The cover letter template is constantly changing with employment needs. A cover letter format must include certain aspects but not the same information as when cover letters first became standard in the 1950s.
A prospective employer’s first impression of you is a cover letter. If a hiring manager does not like a cover letter, they may not bother to look at the resume. Discover what you should have in your cover letter and what you should leave out.
Cover Letter Format Basics
Most individuals use a covering letter for resume when applying for an internship or a job. However, some cover letters are for mortgage or loan applications, contracts and proposals, and other executed documents.
A cover letter’s purpose is to engage the reader’s attention and persuade them to do or give something, like a job or loan. When it comes to employment and internships, you are trying to convince the reader (or hiring manager) to give you an interview for an open position.
In most cases, a cover letter precedes an application and resume, and the content’s purpose is applying for a specific position. However, some individuals may write a cover letter to express interest in a business or organization if they are unsure of current open positions, like internships.
Most hiring managers look for the following in cover letters:
- Current and specific information
- Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar
- Information in chronological order
- Highlights of experience related to the open position
- Quantitative evidence of success
A covering letter for job and other prospects is not a summary of your education or work experience. The recruiter will see that information on your resume. Your cover letter should entice the reader to review your resume like a trailer piques the interest of moviegoers.
The recruiter might overlook your resume if your cover letter has typos or apparent mistakes. Whichever cover letter example you mimic, your content should be easy to read and error-free. The company may verify the details on your resume if it is interested in you, so it should be accurate.
How Cover Letters Can Make You Stand Out
Good cover letter examples list all the information you should include, but your personality can set it apart from other candidates. Your cover letter should have information not on your resume.
Some resume cover letter examples of why you should include them:
- It says what your resume does not. While your resume should show you are qualified for the position on its own, the cover letter adds an element of persuasion. You can add personal elements for wanting the job.
- It gives the business a better idea of who you are. The “Objective” section of your resume tells the employer who you are and what you want. But you can elaborate on your interest and experiences in the cover letter.
- It’s an opportunity to showcase writing abilities. Resumes use bullet points and incomplete sentences to list professional accolades and tasks. You can write thought-out sentences, show clear and concise communication, and other attributes in your cover letter.
- You can highlight your strengths. Most resumes are a page and no longer than two pages. Hiring managers scan resumes for keywords like running down a checklist. The cover letter is your opportunity to detail remarkable experiences and express your personality.
- It shows enthusiasm for the position. It is easy for job seekers to send the same resume to countless employers. But the cover letter references the company and the position specifically, which can illustrate a passion and drive other applicants did not bother to show.
- You can set up the next contact. When you submit just an application and resume, you put the follow-up in the hiring manager’s hands. You can take control of the following contact by closing the cover letter with a date and time when you will reach out again.
Your resume should include your education, work experience, hard and soft skills, and other factors that make you a strong candidate for the job position. However, some of your unique characteristics may not fit into a resume’s format. Resumes must include certain details, which leave little room for story or personality.
Job Cover Letter Examples and Tips
While copying job cover letter examples can help you format content, you should customize the letter for each application. Your cover letter should mention the business and the advertised position specifically.
Research the company to look for relevant news. For example, you can emphasize how it is heartwarming to hear about the company’s devotion to energy conservation since you started a similar program at your current employment.
Most professional cover letter examples will include the following:
- You contact information; name, phone, and email
- Personal salutations; write the hiring manager’s name if you know it instead of “To whom it may concern” for a more significant impact
- The “hook” or opening paragraph that draws the reader in
- Your motivation and offer in the center paragraphs
- The “call to action” or the date when you will follow up
- Sign-off and signature
Consider the following sample cover letter for resume and application submissions:
Jane Lane
Executive Assistant
Phone: (555) 555-5555
Email: JaneLane100@email.com
Pleasantville, AB
March 10, 2024
John Berry
Human Resource Director
ALL Point, Inc.
123 Commercial Ave.
Metro City, AB
Dear Mr. Berry,
Your advertisement listed desired qualities like reliable, efficient, and friendly, but those are just the essential attributes your facility needs. The recent addition to your Outreach Department may demand someone who can prioritize, multi-task, and think outside the box when it comes to problem-solving.
I’m excited to apply to the Executive Assistant position at ALL Point, Inc. since its initiation of energy-conservation and reduce carbon mission program a few years ago during my sophomore year of Environmental Studies. Conservation methods I implemented at AB University cut energy costs by 27 percent the first year and more than 30 and 34 percent the subsequent years.
Working as an administrative assistant taught me the importance of culture and community at my current employment. The policies, environment, and missions ALL Point, Inc. has sound ideal for a creative and industrious professional. I’d love to bring my 8 years of experience in office management into that atmosphere.
I’d love an opportunity to discuss reduction efforts and meet for an interview. I’ll check in with you on Tuesday, and you can reach me at (555) 555-5555 or JaneLane100@email.com. I appreciate your time and the opportunity to work for ALL Point, Inc.
Sincerely,
Jane Lane
