A cover letter is the first impression. It will decide whether the Hiring Manager will go through your resume or not. It’s important to make it stand out from the rest of the competition. So, in today’s blog, we will discuss the steps involved in designing an attention-grabbing cover letter.
Step # 01: Contact Information
Start your cover letter with the contact information. Try to use the email address with your first and last name. It seems more professional. Don’t mention your address because you’ve already mentioned it in your CV.
Besides phone numbers and email, you can also add your social media or other relevant profile. Such as LinkedIn, GitHub, Dribble, Behance, Blogger, Medium, or your personal website.
Only add those profiles that will add value to your job application.
Step # 02: Formal Greetings
After your contact information, say a formal hello to the Manager. The professional salutation for a cover letter is to address the manager with “Dear” followed by the Manager’s name. Add comma or colon after greeting.
What if you don’t know the name of the Hiring Manager?
Firstly, do a little research to find out the name. If it doesn’t seem anywhere, simply mention Hiring Manager/ Team after dear.
Step # 03: Introduction
The introduction is the main part of your cover letter. So, write an impressive and compelling introduction. Don’t know how? Here are a few introduction tips to grab Manager’s attention:
- Show your goals, interest and enthusiasm towards the job.
- Explain why you are a perfect fit for the job.
- Tell the manager how you can add value to the company.
- Highlight your past achievements or project success with previous organizations.
- Mention the name of the person who referred you for this job (if any). It will force the Manager to read on and find out why somebody has referred you.
Mention keywords. So, your letter can pass through the applicant tracking software.
Step # 04: Call to Action (CTA)
Conclude your cover letter by saying thank you to the Manager. Add call to action at the end. A call to action is a marketing notion. It comprises a statement that invites Manager to take some action regarding the job.
It will show your confidence and passion for the job. Besides this, it can prompt Manager to invite you for an interview. Here are a few suggestions for CTA:
- Don’t demand an interview. Keep it as a suggestion.
- Tell the Manager why you want to follow up. For instance, you can say that you want to discuss a strategy or plan.
- Express your excitement to learn more.
Example: Let’s hop on a quick call to discuss a content strategy plan for your company.
Step # 05: Formal Closing and Signature
Jot down a formal goodbye like Sincerely, Best Regards, Yours Truly or Kind Regards. If you are mailing your cover letter, add your signature underneath.
Step # 06: Proofread
Double-check your cover letter before sending it. Review spelling and grammatical errors. Use can use software for this like Grammarly.
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