The problem with most cover letters is that job seekers don't know what they should put in a cover letter. As a result, some are just writing what they think they should write based on what their friends wrote when they were applying for jobs. Others just copy-paste information from a resume or CV reiterating one's qualifications, experience, and skills. However, a cover letter is not a creative writing assignment, not it is a brief copy of your resume. The failure to develop a strong cover letter often results in low interest from employers. The question remains then: what to say in a cover letter so that it would help convince potential employers to invite for a job interview? Well, this article is meant to answer this question.
Share Your Story in a Cover Letter
A cover letter is a great opportunity to say what you couldn't say in a resume. Since a resume is a document that has a certain structure and defined sections you cannot say there whatever you want. There are rules to be followed. A cover letter is a great chance, for example, to explain why you are interested in the company. There is no place on a resume where you can say that. So take this chance to demonstrate why you want to work for this particular employer in this particular role. Don't just say that you like the company in general. Research the company information and use it to show how you could be a good fit for the company. It will be a good idea to mention some specific information about the company that most people don't know about. This will help you stand out among other candidates.
Secondly, you can use a cover letter to make a reference to a network connection. Usually, this type of information is given in the introductory paragraph of a cover letter. No matter how hard you want to explain in your resume that your mutual associate referred you to this job it doesn't seem possible as there is no such a section where you can mention that. You may be thinking now about the references section but the matter of fact is it has become passe to have this section. Nor will the phrase "references available upon request" be helpful for employers in any way. Lastly, there are some things you need to explain. You cannot do it on a resume since there is no good place for it. For example, you are relocating and that is the reason you are looking for a job in a different city. That's where you can state that you need or don't need the employer to cover the cost of the relocation - it will help to establish understandable terms of cooperation. Maybe there are other sensible explanations that need to be included on a resume. For instance, you could explain any employment gaps and inform a potential employer how you managed to keep your knowledge up-to-date. Sometimes employers request salary requirements to be a part of your job application. A cover letter is a good way to list your expectations.
