A cover letter is a document in which you briefly describe yourself and your work. It should be short and personalized, to establish contact with the company and the job. How you set up your cover letter will depend on the medium of communication. For example, there is a noticeable difference between a formal email and a classic letter.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Start a Classic Cover Letter
Step 1. Make sure the company has specified that they want to receive the letters by post
Since most jobs are posted online today, almost all cover letters are sent by email. If, on the other hand, communication by post is required, it is likely that the company is more traditional or the job position is very important.
Step 2. Write on professional writing paper if possible
If you don't have this type of card, you can also skip this step. If you work as a consultant or are applying for a self-employed position you should have it.
Step 3. Enter the date on the top right or left
Step 4. Include the department and company address
You should follow the formal letter template.
Step 5. Search for the person who will receive your resume
Before starting the letter with “Dear Personnel Manager,” search the email address, company website or ad to see if you can find the name of the HR director.
- This attention to detail and personalization can make the difference between hundreds of letters that simply say "To Whom of Interest,"
- If you can't find the person's name, write “Dear Department Director of…,” adding the name of the department.
- If you don't even know the name of the department try "Dear Manager," or "Dear Personnel Manager,".
- Use LinkedIn to find the manager's name.
Step 6. Mention the name of a staff member or contact person in the first line
This openness is the best because it will make you establish a connection with the company right away.
- For example "Mario Rossi suggested that I contact you for the position of general manager at EnviroRent."
- If you don't know anyone in the company, do some research to find a striking opening sentence. You might mention a company news, job, or initiative that caught your attention.
- If you are part of a university alumni association, look to see if any of them work in the company and if they can be your contact person.
Step 7. Continue writing letter, not exceeding 4 paragraphs
After the introductory sentence, your goal is to summarize your career in one or two sentences. Then include a paragraph with your milestones and another explaining how you plan to stay in touch with the company.
Step 8. Finish with "Yours sincerely" before signing
Include your contact information under the signature.
Method 2 of 3: Start a Cover Letter by E-mail
Step 1. Underline the keywords in the job posting
You may also want to write down keywords for that position or industry. The largest companies use programs to recognize keyword use in the hundreds of resumes they receive, so be sure to include at least a couple of them.
However, you should never copy and paste directly from the ad. Always try to use your own words to express the fundamental concepts
Step 2. In the subject line, describe yourself and the job
- For example: "Experienced Sales Director looking for a General Manager position".
- If you don't want to describe yourself, just enter the name of the position you are applying for.
Step 3. Skip the date and company address
You have to start directly with the salutation.
Step 4. Type “Dear” and the manager's name, followed by a comma
Search for the name in the ad, on the company's website, or on LinkedIn.
- Use Mr or Mrs only if you are sure about the recipient's gender and marital status. If in doubt, simply include your first and last name.
- If you can't find the name, write “Dear Personnel Manager,”.
Step 5. Begin the first paragraph by mentioning a contact or contact person in the company
As in the classic letter, if you don't know anyone, explain why the company caught your attention.
Step 6. Use the following paragraph to summarize your career
Continue with the achievements. Only include figures or references that may be relevant to the position you are applying for.
Step 7. Finish the letter by explaining that you will stay in touch
Include "Yours sincerely" and your name.
Be sure to enter your contact information after signing up
Step 8. Attach your resume
To avoid problems hitting the "Send" button too soon, complete the subject line and write the recipient's e-mail address only at the end.
Step 9. Submit the cover letter from a professional account rather than a personal one
Prefer Gmail to Hotmail or Yahoo; however an email from your personal site or Outlook would be even better.
Method 3 of 3: General Tips
Step 1. Remember that the larger the company, the shorter the letter should be
Unless you have been asked to mention specific information you should reduce the letter from 4 to 2 paragraphs to increase the chances of it being read.
Step 2. Reread the letter no less than 5 times
Also ask someone else to read and correct it before sending it. Don't rely on your computer's spell checker alone.
Step 3. Write the draft in rich text format using programs such as Notepad
If you are using Word the alignment may be incorrect when you paste the text into the email.
If you choose to copy and paste it may show up if you copied from other texts, such as from the job posting. The colors, fonts and format of the text may be different depending on the reader used
Step 4. Follow the style of the job posting
If it's playful, your tone will need to be too. However, to avoid mistakes it is always better to be too formal than too little.
Step 5. Read the announcement several times to look for specific rules or instructions
They will always come before these general rules.
