Why are Cover Letters Important

Posted By: sScholars Center | Posted On: 16/Oct/2022 | Posted In: Career Guidance | No Comment

The cover letter is one of the most important factors for success in the job application process. Which is sometimes more important than the resume, because a cover letter introduces a person to another stranger for the first time. That is why are cover letters important to get called for job interviews.

In addition to demonstrating all certifications, experience, skills, and soft skills mentioned in the cover letter resume. The job applicant gets an opportunity to present himself as an enthusiastic, interested, and qualified candidate.

Importance of a Cover Letter:

A cover letter! that stands out from the crowd increases your chances of getting a call at the next stage of the application process. It is the thing that must be attached to the CV sent for the job application is the cover letter. Sadly, many people don’t have the right idea about cover letters. A lot of applicants in various places send their CVs without a cover letter! But in order to get your desired job, it is not only necessary to submit a CV, but also to have an excellent cover letter with the submitted CV. Because to get hired in any organization you must attract the attention of the employer.

By reading the cover letter, the employer can see all the applicant’s qualifications at a glance, which will help in making a positive decision about the applicant. So writing a good cover letter is a little more important to attract the employer’s attention.

Most applicants miss out on interviews simply because of a lack of focus. A poorly prepared CV and cover letter can fail to catch the attention of employers, increasing the chances of rejection after an application. So, the details of the cover letter need to be taken care of. Especially, it is easier to understand if everything is evaluated through the eyes of the employer.

7 Things Kept in Mind When Writing Cover Letter:

Writing a cover letter is an act of considerable discretion. Writing a good cover letter is challenging even for experienced professionals. There are certain things that must be kept in mind to make the cover letter thorough and attractive. Our discussion today is about them.

1. Research.

In the case of research, there has a word that is “Find the good cow”. Are you surprised to read about looking for cows? You may be wondering, What is the relationship between the cover letter and the cow?

All right, let’s it clear, here the words mean research. Researching is very important to writing a good cover letter. Before writing a cover letter, get to know the organization to which you are submitting your CV. Know well about the work of that organization, types of job aspirants and competitors, etc. You may not be able to write every detail in the cover letter, but if you have a fair understanding of the organization’s work and goals, then call the reception of the organization and ask them politely your question, or visit their website. Because of that, Writing a good quality cover letter will be easy for you.

2. Be Careful in Addressing!

Addressing the cover letter is very important. If you address the cover letter to the person who is looking after the job application. it becomes much easier to overwhelm or bug them. Not only that, the way you write and present your cover letter will show that you are truly interested in working for the desired company.

Addressing is a lot easier now – as many companies now specify to who to send the Resume with a cover letter. And if it is not, then call the company’s HR (which is the human resources department) to know politely.

Always writing the specific name, surname, or related identity. Or it can be seen by searching on the internet. You will also be somewhat informative. If absolutely no information is received, a cover letter can be sent by writing Dear Hiring Manager. Because writing Dear Sir has become very old-fashioned these days, it is better to avoid it.

3. Purpose of Writing.

First, be clear about the purpose of writing your cover letter. It would be better to mention where you got the job notification from. Then write briefly about why you are right for this job. Write about your educational qualifications and skills in this section.

Then, if you get a job in the company you want to apply for or take a job in, tell about the benefits you can bring to the company. Outline your joining job as well as career goals and how it relates to the organization. In short, use some positive words here so that the employer is compelled to call after reading your cover letter.

4. Avoid the Use of Unfamiliar Words:

“Hoax” means bluff or cheat. “He cheated on me” reading this sentence, none of us feel disgusted, rather we are curious to know the reason for cheating. Because we are familiar with the word cheat or fraud or deception. But how angry do you feel when you hear “she has a Hoax with me” because the word is unknown to most people?

That is, we always feel comfortable reading common words, unintelligible words only increase annoyance.

The same applies to whoever reads your cover letter! The simpler your cover letter is written, the easier it will be for him to read your cover letter.

Therefore, wordy and neat prose styles are not applicable to cover letters. A cover letter is not the place to show how rich your vocabulary is. Using high-flown words and verbosity reveals your arrogance, which hurts your chances of getting the job.

Employers judge your attitude based on how you use words. Don’t forget that you are a job seeker, not an employer. No prayer should ever be expressed with arrogance.

So while writing a CV cover letter, use the simplest words to express yourself candidly, which will make your communication with the employer easier. Use words that convey your modesty, humility, and candidness.

5. Explaining the Employment Gap and Career Change.

Let’s start with a common story. A shoe company once advertised for their marketing manager. After the process, two people are selected from whom anyone will be appointed.

Now, to select a suitable candidate among them, they were asked to go to a village and give their opinion about the product market.

After returning from the village, they were asked for their opinion. One of them said that there is no market for shoes in that village because none of the five thousand people wear shoes.

When another was asked, he replied, a huge market for shoes in that village, huge potential. Because none of the five thousand people wear shoes!

Can you say, who should be given a job?

Various problems may arise in your work life. One or two years may be jobless for any reason. It does not in any way question your educational qualification. Even this vacancy does not disqualify you from a new job. In some cases, this gap brings positive messages for you.

But it all depends on how you interpret this career gap. That is, proper interpretation of career gaps is very important. But there is no room for this explanation in the traditional CV format. So the cover letter of your CV may be the best place to give this brief explanation. So summarize your problem in a CV cover letter.

If you are changing your career, then be clear in your application, and give a proper explanation for that too. For example, you may have worked in the healthcare sector for a long time. So you have vast experience in this field. But now you’re looking to enter the safety department or marketing world where you’ve applied. You have to explain the reason for this career change yourself.

Talk about your past experiences. Highlight your current and most important point of view. Also, try to talk about how your past experience and current perspective can play a role in the marketing world.

6. Never Make Mistakes in Language!

The language of the cover letter should be simple and clear. There will be no mistakes in grammar and spelling. A study by Guardian Jobs found that 83% of applicants’ applications are rejected due to spelling mistakes alone. So caution is needed in this regard.

Consider that the employer hasn’t seen you yet, so far the only proof of your overall qualifications is your CV. So how will employers evaluate you if your CV and cover letter are incorrect?

7. Don’t Forget to Mention Identity!

You must mention your name clearly in the cover letter of the job application. If you don’t mention your name or a short introduction at the end of the cover letter, it remains incomplete.

So be sure to include your name and brief introduction below the last line of your cover letter. There are many signature generators available online, you can use them if you want. It will show your personality.

Structure of a Cover Letter.

3-5 Paragraphs.

A cover letter is usually written in 3-5 paragraphs. There is no prescribed length for writing such letters.

An employer may spend little time reviewing an application. Therefore, writing a cover letter as short as possible and different from others (attractive, using different words, correct presentation of your achievements) increases the chances of getting a call for an interview at the next stage.

Cover Letter Structure:

A cover letter is comprised of several sections like Identity, Qualifications, Professional Profile, Skills, etc. also, the body of the cover letter contains an appropriate closing and a signature. In the below, we have discussed 7 essential parts of the cover letter structure.

1. Addresses and date:

Mention the address and date.

2. Salutation:

State your identity in salutation.

3. An introductory paragraph stating:

The following points are to be mentioned in the introductory paragraph.

Mentioning the job applied for.
Tell them the job you are looking for.
A one-sentence presentation of the applicant’s qualifications and professional profile for the position.

4. Body 1:

Mentioning the compatibility of the applicant’s desire and the applicant’s qualifications for employment in the designated position or office.

5. Optional Body 2 (and 3):

Any skills not directly mentioned in the resume that would be helpful in the position applied for. Mention such skills, if any, in the cover letter.
How these skills can help you apply for the position and present yourself as a qualified applicant for the position?

6. Thank you:

Thanking the employer.
Again express your interest and enthusiasm for the position applied for.
Provide an alternative method of communicating with you that will demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the job to the employer.

7. Salutation:

End the cover letter with a greeting and signature.

Cover Letter Writing tips:

Mention the post applied for clearly and concisely. To know information about the job and office of the applied post.
Knowing the details about the company/office and the position is helpful in writing a cover letter and can properly present your skills that are relevant to the job.
Emphasize and mention your most significant experience in your opinion. Present yourself in the cover letter as confident and proud of your achievements, No matter how small it is.
A cover letter should never mention more than one skill or qualification, for that job the CV is attached to the cover letter. Rather explain in short words mentioning any one or 2 skills, which are required for the position applied for.
Express optimism about future meetings in a positive manner.

How to Write a Cover Letter or Sample of Cover Letter:

When applying for any job, if you attach a cover letter along with your CV, the company will evaluate you very well. Below is the format of a cover letter:

To
Company Name
Address
Sub: Application for the post of “Your Post Name”
Dear Sir,
In response to your advertisement for the post of “Post Name” I have the self-confidence with a passion to build my career in …….. department. I would like to forward here my details CV to support my candidature to the fever of your kind consideration. Hopefully, my educational background and experience make me an ideal candidate to meet your requirements.
In the above-mentioned circumstances, I hope you will be kind enough to give me an opportunity to face the interview to prove my eligibility for the post.
Look forward to your kind response.
With thanks and very best regards.
Your Sincerely
Name

Bottom Line:

Cover letter writing is very important; And its worth is in doing it accurately, beautifully, and smoothly. So do not forget the above words when writing a cover letter!