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S L2 Writing The Cover Letter

The document provides guidance on writing an effective cover letter, including what to include such as greeting the hiring manager, an impactful opening paragraph highlighting skills and experience, relevant accomplishments in the body, and a thank you in the closing. It also lists dos and don'ts such as customizing each letter and including keywords from the job description.

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Gabriel Maran
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
21 views9 pages

S L2 Writing The Cover Letter

The document provides guidance on writing an effective cover letter, including what to include such as greeting the hiring manager, an impactful opening paragraph highlighting skills and experience, relevant accomplishments in the body, and a thank you in the closing. It also lists dos and don'ts such as customizing each letter and including keywords from the job description.

Uploaded by

Gabriel Maran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WRITING THE COVER LETTER

Now that you have found a suitable job advertisement,


are you ready to write the cover letter? No, not quite?
Need a quick review of how to write a cover letter?

Well, you could do one of the following:

1. Refer to some great tips at:


Jobscan. 2018. Cover Letter Tips. [online]
Available at https://www.jobscan.co/cover-letter

2. Go through the rest of the slides for a quick lesson on


‘Writing the Cover Letter’
Let’s review: What’s a cover letter?
• A one-page letter to accompany the resume when applying
for a job.

• It explains who you are, your major accomplishments, and


what you will bring to the company, if hired.

• With popularity of online applications and applicant tracking


systems, cover letters may not be needed for job applications
in some industries.

• The recruiter’s very first impression of the applicant, before


the resume.

• Important to know the basics for writing an effective cover


letter.
What to include in a Cover Letter?
Start with the greeting
• Replace “Hi” or “To whom it may concern” with the name of
the hiring manager (search the company website or call up
for this information).
• Greet the person directly with “Dear Mr Tan” or “Hello John”.

Think of an impactful opening paragraph


• Grab the attention of the hiring manager.
• Let your personality shine through. Be creative.
• Highlight what you can do specifically for the company,
what skills you possess and how your experience can make
a positive impact on the company?
What else to include in a Cover Letter?
Consider the body of the cover letter
• Think of the following questions:
- Why are you writing?
- What can you offer?
- What do you know about the company and the team?

• It’s about selling yourself: your qualifications, skills, experience


and qualities.
• Include examples of relevant and measurable past
accomplishments, e.g. if in sales: “In Q4 of 2017, I increased sales
by 10%”; if in web development: “Worked in a team of three
developers to build a full mobile app”; if in managerial position:
“Led a team of 10 to reach a combined $200 000 in sales in one
quarter”.
• Include only the most relevant and positive information about you.
Anything else to include in a Cover Letter?

Think about the Closing


• Use this to thank the recruiter for his or her time
• Mention any attachments (resume, portfolio, samples)
• Keep the closing professional
e.g. “I look forward to hearing from you whether
I’m a suitable match for this position”.
• Close formally with “Sincerely“ or “Regards” and use
your first and last name as your signature
• Send from a personal email account (not from your
current office email).
To recap, here are some “DOs” when writing cover letters …
• Customize your cover letter for every job application that
asks for one.
• Mention the position you are applying for in the letter.
• Include the main skills or keywords from the job description
in your cover letter.
• Highlight relevant and persuasive measurable results in your
cover letter.
• Explain, briefly, any change in career industries or job titles.
• Research on the company and use the information to relate
your interest in the job.
• Keep your cover letter concise and limited to one page with
3-5 paragraphs no longer than 6 lines each paragraph.
• Convince the reader why you are the right person for the
position.
… and here are some “DON’Ts” when writing cover letters
DON'T
• Include a cover letter unless it is asked for.
• Use the same cover letter for different job positions and
applications.
• Give lengthy description of your employment history or
gaps, or qualifications – you can do that during the
interview.
• Belittle / put down your past employers.
• Complain about your job search journey in your cover
letter.
References

JOBSCAN HOW TO SERIES. 2018 [online] Available at https://www.jobscan.co/how-to-pages


[Accessed on 21 October 2018]

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