The cover letter may undoubtedly be the most difficult part of finding a job or internship. It needs to be personalized and, unlike the resume, needs to be perfectly tailored to each job you are applying to. Not all jobs will request a cover letter, but if the company does, it’s important to keep the following tips in mind.
- Make sure you are customizing your cover letter for each job. Believe it or not, many candidates don’t complete this step, so if you do, yours will immediately stand out. Each job you are applying for will require different skills and that will show in the job description. If you take the time to really analyze the job description and reflect that in your cover letter, it will show that you are detail-oriented, which is also something that will make you stand out as a candidate.
- Use your cover letter as a way to brand yourself. If your resume has a specific format for your contact information, use the same exact format on your cover letter. This includes font size, email address being used, and margins. This is a small detail that will go a long way. Making sure these formats are exactly the same will help you create a brand for yourself for the employer and show them that you care. Also, this will make it easier for employers to match your cover letter with your resume in the case that one of the two gets misplaced.
- The cover letter is about THEM. Write about what YOU can do for THEM. You can list skills that you have that are relevant to the job, but tailor them to exactly what the job listing says and make sure it is obvious that those skills will benefit the company. Saying things such as “this position has been my dream job since…” is great for you, but what does that do for them? Employers are giving you the opportunity to fulfill that dream, so take advantage of that and prove that you are the perfect candidate.
- Make your introduction interesting! Avoid saying things like “Enclosed please find my resume your consideration” because I guarantee that almost every other candidate said the same thing. If you say something such as “public relations has been such an important part in my life…” then go on to explain why, it will be much more interesting for the employer. It will drive them to read the rest of the cover letter, and that is the main objective.
By: Kaitlin Osborn
Temple PRSSA Blog 