Career Blog
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Competition among talented candidates is fierce, so being qualified is not enough to get a job. You need to know how to sell yourself in three pages: two (maximum) for the CV and one for the cover letter. While the CV lists your skills and experience, the cover letter creates a link between you and the recruiter. It complements your CV and humanizes your application. In fact, it is your trump card: it allows you to stand out when your CV is not enough. Here are five questions you should ask yourself before you start writing your cover letter.
Question 1: Who am I?
To answer this question, you need to know your skill set, your area of expertise and what you are good at. In addition, you need to understand the logic behind your path (where you are going, and why). Finally, you need to make a list of your skills and qualities.
Question 2: What are my strengths?
Identify your strengths, that is, the elements that set you apart from other candidates. These are the qualities and abilities that stand out whenever someone speaks well of you. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would you say?
Question 3: Why did I choose this organization?
You need to ask yourself why you chose this employer, specifically. Think about your shared values and what you can bring to each other.
Question 4: Why did I choose this position?
Define why you chose this position. Where does it fit into your career path or the achievement of your goals? You should also be able to list the reasons why you feel you are the best person to excel in the role.
Question 5: Are these elements already included in my CV?
The cover letter acts as a complement to your resume; it is not a duplicate of your resume. To get a clear understanding of what a cover letter is, essentially, (and what it is not!), schedule a cover letter critique with the Career Centre‘s Professional Development Coordinator from Career Launch or check out the Career Centre’s cover letter page.
Now that you have all the tools to get started on the writing, get started!
Sources:
5 questions à se poser quand on rédige une lettre de motivation
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Do you feel like everyone has a job except you? Have all your friends already gotten internships and CO‑OP placements? Have you been pouring your heart and soul into your job search, without any result? We often find ourselves asking these questions when we don’t hear back from a large chunk of employers. It can be discouraging… but there must be some sort of justification, right? After all, in our eyes, we are all skilled and talented candidates. Nonetheless, here are a few reasons employers may not be responding…
Reason #1: Your application is not tailored to the job description
Are you using the same cover letter and resumé for all your applications? Whether it’s your overall application, cover letter, or resumé, you must tailor them all. Today, applications are often screened by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems match specific keywords from the job’s description to your application. If flagged by an ATS, your application is then reviewed by a Hiring Manager. In short, avoid the “copy/paste” approach: instead, submit tailored, key‑word-optimized applications.
Reason #2: You are not being proactive.
Have you been passively “downloading” applications? Or have you been: 1) posting on LinkedIn your professional story and success; 2) eagerly following up with your interviewers; 3) strategically networking with employers by either attending their events or interacting with their social media to stay abreast of industry trends? Those are just a few examples of what you should do to become visible to potential employers and gain a competitive advantage over the other hundreds of candidates.
Reason #3: “It’s Not You, It’s Them.”
Commonly heard in romantic relationships, the “It’s not you. It’s me.” also applies to job hunting! Very often, rejection is not about you, specifically. It’s business. With a plethora of applicants applying for a limited number of positions, you can’t possibly expect to get the first job you applied for. There may be someone more qualified; your application may fall into the wrong hands; there may be unconscious hiring bias. Whatever factor it may be, remember you are not alone in this process and that you must learn from your mistakes and try again.
We can all agree that job searching is about constantly learning to deal with rejection and trying our hardest not to take it personally. However, if you’re not hearing back from employers: remember to tailor your applications, search for jobs proactively, and don’t take every rejection personally!
Need some extra help? The professionals at the Telfer Career Centre can coach you on how to search for a job, build your resumé, hone your interview techniques, and so much more. Book your individual appointment now on Career Launch.
Now go and impress those employers!
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The cover letter carries huge importance in a candidate’s job application as it represents a useful tool in understanding not only how a specific individual meets the requirements of the job, but also what unique skills and abilities they can bring that set them apart from other candidates. That is why you must remember to TAILOR your cover letter to the specific organization and position. These next five steps can aid in this process.
1. Take time to research
Research the employer. This means learning about their mission, vision, and values; products and services offered; history; community engagement; etc. It is important to gather some background knowledge and to showcase that knowledge in your cover letter. This shows the recruiter that you took the time to learn about them and that you are interested in the position. This can even be done by talking to current employees at that organization, if you know any, or to individuals who hold a similar position.
2. Consider your audience
The audience of your cover letter is the individual who will be reading it, and this is who you address the cover letter to. Their name should be included in the job posting; however, if it is not, calling or emailing the employer directly is another way to get this information. LinkedIn is useful in finding out how to address this individual by determining whether to us “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “Miss”, or “Ms”. Don’t forget, if you find the name of the person to address the cover letter to, use “Yours sincerely” to close; otherwise, use “Yours faithfully”. Taking the time to know your audience shows your investment in the position and can be key to setting yourself apart from other candidates.
3. Stay abreast of industry trends
Learn about current industry trends that that organization could be affected by and refer to them in your cover letter. This can be done through reading official industry publications or seeing on LinkedIn what stories the organization or their employees have been posting. Showing this extra knowledge is further evidence of your investment in the position and the organization.
4. Analyze the key skills required
The most important skills required for candidates are listed in the job description of the job posting. Listing all skills in your cover letter that you possess, but that are irrelevant to the job, wastes the reader’s time. Use the keywords in the job description when showcasing how you can demonstrate these skills now and in the future thanks to your past work or volunteer experiences.
5. Refer to the organization’s vision and values
Use the information gathered in step 1 and relate to it throughout your cover letter. This means personally tying the information to you by, for example, stating that you share in their values or that you want to be a part of fulfilling their mission as you also see it as important. To set yourself apart from other candidates, it is important to orient the letter to the specific company you are applying to.
Finally, be sure to Review your cover letter multiple times for grammatical or spelling errors. Book an appointment with a Career Centre professional through Career Launch next time you are applying for a job and they can be a second set of eyes to review your cover letter for anything that could have been missed.
Source: https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/cover-letters/how-to-tailor-your-cover-letter/
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As anachronic as a formal letter may appear in this era of rapid and instant communications, the cover letter remains a key component of your self-marketing package. Although not all employers require one, you should try your hand at it before you actually need to draft and submit one officially. It may take a little more time than you expect. If you don’t want your application to be rejected based on the quality of your cover letter, keep in mind the purpose of your cover letter and the pitfalls you should avoid in it.
What’s the purpose of your cover letter?
Your cover letter gives the recruiter a clear idea of how your current qualifications make you the perfect candidate for the job in the present, and of what you’ll bring to the table in the future if you are hired. It is not all about you, but rather about your future contribution to the organization and its goals.
What you should NEVER do in a cover letter:
- DON’T just read the posting once.
Read it several times and use a highlighter or a word cloud generator to identify the keywords you need to include in your letter.
Tip: MANY jobs require attention to detail and strong written communication skills. Your cover letter is the perfect opportunity to show that you really understand what the job is about.
- DON’T just address your letter to “Dear Hiring Manager” (when possible).
Try to find out who would be your immediate supervisor and address your cover letter to them personally. There are often clues in the posting or on the employer’s website.
Tip: In a pile of applications, a cover letter with the recognizable name of an actual recruiter will stand out. Going the extra mile to make your letter more personal shows that you care.
- DON’T simply mention that you came across the posting on LinkedIn or something.
Start by stating why you want to work for this team or organization specifically. Express your enthusiasm early and reiterate your interest for the position in the ending paragraph.
Tip: Your “reader” (the employer) wants to feel wanted for a genuine reason. Don’t simply quote the employer’s mission statement. Research the organization and be authentic.
- DON’T summarize your past accomplishments like in a biography.
The recruiter has read your resumé. Don’t bore them with the same content. Focus on what you can do for them in the light of the responsibilities listed on the posting.
Tip: Use the posting as your guide. Less is more.
- DON’T forego the proofreading stage.
If you leave typos and other mistakes in your cover letter, you’re giving recruiters the perfect excuse to discard your application altogether. The care you put in your cover letter is supposed to reflect the care you would put in your work.
Tip: Take the habit of proofreading everything you write with the right tools (Reverso, Grammarly, Antidote, Proofreading Tool, Paper Rater, etc.)
REMEMBER: Writing a cover letter is a skill. To learn how to master it, book an appointment for a cover letter critique or tailoring with the Career Centre staff through Career Launch.
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When applying for a position, you are often, if not always, asked to attach a cover letter along with your resume. Many believe that this is a step of the application process that can be skipped. However, cover letters are not a pass. Far from it.
A cover letter is the best way to personalize an application. As young professionals, we apply for multiple opportunities at a time. Ideally, we should change and tailor our resumé to the position we are applying to, but overall, the changes we can make are somewhat limited. This is why the cover letter is so important: it shows the employer that you are truly interested in the position and that you have taken the time to figure out why you are the best fit for it. In addition, it gives you an opportunity to sell yourself to your employer.
Here are 4 tips that will help you create a strong cover letter.
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Don’t make it about yourself
The goal of a cover letter is not to speak about yourself, but to show that you have the skills and experience required by the employer and that you are the best fit for the position. Take the time to read the job description and identify the skills that you have that would help you deliver on those expectations.
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Don’t hesitate to sell yourself
Though a cover letter shouldn’t be focused on yourself, it doesn’t mean you should let the fear of bragging prevent you from sharing your selling points. In your cover letter, make sure to emphasize your relevant accomplishments.
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Don’t make it longer than a page
Employers do not spend a long time on each application, so it’s important that your cover letter is clear and concise. It should not be longer than one page to respect the time of the employer.
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Finish on a strong note
Don’t be passive with the ending of your cover letter. Be clear with what you would like the next steps to be. Try to be creative and find different ways of saying the often-used ‘I look forward to hearing from you’.
Next time you see the option to attach a cover letter, take the time to write a personalized cover letter using these tips!
To receive professional advice on how to craft the perfect cover letter for a specific application, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with the Career Centre team through Career Launch.
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Did you know that recruiters only spend about 6 seconds reviewing each resumé in their pile? When everyone has a good GPA and similar work experience what can help you stand out? A good cover letter is definitely the answer. In this post, I will share my 6 tips on how to write a successful cover letter.
1) The Salutation
Make sure to start with a salutation to the appropriate contact person. Do your research and try to find out who the cover letter and resume will be sent to. If you aren’t able to find a name, use a greeting such as “Dear Hiring Manager,” or something similar. Try to avoid “to whom it may concern”.
2) Spelling/Grammatical Mistakes
This is the worst mistake that you could make! Be sure to spend some time reviewing your cover letter before sending it out. Check for awkward sounding sentences and misspelled words - especially company names!
3) The Format
A cover letter should not exceed one page in length, and should not be one large paragraph. Use different sentence structure. The hiring manager has likely received stacks of cover letters for this specific posting - make sure you catch their attention immediately with an inviting first sentence. Sell yourself and your skills!
4) The Font
Times New Roman or Calibri are good font choices, but try to stay away from fonts like Courier New. You want to highlight your qualifications, without making it difficult for the hiring manager to read.
5) The Tone
You want to come off as professional and friendly, as well as enthusiastic about the position you are applying for. Make sure to show respect to the reader, and to get your points across as briefly as possible. You are writing this cover letter in order to introduce yourself to the company, and explaining why they should want to know (and hire) you.
6) Vagueness
You definitely want to use descriptive keywords in your cover letter, as well as your resumé. The more detailed your explanation of what qualifications you have is, the better your chance of getting a phone call for an interview! However, be sure to keep page length in mind.
I hope these tips will help you in writing a successful cover letter. It is an essential step in making an effective first impression with a potential employer.
If you are still struggling with your cover letter, the Telfer Career Centre and its staff are available to help. Book an appointment for a cover letter critique by contacting
Make sure to check out the Marketing Yourself section of the Career Centre website for more information on cover letters!
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Are you applying for jobs and having a hard time writing your cover letter? You are not alone. Many students, myself included, find that cover letters can be very tricky to write.
While resumés help present your skills and qualifications, cover letters let you introduce yourself and your intentions when you apply to the company. Even though many students think that their resumés are more important and do not pay enough attention to their cover letters, only a good cover letter can let you stand out from the crowd. Therefore, it is important to start paying more attention to your cover letter now. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Personalize
Your cover letter should be tailored to the position you’re applying for. Most employers want to see why you want to work for their companies and why you are a good fit. They can easily recognize when you use the same template for all of your cover letters.
It is also important that you find out the actual name of the hiring manager to address properly in the cover letter. (Hint: usually listed within the job posting, on the company’s website or LinkedIn) In the case where you could not find a specific person to address to, use a generic salutation.
Do not repeat your resumé
Your cover letter should not repeat your resumé word for word. Since you can write in full sentences, expand on the points that you’ve mentioned briefly in your resumé. Show employers what you have done in the past, and what you can bring to the position. (Show, don’t tell)
Make it ‘short and sweet’
Anything that you’ve mentioned in your cover letter should be relevant to the job posting. Keep your writing concise and interesting. A good length would be three quarters to a page long. Remember: less is more.
Proofraed
Are you thinking that the word ‘proofread’ is misspelled? Yes, yes it is. So make sure you proofread your cover letter for any spelling or grammar mistakes. A simple misspelling, formatting issue or typo can make a bad impression on the person reading your letter.
Are you still unsure about your cover letter before submitting? Book an appointment for a cover letter critique with an advisor at the Career Centre (DMS 1100).
