Crafting an amazing Cover Letter
Crafting an awesome cover letter can prove to be a difficult issue for many, your cover letter is your response to an invitation to apply for a job and it is often attached to with your curriculum vitae or your resume (as the case may be).
Your cover letter is a tool for selling yourself more like a sales pitch and recruiters frown at cover letters that have failed to effectively utilise these tools, this is why our cover letter is supposed to be crafted in such a way that it draws the attention of the employer and possibly land you an opportunity to be interviewed and ultimately be employed.
In this article, we would be looking at ways to craft an irresistible cover letter. In line with this, we would dissect a cover letter into eight (7) sections as follows;
a) The Heading
b) Salutation
c) Opening paragraph
d) Second paragraph
e) Third paragraph
f) Closing paragraph
g) Formal closing
Ready to go?
- THE HEADING:
This comprises the date and address of the company of the potential employer. Thanks to the 21st century, this should not pose much threat to us as the sending of the cover letter through emails has addressed this issue, unless otherwise is the case that is you will have to print it out then you may have to consider adding the above.
- SALUTATION:
This is the part that you greet the hiring manager, it does not mean you should start complementing and the whole journey round in circles. You can start with ‘ Dear Mr/Mrs ( Name)’ it is important to include the name of the potential employer this shows that you are really interested in the job, that you did your research well enough and that this is not one of those generic cover letter sent to all recruiters in different companies. Traditionally, it is often required to include the first name of the employer.
In cases where it is difficult to get the name of the employer, it is advised to address it to the head/ director of the position.
P.S: DO NOT USE GENERIC COVER LETTERS, TAILOR DOWN YOUR LETTERS TO A PARTICULAR JOB APPLICATION?
- OPENING PARAGRAPH:
In this paragraph, you need to get the attention of the employer. In this part it calls for your inner ability to craft an attractive piece, expressing yourself in the most and articulate and confident manner without looking like you are bragging. Remember, this is paragraph will continue to read your letter or drop it aside to check out the tons of cover letters still waiting.
Tips to assist you in this part, ask yourself the following questions:
How you got to hear about the job?
How passionate are you about the role?
- SECOND PARAGRAPH:
Here you explain to the employer why you are the perfect fit for the job. It does not stop at listing skills that come to mind but those skills that you have exhibited and n example of where you exhibited it which of course will be tailored to what the employer wants. At this point this is just about writing about what you cannot write in your resume, you could get a bullet point and explain in details. Describing your achievements here with figures can really be of great use.
- THIRD PARAGRAPH:
This is where you explain why the company is a good fit for you. Unlike the second paragraph, here you explain how the interest of the company syncs with your own interest and how this can happen, this is because employers are interested in how they can get the right person and how that person can be able to achieve the objectives and goals of the company.
- CLOSING PARAGRAPH:
This last paragraph is a call to action; it requires to politely draw the employers attention to having a scheduled interview with him or her. It is not advisable to show how desperate you want the job, show forth your confidence.
P.S: DO NOT USE CLICHED PHRASE LIKE “THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION”. IT ONLY INDICATES THAT YOU ARE INEXPERIENCED.
- FORMAL CLOSE:
This is a formal letter and therefore needs a formal closing.
