In this digital world, are cover letters still required? Is it necessary in the era of digital recruiting to write something accompanying your resume? Undoubtedly, emerging high-end technology has revolutionized the way interviews are conducted and resumes are sent out. However, recent studies indicate that the value of cover letters in securing employment is unchanged. 63% of respondents stated cover letters help describe an applicant’s reasons for joining an organization. 50% of respondents believe cover letters are critical since they allow candidates to justify the reasons for their career change.
A powerful cover letter can pique the interest of the hiring managers and persuade them to read further or invite you in for a face-to-face interview. College graduates may find it challenging to compose a cover letter, especially when they lack relevant professional experience. Following are the ten must-know tips to write an attention-grabbing cover letter and a few samples to help you land your dream job.
Understanding Cover Letter Writing Rule: Less Is More When It Comes To Word Choice
Students who are applying to graduate degree programs or jobs use graduate cover letters. Since managers are frequently flooded with applications, word choice is imperative. The average length of a cover letter for fresh graduates is one page and it should be around 200 to 400 words. Some recent grads sometimes attempt to compensate for their lack of work experience by writing lengthy, in-depth paragraphs which may cause them an immediate dismissal. Make sure to keep your cover letters short with a three-paragraph approach.
Ten Tips For Writing A Compelling Cover Letter For Fresh Graduates
After graduating, it takes fresh graduates three to six months to find a job. You only need a well-written resume and compelling cover letter to secure the job of your desire. Consider the following ten tips to make sure that your cover letter enhances rather than draws attention away from your resume.
1: Start On A Straight Note After A Formal Salutation
Establishing a great first impression is crucial. Thus, you must write your cover letter correctly in order to move in the right direction. If you’re addressing the hiring manager, use his/her entire name and greet them appropriately. After that, get off to a good start by describing your purpose for writing in the opening paragraph. In addition to it, mention the title of the position you are applying for and tell the recruiter how you heard about this job posting.
2: Create A Cover Letter That Is Unique To The Position With Targeted Keywords
When applying for jobs, avoid using a generic cover letter template because doing so would be a mistake. Writing a cover letter specific to a job role is more likely to leave a positive impact. On the contrary, you should read your job description carefully and incorporate the keywords from there in your letter. Nowadays, most companies are utilizing resume-filtering technologies that look for keywords in resumes and cover letters to align with the desired qualifications.
3: Examine The Job Criteria, And Requirements
Your cover letter should strive to convince the hiring manager that you are the best candidate for the position being sought after. Knowing the job requirement, skimming through the job description twice, and understanding the job criteria will help you succeed. By doing so, you can choose which soft or technical skills to emphasize to perfectly match the cover letter to the employer’s demands.
4: Ensure Your Skills And Qualifications Correlates With The Job Requirements
Soft skills are highly sought-after because they can cultivate a dynamic workforce. Only 15% of employment success is attributable to hard skills, whereas 85% of job success is attributable to strong soft skills. As a freshly graduated student, if you want to stand out from the crowd and want to be considered for the position, highlight your soft skills and personal qualities. You can also mention your volunteer work, internships, and projects.
5: Express Your Excitement And Vigor Toward The Position
Recruiters are aware of your lack of practical experience as a graduating student. Therefore, they genuinely want to know your excitement toward work, your eagerness to learn, and your commitment to succeed in the corporate world. Additionally, include a concise statement explaining your interest in the position. Employers might use this to judge whether you are genuinely passionate about the position.
6: Show That You Are Aware Of The Company’s Needs
Conducting adequate research to understand the company’s requirements for the position is another tip for writing an effective cover letter. Make sure that you learn enough about the organization so that you can emphasize that you can be a valuable resource. Visit the company’s website and go over the information available there that can help you in understanding their culture, values, and needs. You might include whatever information you have and discuss how it fits with your objectives or values.
7: Bring Your Fresh Industry Knowledge To The Table
Hiring managers have been convinced that creative ideas and views will benefit their businesses in a variety of ways. The research found that many firms anticipate hiring 7.2% more grads from the year 2021 than the graduates of the year 2020. While writing your cover letter, write about your latest learning and training experiences to show that you have the capacity to outperform. Your specialized coursework should be highlighted where it is most relevant to your employment goals. In addition, be sure to emphasize the latest developments in the sector that you have learned during your degree studies.
8: Remember The Rule Of Specificity
Credibility is one thing that fresh graduates have trouble with when writing an effective cover letter. How can you prove to a hiring manager that you have the required skills when you don’t have much experience? Writing generalized statements and assumptions is easy but providing specific examples of your efforts and change-making abilities is tough. The easiest way to win over a recruiting manager and schedule a meeting is by using specific instances, measurable claims, and actual facts.
9: A Forward-Looking Statement Should Be Made At The End
Your cover letter should end by gently but firmly reaffirming your enthusiasm for the job. Also, state that you are anticipating an interview in the future. Let them know if you’re interested in setting up a phone call to learn more about the job opening. Finish your message with a sincere thank you. You can also add your signature and other contact details at the end of the letter.
10: Reread And Check For Spelling Errors, Grammatical Errors, Or Clarity Issues
Check your cover letter for errors is the final tip. When you’ve finished polishing your letter by presenting convincing points and plausible justifications for your candidacy, look carefully for errors and use proper language, grammar, and spelling. Before sending the cover letter to the hiring manager, proofread it thoroughly and ensure all the sentences are concise, clear, and make sense.
Cover Letter Examples: What Should They Contain And How Do They Look?
Sample 1: An Entry-Level Job Cover Letter For An Unemployed Recent Graduate
Juliana Silva
123 Anywhere St., Any City, ST 12345
+123-456-7890
[email protected]
Dear Hiring Manager,
Upon learning about a job opening at your company for an Accounting Manager, I submitted my resume. With an M.B.A. in Accounting, I received my diploma from (College Name). The principles of your company have piqued my interest, and I’ve conducted a significant amount of study on them. I’m sure that my experience and qualifications will help your company’s objectives stand out even more.
My keen attention to detail drives me to be accurate and consistent in all aspects of my daily performance, teamwork, and assignment completion. Further, I offer customer service, team-building, and scheduling flexibility.
I’m eager to discuss my educational experience with you. I’m confident that my skills in time management and handling disputes will add a significant element to your team. I’d like to arrange a meeting to learn more about the role and to discuss how I might be able to help (Target Company Name) prosper.
I thank you for giving me a moment of your time.
Sincerely,
Juliana
Sample 2: A Cover Letter For Fresh Graduates With Internships Experience
Andara Marta
123 Anywhere St., Any City, ST 12345
+123-456-7890
Dear Hiring Manager,
I’m writing to you to direct your attention to my application for the post of Computer Engineer. After looking over the job criteria and your company’s website, I was thrilled to see that my accomplishments and experience match your needs.
In my professional career, I worked at a midsize technology firm for two years as a computer engineer. In this role, I was responsible for overseeing the production of wireless routers, circuit boards, and CPU motherboards, and quality assurance was my top priority. My leadership, people-centric nature, and compassion have afforded me excellent teamwork skills.
Please have a look at my attached resume for a more thorough overview of my professional background and achievements. I would like to set up a time to meet with you and discuss how I can benefit your organization. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Thank you for taking the time to review my candidacy.
Sincerely,
Andara