Are you looking to apply for a fellowship, an internship or a job, but don’t know where to start? Writing a cover letter is one of the first steps if you are thinking about emailing potential employers and organizations your CV (resume).
What is a cover letter? It is nothing but a letter of introduction, stating your motivations and clarifying your intent, in applying for a certain position. One sends it along with their CV.
In this piece, we will learn how to structure and write a cover letter, step-by-step. The points you will learn more about are:
- Research
- Opening statement
- Tone
- Skillset
- Brevity
- Questions
- Feedback
Some inputs have been taken from credible sources such as the “Harvard Business Review” to compile this list for you. So, here are 7 steps on how to write a cover letter:
Research Thoroughly
Put in the work before you start writing the cover letter. Read more about the organization and position in question, talk to peers and seniors, Google what others have to say about it, and be fully-informed about what you are signing up for.
This will help you put yourself across as a worthy candidate in an effective way because you will have taken your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the company’s, into consideration.
Pen A Strong Opening Statement
A potential employer gets hundreds of applications, so you have to make yours stand out. Start with something that will grab their attention, rather than a boring, one-line introduction with your name and other such details. Don’t make your cover letter resemble a generic one, make it unique.
For e.g. write a couple of lines on what really excites you about the position, organisation or the team you will be potentially working with. Share a short, personal story if you can.
Maintain An Enthusiastic Tone
You need to sound excited and motivated about the role you are applying for. This is because there might be many skilled candidates, but not everyone comes across as eager and dedicated. If the employer has trouble believing that you will contribute to the organisation and team positively, they are not likely to hire you.
Tell Them What You Bring To The Table
Writing a cover letter is all about giving them a sample of what it would be like to work with you. Write to them about your strengths and capabilities, past experience, future goals etc. Tell them how bringing you on board would work to their advantage.
Don’t sell yourself short; paint a picture with your words. Expand on your skill set and what roles you could take on. Elaborate on how the qualities you possess make you not just a suitable candidate, but “the” candidate to go for.
Keep It Short, Silly
Stick to the point while not seeming cut-and-dry. You have to strike the right balance between covering all the important points mentioned above, and maintaining a word-limit that is easy to read and digest.
If your cover letter is long, chances are the reviewer will lose interest, get distracted and not finish reading what you have to say. This will reduce your chances of making it to the next round so be careful.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
One way to make your cover letter stand out is to not take everything they say at face value. If you have questions or concerns about the organization or role, you should make it a point to highlight these in your cover letter.
This will not only show that you are a critical thinker (a quality that is much appreciated nowadays), but also show that you are not afraid to stand up for what you believe in.
Always Ask For Feedback
Asking for feedback is a good practice. Once you are done penning your cover letter, send it to a friend, an industry expert or someone you trust. Get another pair of eyes on your cover letter. They might notice things you may have missed out on. They can give you tips on how to improve your cover letter given that they know you and your capabilities.
There is another way of looking at this, too. Whether or not you are selected for the role, it would help you to understand why that was the case. So, make it a point to ask for feedback from the potential employer on how you did. They may or may not choose to tell you, but at the very least, it will show that you were committed to the process.