In these days of a more competitive job market, it falls upon the job hunter to make as good an impression as possible when communicating with hiring managers. As such, the cover letter represents the “tip of the spear” in the job hunting process.
Hiring Managers Typically Scan for Key Points
When writting a cover letter for a CV, be sure to include all the relevant information the hiring manager scans for as he or she goes through their stack of candidates. The information should be presented as succinctly as possible, leaving plenty of white space on the page.
Writting a cover letter for a CV isnt difficult if you follow this simple format:
Headers
When writting a cover letter for a CV the senders address comes first on the page, and the receivers address comes second; an easy way to remember is that the receivers address takes place closest to their name in the greeting.
Introduction
Using a formal, yet warm tone, introduce yourself and the opening for which you wish to apply. If you are querying in general, let them know you would be interested in cooperating to find a suitable fit with their organization.
Qualifications
Now you should indicated your experience, education, and any related training, certifications, licenses, or related personal experience you have that would not only make you a suitable fit for their opening, but also would allow you to stand out among the more typical candidate. Enthusiasm and conscientiousness go a long way towards confidence – both in yourself as a candidate, and in the hiring manager. Be persuasive!
Action
Like any sale, the final communication can be a call to action; plant a seed by suggesting what it is they should do with this information. “Call at their earliest convenience”, “Expect my follow-up call”, etc. It never hurts to make a suggestion!
Hand Signature
Be sure to sign each letter personally; in this digital age it becomes even more necessary to humanize your letter from the crowd with a handwritten signature in clear, legible penmanship.
Regardless of the impression your letter might make, the key ingredient when writting a cover letter for a CV is substance. A cover letter cannot give you substance – but a poor one can detract from it. One final piece of advice: smile as you write, and smile as they ring you!
Still need help and want to see an example of a CV letter? Then see our guide a good CV Letter.