Cover letters are one of the most frustrating parts of the job application process. A well-written cover letter can get your resume read and make you stand out in a sea of other candidates, but a badly written one can have employers wondering why they should bother with you.
If you’re asking yourself how long does it take to write a cover letter or what should be included? Take a look at our guide for some helpful tips and suggestions!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Writing a cover letter can be overwhelming, but using tips and resources can make it easier |
| It’s important to understand the purpose of a cover letter and how it works to make it effective |
| A good cover letter should be concise and tailored to the job and company you’re applying to |
| Spending too much time on a cover letter may not be necessary |
| It’s important to showcase your unique qualifications and experience to make your cover letter stand out |
How Long Does It Take To Do A Cover Letter
How long does it take to do a cover letter? It depends on the job. The more experience you have, the faster you can write a cover letter. If you know exactly what they are looking for and how to fit your experience into that mold, then it will be much quicker than if you have never done this before.
The same goes for knowing about the company and what its needs are. If all of those things are part of who you are as an applicant, then your cover letter will be easy to write because your passion will come through in every sentence.
1. Don’t Rush It
There’s a lot of information to include when writing a cover letter, and it can be overwhelming to try to squeeze in everything you need. But don’t rush through the process. You don’t want to end up with a cover letter that doesn’t capture your expertise and interest in the job opening or one that doesn’t demonstrate why you’re the right person for the job.
If there are sections where you’re unsure what should go or not sure how best to word it, take time and research what will work best for them (i.e., their industry) before submitting your application materials.
Starting a cover letter can be overwhelming, but a few tips can make it easier. Check out our guide on how to start writing a cover letter to learn some effective ways to begin your letter.
2. Do A Cover Letter Outline
To make sure your cover letter is as effective as possible, it’s important to follow a template. This will ensure that each piece of information is presented in the best way and that you don’t forget anything important. That way, hiring managers can easily identify what makes you the best candidate for the job and why they should hire you. Here’s how
Include a header at the top of your document that includes your name, contact information (phone number, email address), and the name of the company or organization where you’re applying for employment.
If there are multiple people involved in hiring decisions at this company or organization, include their names here too; some companies require that candidates address their cover letters directly to them specifically so it may be helpful for them to see those names right away!
Some companies also require that applicants send an official letter via snail mail instead of electronically so please keep this in mind when sending out applications today!
3. Use A Cover Letter Template
Using a cover letter template is the best way to make sure you are following all of the guidelines for writing one. A template will guide you through every aspect of creating a good cover letter and ensure that everything is in order. Plus, it’s much faster and easier than doing it all from scratch.
When using a template, keep in mind:
The company guidelines should be included on the template itself so that there’s no guessing involved as far as what information needs to be included or how many paragraphs there should be.
If these details aren’t written down somewhere, then chances are high that errors will be made when filling out this important document! And nobody wants those kinds of mistakes appearing on their resume or anywhere else for that matter!
4. Look Closely At The Ad You’re Responding To
Now that you know what to put in your cover letter, it’s time to look at the post more closely.
What does the job title say? If it doesn’t match up with your skills, don’t even bother applying for the job.
Do you have enough experience for this position? If not, do not apply! They’ll think that you’re just a lazy person who wants the easy way out and will toss your resume in their trash bin without so much as a second thought.
Are there any special requirements for this position (education or certifications) that you don’t have? Don’t bother applying unless they’re willing to overlook those things.* How much does this company pay its employees?
This can be an important factor when deciding whether or not it’s worth applying if they’re offering a low salary; however, keep in mind that some companies may offer other benefits such as health insurance or 401(k).
You may also want to consider whether or not money is really important right now; maybe there’s another opportunity out there that would still make working at this company worthwhile despite its lower salary offer.* Where is work based out of (city)?
This could affect whether or not commuting would be difficult due to traffic congestion during rush hour times every day which could make going back home after work very stressful on top of other reasons like cost effectiveness etc…
Writing a cover letter doesn’t have to be lengthy. In fact, keeping it concise can work in your favor. Check out our guide on how many pages a cover letter can be to learn about the ideal length of a cover letter.
5. Don’t Be Like Everyone Else
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to be like everyone else. But when it comes down to it, you’re not everyone else. You’re you. And if you don’t tell the truth about who that is however quirky or shy or funny or whatever else makes your personality unique your cover letter can feel dull and lifeless.
Don’t be afraid of being different from other applicants. Let your voice shine through so that hiring managers can see how well matched you are for their organization, whether by using humor or sarcasm or even just plain old honesty (yes, honesty!).
6. Keep It Short And Sweet
A cover letter should be one page, maximum. If you have a lot to say, include a resume instead of writing more in the cover letter. You must keep the information relevant to the job description. If you can’t keep it short and sweet, don’t send it at all!
7. Follow The Instructions Closely
Don’t assume you know what an employer is looking for, or how best to present yourself. If they ask for a cover letter, write one! And if they want a resume, make sure it looks like theirs (think fonts and spacing). The same goes for portfolios and videos: follow the directions exactly so you don’t waste anyone’s time by applying with materials that don’t fit what they’re looking for.
Finding the right words to include in your cover letter can be a challenge. But remember, less is often more. Check out our guide on how many words a cover letter should be to learn about the ideal word count for your letter.
8. Focus On What’s Important To The Hiring Manager
When you focus on the company’s needs, you’ll be able to highlight the skills and experience that they’re looking for. Then, whether or not you have exactly what they want, your cover letter will show that you are at least interested in the position and the company.
You can use this strategy to send a professional email with a customized message that emphasizes how well your skills match their requirements.
If you don’t have any experience in this industry yet but are interested in working at a particular company or organization, look for job descriptions and see if there are any common themes among them.
Do all of them mention tech credentials? Are some of them looking for someone who has experience in marketing? Most importantly: What does each hiring manager seem most concerned about? Does one hiring manager care about social media presence but another wants someone with an entrepreneurial mindset?
9. Carefully Read Your Cover Letter Before Sending It
It’s important to carefully read your cover letter before sending it. This is because you don’t want typos, grammatical errors, spelling errors, formatting errors, and content issues to make their way into the final draft.
Check for typos by reading through the entire document word by word at least four or five times with a highlighter pen in hand. You can also use a computer-based tool like Grammarly or Hemingway App to help you spot any errors that might have slipped through the cracks.
After reading your cover letter twice more and making sure there are no glaring mistakes (there should be none if you followed steps 1-8), take one more pass through it just to be sure that everything looks good and flows well together.
If anything is unclear or confusing change it! Your goal here is to create a strong first impression without being overly complicated or verbose so that the hiring manager will be interested in learning about who else may work at your company if they decide not to hire someone else from our team as well.”
Understanding how cover letters work can help you craft an effective one. Check out our guide on how cover letters work to learn about the purpose of a cover letter and how to make it work for you.
10. Do A Cover Letter Final Check
Now, you can read your cover letter. As you do, look for any mistakes or errors that need to be corrected. It is a good idea to check for spelling and grammar mistakes in particular because they are so easy to make.
Also check the formatting, layout, and style of your cover letter as well as its content and tone. Do not just rely on spell check there may be words that are spelled correctly but still don’t sound right when used in context with one another.
11. Choose Your Cover Letter Format And Font Carefully
The format of a cover letter is just as important as the content. When writing a cover letter, you want to make sure that the way it’s formatted makes it easy for the reader to read and understand all of your points.
Use headings to break up paragraphs, so that each point is clear and concise. Don’t use paragraph indentations or bullet points that are too small or hard to read!
I also recommend using an easy-to-read font like Calibri (or Garamond), which has been shown in studies conducted by Microsoft researchers to be highly legible across devices (meaning it’s less likely than some other fonts to have blurry pixels on your computer screen).
12. Add Your Cover Letter To Email Or As An Attachment, Online Or Offline
You’ve done it! You’re ready to send off your cover letter and resume in an email with confidence, but there are a few more things to consider before you do.
If you have access to the company’s website and its job application portal, make sure that you follow their instructions on how they want applicants’ documents sent. Some companies prefer that documents are attached as .doc files and others prefer .pdfs if possible, please send them in both formats so that they can choose whichever they prefer or open both at once.
A strong cover letter can make all the difference when applying for a job. Check out our guide on how important a cover letter is when applying for a job to learn why you should take the time to write a great one.
13. Request For An Interview In Your Cover Letter If That’s Your Goal!
When you’re sending out a cover letter, it’s important to remember that your goal is to get an interview. You want to show off your skills, but you also want to connect with the company and let them know why they should hire you.
The best way to do this is by asking for an interview. In your cover letter, ask the hiring manager if they have time for a quick phone call or coffee meeting where you can discuss further details about the position and find out if it’s something worth pursuing further.
The Point Of A Great Cover Letter Is To Get Yourself Noticed, So Don’t Forget That When You’re Writing It
The point of a great cover letter is to get yourself noticed, so don’t forget that when you’re writing it. Your cover letter is your chance to sell yourself to a prospective employer. You’ll be one of many applicants for an opening, so make sure that you can stand out from the crowd by emphasizing your best qualities and skills.
At the beginning of this article, we talked about what makes up a good cover letter. Now let’s talk about how long it should take on average to write one:
Conclusion
In conclusion, the point of a great cover letter is to get yourself noticed, so don’t forget that when you’re writing it. Maintain good grammar and spelling, be brief but clear in your message, and make sure that it represents you well as an applicant!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that can help you improve your cover letter writing skills:
How Long Should You Spend Writing a Cover Letter?: This article offers insights into how much time you should dedicate to crafting a cover letter.
How to Write an Impressive Cover Letter from Scratch in 30 Minutes: If you’re short on time, this article can help you write a great cover letter quickly.
What’s the Ideal Cover Letter Length?: This article provides guidance on how long your cover letter should be and offers tips on making it concise and effective.
FAQs
How important is a cover letter when applying for a job?
A cover letter can be extremely important when applying for a job, as it gives you the opportunity to explain why you’re a great fit for the position and why you’re interested in the company.
How long should a cover letter be?
The ideal length of a cover letter varies depending on the job and industry. In general, a cover letter should be no longer than one page.
What should you include in a cover letter?
A cover letter should include a brief introduction, information about your qualifications and experience, and a closing statement expressing your interest in the job and the company.
How do you start a cover letter?
To start a cover letter, begin with a brief introduction that explains who you are and why you’re interested in the job. Then, highlight your qualifications and experience that make you a strong candidate for the position.
How do you make a cover letter stand out?
To make a cover letter stand out, focus on showcasing your unique qualifications and experience that make you a great fit for the position. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills, and tailor the letter to the job and company you’re applying to.
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.