Cover Letter Essentials: Tips for Making an Impact

A cover letter is your chance to show a prospective employer how you’ll be an asset to their team. You don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression, so it’s important to make sure your cover letter grabs the attention of the hiring manager and convinces them that you’re the right candidate for the job.

With the right approach, tips, and tricks, you can craft an impactful cover letter that will get you noticed. Here are essential cover letter tips to help make an impact on the hiring manager.

Before you begin writing your cover letter, take the time to research the company’s culture and mission statement. Look through their website, online press, reviews, and any other information. Identify what sets the company apart from other businesses in the same industry and why they appeal to you.

Including references to details you learned about the company will demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in the employer. Additionally, it shows the hiring manager that you took the time to put in the effort to learn more about what they do and the values they represent.

Cover letters should tell the hiring manager what makes you the right fit for the position. This means that you need to choose the right formatting and layout to highlight your qualifications and skills most effectively.

You may want to try writing your cover letter in a standard block format, including sections on why you're a great fit for the job, how you'll benefit the company, and why you're interested in the position. Or, use a bullet point format to quickly draw attention to highlights from your experience and qualifications most relevant to the position.

When writing your cover letter, it’s important to include relevant examples of your accomplishments and how they would be relevant to the job position you’re applying for. Use your experience to your advantage and showcase what sets you apart from the competition.

For example, if you’re applying for a marketing position, you could talk about a project you managed and the positive impact it had on the company. Highlight your experiences and skills, and how they’ve helped you achieve success in your professional life.

Including too much information and detail in your cover letter can be overwhelming for the reader. To ensure yours is impactful and stands out from the competition, be specific and concise.

Focus on the details that are important and relevant to the job position. Leave out any superfluous details, such as details about your hobbies or other experiences that have no relevancy to the position. Additionally, use precise and concrete words to avoid long, convoluted sentences that can be hard to read.

Your cover letter should sound professional, but also be interesting and engaging. It should reflect your own tone and voice, and should be written in the same style and language that you use in your professional communications.

Avoid sounding too casual or unprofessional, or too stiff and formal. Don’t undersell yourself either. Keep the tone professional and upbeat, while still remaining authentic.

It’s important to make sure your cover letter is free of errors and typo’s. Have a friend or mentor read through it and provide feedback. Looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes can help find and correct any errors you may have missed.

Although double-checking your cover letter for mistakes may take some extra time, it’s worth it in the long-run. It will make it easier for the hiring manager to read and understand, and show that you care about the position and have taken the time to express yourself accurately and carefully.

A carefully crafted cover letter can make a big difference in how you are perceived by potential employers. Following the right formatting, layout, and tips can help you make an impact and grab the attention of the hiring manager.

By researching the company, choosing the right format, highlighting accomplishments, being specific, mastering the right tone, and proofreading your letter, you can create an impactful cover letter that will get you noticed.