6 Steps to Write a Stellar Cover Letter and Snag your Dream Job
A personalized approach will set you apart from the competition
Last week, I accepted a position after a three-month-long job search. Over those three long months, I even snagged two interviews for jobs for which I had no prior experience.
As an applicant with almost the entirety of my experience in non-profit administration, I was somehow invited to interview for both a Grant Writer and a Graphic Design position.
Unfortunately, that was exactly where the hiring process ended for me for those two jobs. Thus, I attribute my success on the job hunt to my ability to write convincing cover letters, (rather than my interview skills).
Spoiler alert, it’s a lot more work than copying and pasting the name of the employer into the same generic letter. My process thrives on quality over quantity.
1. Study the job description
First, copy and paste the job description into a Word document or your favorite application for highlighting and taking notes.
As you read through the description, highlight any skills you possess, feel especially confident in, or are the core reasons you are interested in the job.
For the skills that you are most confident in, jot down notes, ideas, or a company you have worked for in the past that allowed you to cultivate this skill.
2. Outline why you are the best fit
After you have taken the time to mark up the job description, consider the top three traits that stand out. This will be the foundational argument for why you are the best possible candidate.
Begin the letter with enthusiasm. Then, state you are confident you are a strong fit, based on those three traits.
“Dear [Hiring Manager],
With the utmost enthusiasm, I am writing to express my interest in the [position]. I am confident that my exceptional [customer service skills], ability to quickly learn new [software applications] and keen [attention to detail] would be a perfect fit… ”
3. Express your enthusiasm
In the second paragraph, elaborate on why you are enthusiastic about the company, or why you were drawn to their job application in the first place.
Perhaps it was the fact that your skills are perfectly aligned, or it has always been your dream to work in the coffee industry. Allow your excitement to jump off the page and capture the interest of your potential employer.
If you have any relevant experience, mention it here.
“… I am a strong believer in [value you share with the company] and would be thrilled to offer my talents to grow your company. Over the last five years, I have worked in several [similar roles], most recently as the [job title] at [company]…”
4. Provide proof of your top three traits
Remember the top three traits you identified in the second step? Use the third and fourth paragraphs to elaborate on your previous professional experience in these three areas, and provide several detailed examples of how you embodied those traits.
This is one of the few circumstances where it is socially acceptable to unapologetically brag about yourself and your accomplishments. Additionally, take a moment to consider how you have gone beyond the expectations placed on you in your previous experience. If you exceeded your previous employer’s expectations in some way, or have a professional achievement that you are especially proud of, this is a great place to mention it.
Where possible, it is especially helpful to use numbers to support your argument. Perhaps you maximized sales or increased fundraising at your last employer. After stating that you have achieved this milestone, including any relevant figures will help bolster your argument.
5. How will you help them achieve their mission?
Identify the company or organization’s mission statement and express your interest in helping them achieve this mission. If you have a specific idea of a skill you could offer to help them to achieve their mission, list it here.
Showing the employer that you have not only closely read the job description, but have taken the time to learn about their company and imagined yourself as a potential fit goes a long way towards making a lasting impression.
“…I am excited about the opportunity to support a [adjective] company, provide world-class [customer service], and ultimately benefit [the lives of others] through [the company’s product or service]. I would greatly welcome the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications and how I might be a potential fit at [company]. Thank you kindly for your consideration.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]”
6. The icing on the cake… formatting
I was tired of the same, tired, outdated formatting I had been using for years, so I chose to spring for an $8.00 resume I found on Etsy. For that price, I saved numerous hours of my own time and received a design for a multiple-page resume, cover letter, and professional references page.
Whether or not this is something you take the time to do yourself or purchase online, this will likely improve your chances that your employer will take more than the average 6-second skim to review your application.
In summary, to write a stand-out cover letter, take the time to study the job description, outline your top three traits, express your enthusiasm, expound on your professional experience, and finally, wrap up with how you will help them achieve their mission. For bonus points, you may opt to purchase a fancy resume on Etsy or take the time to design one of your own.
If you are applying to a lot of jobs with similar requirements, it will be easier to re-purpose your letter for each job. However, if you happen to be applying to a range of jobs with differing qualifications, recognize that you will have to do more of an overhaul for each application.
It’s obvious to employers when they have received a blanket cover letter versus when you have put in the effort to write them a personalized letter, and it could be the determining factor of whether or not you hear back.
