Ah, the terrifying cover letter! Yes, it can be dreadful, especially after curating the perfect CV, you now need to write a cover letter which goes hand-in-hand with that CV for the job position you want to apply for. As of recent, cover letters are necessary when applying for a job and the closer to perfect your letter is, the better chances of impressing the hiring team or manager.

Every time you sit down to write one, you probably browse the thousands of cover letter templates on the internet with the hopes of one matching your skills and qualifications, but you shouldn’t have to rely on a generic template. If you follow these steps that we have provided, you should be fine.

1. Review for inspiration

You can take time to review cover letter templates before you start writing your own but you should NEVER copy them. These templates are meant to provide inspiration and an idea on how to structure your own letter, curated to the position you’re applying for. It can help you with the format and explain where you should add your skills, qualifications and abilities. Plagiarism is an offence, always remember that!

2. Customise your letter

Yes, it’s quicker to submit a letter you’ve used for the past 20 job applications by changing the name of the company and sending it off. But most hiring teams want to see what interests you about their company and why you’re applying for a certain position. This means, you should create a new letter each time you apply for a new position. It’s completely acceptable to use a few sentences or phrases from your previous letters but prevent yourself from sending out a generic copy over and over again.

3. Find a lead

The line “Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to apply for this position at your company” is an immediate red flag to whoever is reading your letter as it implies, you are mass-applying for jobs posted on every website. When addressing your cover letter, never choose the lazy way out. Find out the hiring manager’s name and address your letter to them. If it’s not specified in the job posting, check out the company’s website or LinkedIn (I mean, millennials and Gen Z can find out information in a flash!). If you want to go a step further, call the company and ask for the right name to address your letter to.

4. Create a mind-blowing opener

There is no need to start your opening line with your name, they can see it on your CV already. Consider introducing yourself with a snappy first sentence that highlights your excitement about the company you’re applying to, your passion for the work you do, or your past accomplishments. Make sure to write something that will impress the hiring manager.

5. Go beyond your CV

Your CV highlights your employment history, academic journey, skills and accomplishments in short. This means your cover letter should expand on your CV, explaining how you fit the position that’s being advertised and why hiring you would be a win for the company. Don’t repeat what’s on your CV, make sure to elaborate!

6. Don’t point out what you’re missing

Never apologise for anything in your cover letter. If you lack a certain skill that they require to fill this role, do not mention it. That instantly highlights what you don’t have and why they should reject your application. Instead, emphasise the skills and experiences you have and explain why those make you a great fit for the position. If there’s a gap between your academic or employment history, you can explain why you have been out of a job or did not return to your studies in your cover letter.

7. Format

You may be the best writer with the best story but if your cover letter does not look appealing, it will not get any attention. Here’s how to make sure yours is readable and attractive;

• Font: Choose a font that’s easy to read and usually stick to a size between 10 and 12.
• Margins: Set your cover letter’s margins to 1” or 1.5”.
• Page: Stick to a single page cover letter which is about 300-500 words.

Your font style, size and colour should match what was used for your CV, as mentioned before, they go hand-in-hand.

8. Add a CTA

Last but not least, before wrapping up your perfectly customised cover letter, you need to add a CTA (call to action) for your reader. Your CTA could include a timeline for following up or a way the reader can connect with you. Either way, make sure the reader knows what action to take now that you’ve gained their attention.

We hope these tips help you when it comes to writing a cover letter. And remember, always look for inspiration, never copy!