COVER LETTER EXAMPLE PROFESSIONAL

And always address your letter to someone directly. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, also mention it in the first sentence or two. “Say something direct and dynamic, such as ‘Let me draw your attention to two reasons why I’d be a great addition to your team.'” “Humor can often fall flat or sound self-regarding,” says Lees.

Read more aboutĬhances are the hiring manager or recruiter is reading a stack of these, so you want to catch their attention.

COVER LETTER EXAMPLE PROFESSIONAL

For example, you might write, “I’m an environmental fundraising professional with more than 15 years of experience looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in new ways, and I’d love to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to your growing development team.” Then you can include a sentence or two about your background and your relevant experience, but don’t rehash your résumé. “Start with the punch line - why this job is exciting to you and what you bring to the table,” says Glickman. Instead, lead with a strong opening sentence. “People typically write themselves into the letter with ‘I’m applying for X job that I saw in Y place.’ That’s a waste,” says Lees. Think of it as an opportunity to sell your transferrable skills. You can use your cover letter to explain the shift you’re making, perhaps from hospitality to marketing, for example. “There are millions of people who are making career changes - voluntarily or involuntarily - and need to pivot and rethink how their skill set relates to a different role or industry,” says Glickman. “It can be helpful to think of it as the bridge between the past and the future that explains what you hope to do next and why.” Because of the pandemic there is less of an expectation that you’ll be applying for a job that you’ve done before. While your résumé is meant to be a look back at your experience and where you’ve been, the cover letter should focus on the future and what you want to do, says Glickman. You might say, “Thanks for the helpful conversation last week” or “I recently spoke to so-and-so at your company.” Of course, it’s not always possible to contact someone - or you may not get a response. You can send an email or a LinkedIn message “asking a smart question about the job.” That way you can start your letter by referencing the interaction. If at all possible, reach out to the hiring manager or someone else you know at the company before writing your cover letter, advises Lees. “If it’s a creative agency, like a design shop, you might take more risks, but if it’s a more conservative organization, like a bank, you may hold back.” “Think about the culture of the organization you’re applying to,” advises Glickman. It’ll also help you decide on the right tone. This research will help you customize your cover letter, since you shouldn’t send a generic one. Of course, you should carefully read the job description, but also peruse the company’s website, its executives’ Twitter feeds, and employee profiles on LinkedIn. Do your research first.īefore you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Still, as anyone who’s ever written a cover letter knows, it’s not easy to do well. “It’s your best chance of getting the attention of the HR person or hiring manager and an important opportunity to distinguish yourself from everyone else.” And in a tight job market, setting yourself apart is critical, says John Lees, a UK-based career strategist and author of Knockout CV. Sure, there will be times when you’re submitting an application online and you may not be able to include one, but whenever possible, send one, says Jodi Glickman, a communications expert and author of Great on the Job. Do you even need one, especially if you’re applying through an online system? What the Experts Say There’s so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know where to start.

For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé, prepping for grueling interviews - none of it is fun.

Cover letter example