6 Tips to Make Your Cover Letter More Eye-Catching
- Dec 8, 2016
- 2 min read
1. GET TO THE POINT
In the first sentence, state why you're excited about the job and why you're the right fit. You want to make sure you open with detail.
2. GET THEIR ATTENTION
Hiring managers are constantly getting slammed with stacks of applications every time they post a listing.That's why a generic opening not effective, it's just like everybody else's. This is where you make sure you try the best to seem unique and different.
3. IF THERE'S A PERSONAL CONNECTION, SHOW IT IN THE FIRST FEW SENTENCES
That sends a strong signal to them because if you expand the shape of your network, you’re already a better candidate. Then, when you write the cover letter make sure to highlight those connections.
4. KNOW WHO YOU'RE SENDING IT TO
Speaking of personal connections, let's do away with "To Whom It May Concern" because between LinkedIn, Twitter, and the company's site, the actual name of the person doing the hiring should be discoverable. You should try to find this out beforehand if possible.
5. KNOW THE COMPANY PROBLEMS
Do some research beyond reading the job description. To do that you can try to figure out the challenges the company (and their industry) is facing and where they see their growth in the future. You can do this by reading up on the news and doing online research.
6. KNOW YOUR VALUE
After doing all this research—combing through their website, reading every scrap of news, you should have a good sense of what skills the company is searching for. Then talk about how your past professional experience has prepared you to meet their needs, perhaps explain how you solved a similar problem in the past or share a relevant accomplishment.
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