title at the top of your cover letter that briefly describes the position you are applying for. The title should be centered and underlined so that it stands out from the rest of the text.
Sample titles:
[Title]-Application for [Position]
[Position] Application for [Company Name]
Who Do I Address My Cover Letter To?
Who you address your cover letter to depends on the position. In many cases, you should address it to a specific person or department.
For example, if you are applying for an accounting job at a company that has multiple offices in various cities.
Then addressing your cover letter to “Office Manager” would not be effective because there may be more than one office manager within the company and each office location might have its manager.
To find out who specifically should receive your cover letter in these situations, ask the hiring manager for their contact information.
Be sure that you are contacting them directly and not through an online application system such as Monster or LinkedIn.
If this is not possible due to a lack of details about who will be reading the application (for example when posting applications on job boards), then send correspondence with “Dear Hiring Manager” as its salutation instead of using someone’s name.
How Do You Start A Cover Letter?
When you’re writing a cover letter, the first thing you should do is greet your reader. This can be done formally or informally depending on how much information you have about the person reading it.
For example, if they’re looking over applications from college students and they’re likely to be a professor or teaching assistant at the school where you used to attend classes, then it’s okay to use their first names or even their last name.
On the other hand, if they are hiring someone for a job that requires experience in technical writing and requires knowledge of basic skills such as spelling and grammar (e.g., an editor).
Then it’s best not to assume anything about them until after introductions have been made formally through email correspondence as well as verbal communication during phone calls/meetings later down the line when both parties feel comfortable enough with each other
Before moving forward with negotiations regarding salary expectations and benefits packages offered by respective companies/organizations.
When you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, it’s important to take the right steps to address your cover letter. Our article on what to do instead provides tips and tricks to help ensure your cover letter is professional and effective.
What Is A Cover Letter For A Job Used For?
A cover letter is a one-page document that serves as an introduction to your resume. It should briefly explain why you’re interested in the job and include information about yourself that ties into the position, such as skills or work experience.
A resume is a document that summarizes your experience, skills, education, and accomplishments.
It’s meant to be viewed by hiring managers who are considering hiring you for a specific job (or jobs).
A CV (curriculum vitae) is similar to a resume but longer and more detailed. A CV can also be used when applying for scholarships or internships as well as academic positions like professorships or teaching fellowships.
Be sure to check with whoever will receive your application materials before sending out any CVs!
A portfolio is an assortment of samples from past projects (like written reports), artwork created by hand or computer-aided design programs (CAD), and photographs taken by yourself/with others in various settings around town/in nature.
Portfolios are often used in art schools where students must submit them along with their applications so instructors can see their work firsthand instead of just relying on grades alone like most other types of schools do nowadays due to “time constraints”.”
A well-crafted cover letter can make all the difference in landing an interview. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide on writing a cover letter that will land you the interview, which includes tips on how to grab the employer’s attention and showcase your qualifications.
What Is The Difference Between A Resume And A CV?
A resume is usually shorter and more succinct than a CV. It provides an overview of your professional experience and education, while also highlighting any skills or knowledge that make you uniquely qualified for the position.
A CV, on the other hand, is much more detailed: it lists out every job you’ve had in reverse chronological order.
In general, when writing a cover letter for an academic position (like tenure-track faculty positions), it’s best to write your cover letter like an essay instead of listing out all of your qualifications that’s what your resume will do!
Instead of writing about what makes you ideal for this position (which may seem obvious), use this as an opportunity to tell us who YOU are: What motivates YOU? Why are YOU interested in working at SMU? What does being part of this institution mean TO YOU?
How Long Should A Cover Letter Be?
The length of a cover letter depends on the position and company. The average length is one page, with three paragraphs: introduction, body, and conclusion.
The first paragraph should be an introduction that includes who you are and why you’re applying for the job.
You can also include information about how long it’s been since you’ve worked in this industry or how much experience you have in that business field.
It’s possible to shorten your cover letter by using bullet points instead of full sentences in each paragraph; however, this can make it difficult for readers to understand what type of person you are without reading every single word carefully!
What Is The Best Way For A Perfectly Formatted Cover Letter?
When you’re writing your cover letter, it’s best to use a professional email address. If you don’t have one, create one using your name and last name as the username (for example: “john smith” or “smith”).
Next, use a professional font in your cover letter. Times New Roman or Arial work well for this purpose. Make sure that it’s not too small 10 or 12 is ideal and that it’s black or blue so that it stands out against the white background.
You can also add some formatting to make things look more interesting: try bolding, italicizing, or underlining certain words for emphasis; also consider using strikethroughs when there are parts of sentences that don’t apply anymore.
Can You Still Use A Cover Letter When Applying For A Position Online?
Yes! You should include a cover letter even if the employer is asking for an online application.
The most important thing to do is make sure that your resume and cover letter are both tailored specifically to the job you’re applying for, as well as highlighting why they should hire you over other candidates.
Even though they might not be reading your letters in person, it’s still important that they get across everything that makes you great at what you do.
Are you wondering if all jobs require a cover letter? Our article on whether or not cover letters are necessary discusses the importance of cover letters in the job application process and provides advice on when and how to submit them.
How Do You Make Sure Your Cover Letter Gets Past The Applicant Tracking System?
Make sure you use the correct keywords. If your resume is going to be read by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
You must use the keywords the company has listed for its job description. You can find this information on their website or in the job posting itself; look for words like “proficient” and “experienced.”
Use a good layout. The ATS will scan your cover letter for certain things, like paragraphs containing between six and eight sentences long if yours falls outside that range, it might get flagged as spam!
Keep things simple: no fancy fonts or colors, no pictures or graphics unless they’re related directly to what you’re describing (e.g., an image of yourself in front of your college campus).
Use a good font size and color and make sure they match up with what’s already been provided in the body of other documents associated with this process (like resumes). Remember: don’t go too small you want people to read them easily!
What Information Is Essential In A Cover Letter And What Can Be Skipped Or Left Out?
As a general rule, cover letters should be addressed to specific people at the company you’re applying for. If you don’t know who to address your letter to, try looking up their names on LinkedIn or searching for them online.
In addition
Make sure that your letter is personalized to the company and job posting you’re applying to. You can do this by referring back to the job posting as well as researching some of their recent projects or initiatives.
This will help show that you’ve taken the time and effort into understanding their needs and culture.
Cover letters should be concise and easy to read so that recruiters can quickly skim through them when they’re swamped with resumes from other candidates. Try keeping yours no longer than two paragraphs!
An effective cover letter can greatly increase your chances of landing a job. Our article on how an effective cover letter can affect your job prospects explains the impact a strong cover letter can have on your application and provides tips on how to make yours stand out.
Conclusion
I hope that this article has helped you figure out whether or not you need a cover letter, how long it should be, and what information is essential.
Further Reading
The 3 Rules of Addressing Your Cover Letter: The Muse provides a comprehensive guide on how to address a cover letter, including common mistakes to avoid and tips on how to personalize your greeting.
How to Address a Cover Letter With Examples: Indeed offers practical advice and examples on how to address a cover letter, including how to research the hiring manager’s name and how to format your greeting.
How to Address a Cover Letter: Zety provides a step-by-step guide on how to address a cover letter, with tips on how to tailor your greeting to the company and the hiring manager.
FAQs
How should I address a cover letter if I don’t know the hiring manager’s name?
If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, it’s best to use a generic salutation such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter.” Avoid using “To Whom It May Concern,” as it can sound impersonal.
Is it necessary to address a cover letter?
Yes, addressing a cover letter is important as it shows that you have done your research and are making an effort to personalize your application. It also helps ensure that your application is directed to the correct person.
Can I address a cover letter to the company?
While it’s best to address a cover letter to a specific person, if you are unable to find the hiring manager’s name, you can address it to the company or department. For example, “Dear Marketing Team.”
What if I address a cover letter to the wrong person?
If you accidentally address a cover letter to the wrong person, it’s best to acknowledge the mistake and apologize in the letter. You can also try to correct it by contacting the company and asking for the correct person’s name.
How do I find the hiring manager’s name?
To find the hiring manager’s name, you can search LinkedIn or the company website, check the job posting or advertisement, or call the company and ask for the name and title of the hiring manager.
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.