A cover letter is an essential part of any job application. It’s your chance to make a great first impression on a potential employer and stand out from the crowd. But how do you go about writing the perfect cover letter in an increasingly competitive labour market? Well, here are 6 tips to write the perfect cover letter that will get your profile noticed by recruiters and hiring managers across the board. After all, we read dozens of cover letters on a daily basis… Some might say we’ve got the hang of it now.

1. Tailor your cover letter to the job

This means highlighting how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the job. Even though this can feel like tedious extra work, it really can make a difference. It shows you are genuinely interested in the role and company instead of sending blanket applications to every organisation within a 25 mile range of your home! In addition, you can tailor industry specific experience you have had over your career to clearly demonstrate that you are a good fit for the advertised role. Generally speaking, avoid using a generic cover letter for multiple job applications. This dilutes its content and is ultimately less effective.

Think about it; if someone were to contact you via email or phone to sell you a product, chances are you would be a lot less receptive if they called you “dear customer” instead of personalising the experience by using your name! Best practice is to write a cover letter template containing all of your information and then trim it down for what the job requires.

2. Address the Hiring Manager

Whenever possible, address your cover letter to the hiring manager or recruiter by name. This personal touch shows you’ve taken the time to research the company and are genuinely interested in the position. Generally, you’ll find the hiring manager for a vacancy by using LinkedIn or the organisation’s “meet the team” page.

Addressing someone directly instead of a generic-one-size fits all “dear Sir/Madam” can give off a much better first impression. From a more scientific perspective, research has shown that seeing your own name on a document has a powerful effect on ones attention and interest. So use this to your advantage and stand out by engaging your recipient like you would in a normal conversation!

3. Introduce yourself

Start to write your cover letter by introducing yourself and explaining why you’re interested in the job. Remember, tailor this to each role you’re applying for so it matches the job description and your experience aligns as closely as possible to the desired profile! Briefly mention how you came across the job opening and why you’re excited about the opportunity. When thinking about why you’re interested in the opportunity, make sure to ask yourself a few questions.

• Am I interested in the company’s culture, values, and direction? – Mention that their brand is the reason you’re applying to the role.
• Do I love the idea of the role? – Find a relationship between your professional and personal paths and make this the basis of your ‘perfect fit’ pitch.
• Have I accomplished something that stands out? – explain how your achievements are exactly what the business needs (demonstrable growth, expertise, projects).

Don’t start your cover letter by a paragraph highlighting what job you’re applying for and where you saw it listed. The hiring manager or recruiter already knows what job you’re applying for, and your cover letter will automatically be placed in the ‘generic’ pile with countless others, regardless of the rest of your content.

4. Highlight your relevant experience

Use the body of your cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills. Be specific about how your past experience has prepared you for the job you’re applying for. Use examples to demonstrate your accomplishments and success in previous roles. Overall, you want to show them how the company will benefit from hiring you specifically instead of another candidate. What sets you apart from the rest? What projects have you spearheaded which have benefited your employers or your professional development?

At the end of the day, it’s about showing the business why you’re the right choice instead of telling them. After all, actions do speak louder than words! Of course, we all know what makes any business tick; numbers. Everything is down to cost and profit. So if you have had any experience working on projects which have had a measurable impact on a business’ bottom line, now’s the time to include them!

5. Close with an enthusiastic call-to-action

End your cover letter by expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity and asking for a chance to discuss your qualifications further. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration. Hiring managers want to see that you’re passionate about the job and probably most importantly, the company.

Show your enthusiasm by talking about what excites you about the position and the company culture. Highlight how your values align with the company’s and that you share the same vision for the business. This demonstrates that you’re a good fit for the company and that this opportunity would mean more to you than just a random job as a way to make some money. Crudely speaking, treat it like a Tinder conversation before the first date. Make them feel like their company is special and they are lucky to have come across your profile. Make sure to market yourself in a way where you would be doing them a favour by working for them, as opposed to the other way around. However, be careful to word your argument in a confident way instead of an arrogant way. This is a fine line to walk but it can make the difference. 

6. Edit & Proofread

Before submitting your cover letter, make sure to edit and proofread it carefully. Typos and grammatical errors can make a bad impression on potential employers. If you can, get someone else to read your cover letter and give you potential feedback on its flow, format, and content. An exterior, impartial point of view can really help you to take a step back and view your content in a previously unseen way. This can help you exploit some newly found elements and charter some distinct lines of content such as personality traits which could be an asset to the role, or forgotten professional experience/hobbies which would highlight your soft skills more accurately. 

Concluding thoughts

Writing the perfect cover letter requires careful thought and attention to detail. Obviously, this can be quite daunting at first but hopefully by following these tips, you can create a cover letter in a breeze that will get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. Of course, if you think you would benefit from one-to-one support to write your cover letter and/or find your perfect job, get in touch with one of our consultants! On top of knowing what makes a compelling cover letter, CV, and best interview practices, they know their industries inside and out which can give you the extra edge you’re looking for! Good luck with your job search!

Randy Lamotte is the Head of Marketing for ASC Connections. His love for creative endeavours such as writing and music began when he was only young. Through his current role, he loves to create and share content to help candidates find the best roles tailored to them, and for clients to find talented individuals to suit their needs.