5 Cover Letter Tips to Stand Out

If only the employer knew you just a little bit better, you would for sure get that interview. Well, your cover letter is the ticket. During the application process, it is hard to stand out through online forms and your resume alone. That’s why having a solid cover letter is exceptionally important.

Resumes cannot convey personal traits and work habits like a cover letter can. In your cover letter, you have the chance to briefly introduce and explain yourself to the employer. A cover letter should bring your resume to life by sharing personal examples. Here are five cover letter tips to make sure you get that interview.

Tip #1- New Job, New Cover letter

Even if you are applying to a similar position at another company, you still need a new cover letter. A cover letter should be specific to the company and job you are applying for.

This is your chance to show you have researched the company, and take a personal and specific interest in the job and organization. Start fresh to make sure you are connecting yourself with the company.

Tip #2- Go Deeper

You are probably not a surface level person, so don’t be that way in your cover letter either. Go deeper than just saying organization is one of your strengths. Tell the reader about a time you applied your organization skills with measured success. Doing this puts the greatest skills from your resume into action.

Tip #3- Shine a Light

It is hard to mention everything in your resume without it looking overcrowded. The good thing about submitting a cover letter is that you can shine a light on items not covered on your resume. Inject your own personality into the letter and leave the formal items on your resume.

Tip #4- White Space

When your cover letter lacks white space, it becomes difficult to read. A page entirely full of text is very daunting, so give your letter breathing room between the formal introduction items (addresses, names, etc.) as well as each paragraph.

The length of your cover letter should be the space it takes you to explain why you are qualified for the job. That said, give a snapshot and let your resume complete the picture.

Tip #5- Be Friendly

The most important thing you can do in your cover letter (besides being grammatically correct) is to be friendly. Still write the way you would speak to a person of authority, but make sure your personality shines through. At the end, the reader should feel a little bit like they knew you when you get invited for the interview.

All in all, remember your cover letter is the personality part of the application process. Use each sentence to tell your story and set yourself apart from others in the hiring pool. Incorporate these five tips the next time you sit down to write a cover letter, and you will be scheduling interviews in no time.