Are cover letters still relevant? Absolutely. “With today’s job market greatly affected by COVID-19, a strong cover letter can aid students in marketing themselves and allow them to stand out among the growing crowd of job seekers,” says Robyn Williams, associate director of career services at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Writing a cover letter can feel like an annoying formality when you’re applying for a job or internship, but in many cases, it’s the first thing a potential employer sees from you, according to Dr. Quentin Schultze, author of Résumé 101: A Student and Recent-Grad Guide to Crafting Résumés and Cover Letters That Land Jobs. “It’s not a repeat of your résumé in paragraph form; it’s an opportunity to showcase items like a project you excelled in, expertise in a field, soft skills, past accomplishments in roles, and/or your motivation for applying for a position,” adds Williams.
The golden rule of writing a cover letter is to tailor it to the job you’re applying for—it should not feel like you’ve copied and pasted it onto all of your applications. “Leave the generic letter at home,” says Williams.
This can be an opportunity to demonstrate some creativity in the style or formatting of your cover letter—if that makes sense for the job you’re applying for. For example, “I wouldn’t suggest my accounting majors applying for a position with an accounting firm use a creative cover letter,” Williams says. “On the other hand, if that accounting major is applying for an accountant position with a graphic design company, then a more creative-style cover letter would make sense.”
Use this step-by-step guide to write a cover letter that will help get you hired.
“You should be able to write a short paper” about any company to which you’re applying, says Ken Heinzel, author of Private Notes of a Headhunter, who spent years as a recruiter for high-level employees before becoming an instructor at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California.
Before you start your cover letter, do some research about the company’s mission and values—what specifically makes you feel excited to work there (besides the paycheck)? Check out the company’s website or LinkedIn to learn about their current goals and initiatives, and think about how you can help them reach those goals.
Also, read up on any recent news about the company, either via an internet search for a larger corporation or through the company’s website or social media pages for a smaller operation. You can even check to see if that company has been active in your own community. “I had a student who had an interview coming up with Wal-Mart Corporate, and I told her to research ways that Wal-Mart had been active around our area,” says Williams. “She was able to use this as a talking point in cover letter and then eventually in her interview.”
Forget “To Whom It May Concern.” Your cover letter should be addressed to a specific team or the hiring manager, says Williams. “Seek to find who this is, which may call for some small research,” she says. “If you can’t figure it out, you can call human resources (HR). Unless you have absolutely no idea who the hiring manager is, you should always address the letter to a specific person or team.” (Also ask if the person goes by Mr., Mrs., or another prefix.)
If you have a connection at the company already—via networking or a previous conversation with a recruiter—include that. This demonstrates attention to detail, and the person may put in a good word for you.
Put your purpose in your opening paragraph. Reference the job title that was posted and your objective. Explain why you want the job and why you want to work at this company in particular. “Identify key words the employer has used in the job description and apply those to the cover letter,” says Heather S., a fourth-year undergraduate at Texas Woman’s University in Denton.
This is where your research from Step 1 comes in. State why the company’s mission or culture resonates with you. Heinzel also suggests mentioning a recent piece of news about the company and how that relates to your goals.
This is the real meat of the letter. Explain why you’re right for the position that’s available (or for the company as a whole). “Think of it as a literal window into who you are as an employee (in relation to the role) and why you are a great fit for an organization,” Williams says.
Use specific examples from previous jobs or internships, leadership positions you’ve held, or experiences you’ve had in class. “Be authentic to yourself and your abilities,” says Carrie B., a third-year graduate student at Antioch University Seattle in Washington. Don’t be shy about highlighting your successes; it’s important to talk about your skills, talents, and achievements—particularly as they relate to the job’s responsibilities. For example, saying you were an amazing club president is vague. Instead, explain that as president of the club, you organized record-breaking fundraisers or increased attendance at events. This can be a great place to quantify your experiences by getting specific about exactly how much money you raised or by what percentage your efforts increased attendance, says Williams.
Remember, this is not a repeat of your résumé. “Your cover letter should match the positions held in your résumé, not introduce new roles that are not listed there—take those roles a step further and ultimately sell yourself,” says Williams.
Always use spell-check and confirm that names of people and the company are correct. Reading the letter aloud can be a good way to detect awkward sentences. Find a second pair of eyes, too. Your school’s career services center is a good place to ask for help.
