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How to Write a Great Cover Letter (THREAD)
Many people (myself included) often mentally vomit when you notice that you have to write a cover letter for an application. This could lead you to not submit an application or submit a lazy letter.
Many people (myself included) often mentally vomit when you notice that you have to write a cover letter for an application. This could lead you to not submit an application or submit a lazy letter.
But this means that the company recruitment has successfully won in cutting down the number of applicants! Even worse, a cover letter is an easy thing to get right (with practice!). So here are some top tips.
Overall Structure (1):
Should keep it to one page. Being concise and well-written is key. You want to make it easy for the recruiter to read.
Do not write your life story out. Be selective with what goes on the cover letter and make sure it all stands out.
Should keep it to one page. Being concise and well-written is key. You want to make it easy for the recruiter to read. Do not write your life story out. Be selective with what goes on the cover letter and make sure it all stands out.
Overall Structure (2):
Write formally like an official letter. Good practice to add the addresses of the sender and the recipient.
Do not regurgitate what is on the CV, make sure it goes beyond what was already said. It is your chance to add more things.
Write formally like an official letter. Good practice to add the addresses of the sender and the recipient. Do not regurgitate what is on the CV, make sure it goes beyond what was already said. It is your chance to add more things.
Overall Structure (3):
5 sections:
1. Introduction paragraph (few lines)
Three middle paragraphs:
2. Why the Company
3. Why the Role
4. Why Me
Order these middle paragraphs in a way that makes sense to you.
5. Closing paragraph (few lines)
5 sections:
1. Introduction paragraph (few lines)
Three middle paragraphs:
2. Why the Company
3. Why the Role
4. Why Me
Order these middle paragraphs in a way that makes sense to you.
5. Closing paragraph (few lines)
Introduction Paragraph:
Introduce who you are, what you study, and what role you are applying for. Only a few lines necessary.
Introduce who you are, what you study, and what role you are applying for. Only a few lines necessary.
Why the Company (1):
Discuss what it is about the company you are applying for that makes you want to work for them and why you like this firm over others.
Discuss what it is about the company you are applying for that makes you want to work for them and why you like this firm over others.
Why the Company (2):
- Mention how you came across the firm. It could be a recent article, networking, or at an event.
- Mentioning that you personally interacted with the company in some capacity and even name-dropping employee names is really good.
- Mention how you came across the firm. It could be a recent article, networking, or at an event.
- Mentioning that you personally interacted with the company in some capacity and even name-dropping employee names is really good.
Why the Company (3):
Do your research. Use the company “About” page, Google News, or websites like Financial Times.
But do not list out facts from a website. This is lazy. Make sure to mention only a few things, how it resonates with you and thus attracts you to the company.
Do your research. Use the company “About” page, Google News, or websites like Financial Times.
But do not list out facts from a website. This is lazy. Make sure to mention only a few things, how it resonates with you and thus attracts you to the company.
Why the Company (4):
Some things you can mention from your research:
- The culture of the company and why it relates to you.
- Projects they have done in the past and why that was interesting to you.
- Recent news like acquisitions, awards, etc.
Some things you can mention from your research:
- The culture of the company and why it relates to you.
- Projects they have done in the past and why that was interesting to you.
- Recent news like acquisitions, awards, etc.
Why the Role (1)
In this paragraph, you will need to discuss two important things:
1. Why this role interests you.
2. Why you would be the right fit for the role based on your skills and experiences.
Make sure you do your research on the role and industry.
In this paragraph, you will need to discuss two important things:
1. Why this role interests you.
2. Why you would be the right fit for the role based on your skills and experiences.
Make sure you do your research on the role and industry.
Why the Role (2):
The formula I use:
1. Introduce an experience(s) that is relevant to the role or utilises the same skills as the role.
2. Briefly discuss what you did and the impact that you made.
The formula I use:
1. Introduce an experience(s) that is relevant to the role or utilises the same skills as the role.
2. Briefly discuss what you did and the impact that you made.
Why the Role (3):
The formula I use (continued):
3. Link it back to the role you are applying for and how the two relate. For example, demonstrating the skills you utilised in the experience and how you will need it in the job.
The formula I use (continued):
3. Link it back to the role you are applying for and how the two relate. For example, demonstrating the skills you utilised in the experience and how you will need it in the job.
Why the Role (4):
The formula I use (continued):
4. Mention aspects of the experience that you enjoyed which shows you will enjoy the role.
5. Mention other aspects of the role that interests you and why it interests you.
The formula I use (continued):
4. Mention aspects of the experience that you enjoyed which shows you will enjoy the role.
5. Mention other aspects of the role that interests you and why it interests you.
Why Me (1):
In this paragraph, you need to discuss what is interesting about you that makes you a good fit for the role and company.
In this paragraph, you need to discuss what is interesting about you that makes you a good fit for the role and company.
Why Me (2):
- Talk about other skills and experiences (outside of the ones discussed in the Why the Role paragraph) that will make you a good fit for the role and company.
- Interesting extracurricular activities and/or achievements that make you stand-out.
- Talk about other skills and experiences (outside of the ones discussed in the Why the Role paragraph) that will make you a good fit for the role and company.
- Interesting extracurricular activities and/or achievements that make you stand-out.
Why Me (3):
- Can talk about your values and how it relates to the company values (if not discussed in the Why the Company paragraph).
- Can talk about your values and how it relates to the company values (if not discussed in the Why the Company paragraph).
Conclusion Paragraph:
Close of the letter with a quick line thanking the recruiters for their time.
Close of the letter with a quick line thanking the recruiters for their time.
If you have any tips, do add on to the thread!
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