WRITING THE COVER LETTER

Now that you have found a suitable job advertisement,

are you ready to write the cover letter? No, not quite?
Need a quick review of how to write a cover letter?

Well, you could do one of the following:

1. Refer to some great tips at:

Jobscan. 2018. Cover Letter Tips. [online]
Available at https://www.jobscan.co/cover-letter

2. Go through the rest of the slides for a quick lesson on

‘Writing the Cover Letter’
Let’s review: What’s a cover letter?
• A one-page letter to accompany the resume when applying
for a job.

• It explains who you are, your major accomplishments, and

what you will bring to the company, if hired.

• With popularity of online applications and applicant tracking

systems, cover letters may not be needed for job applications
in some industries.

• The recruiter’s very first impression of the applicant, before

the resume.

• Important to know the basics for writing an effective cover

letter.
What to include in a Cover Letter?
Start with the greeting
• Replace “Hi” or “To whom it may concern” with the name of
the hiring manager (search the company website or call up
for this information).
• Greet the person directly with “Dear Mr Tan” or “Hello John”.

Think of an impactful opening paragraph

• Grab the attention of the hiring manager.
• Let your personality shine through. Be creative.
• Highlight what you can do specifically for the company,
what skills you possess and how your experience can make
a positive impact on the company?
What else to include in a Cover Letter?
Consider the body of the cover letter
• Think of the following questions:
- Why are you writing?
- What can you offer?
- What do you know about the company and the team?

• It’s about selling yourself: your qualifications, skills, experience

and qualities.
• Include examples of relevant and measurable past
accomplishments, e.g. if in sales: “In Q4 of 2017, I increased sales
by 10%”; if in web development: “Worked in a team of three
developers to build a full mobile app”; if in managerial position:
“Led a team of 10 to reach a combined $200 000 in sales in one
quarter”.
• Include only the most relevant and positive information about you.
Anything else to include in a Cover Letter?

Think about the Closing

• Use this to thank the recruiter for his or her time
• Mention any attachments (resume, portfolio, samples)
• Keep the closing professional
e.g. “I look forward to hearing from you whether
I’m a suitable match for this position”.
• Close formally with “Sincerely“ or “Regards” and use
your first and last name as your signature
• Send from a personal email account (not from your
current office email).
To recap, here are some “DOs” when writing cover letters …
• Customize your cover letter for every job application that
asks for one.
• Mention the position you are applying for in the letter.
• Include the main skills or keywords from the job description
in your cover letter.
• Highlight relevant and persuasive measurable results in your
cover letter.
• Explain, briefly, any change in career industries or job titles.
• Research on the company and use the information to relate
your interest in the job.
• Keep your cover letter concise and limited to one page with
3-5 paragraphs no longer than 6 lines each paragraph.
• Convince the reader why you are the right person for the
position.
… and here are some “DON’Ts” when writing cover letters
DON'T
• Include a cover letter unless it is asked for.
• Use the same cover letter for different job positions and
applications.
• Give lengthy description of your employment history or
gaps, or qualifications – you can do that during the
interview.
• Belittle / put down your past employers.
• Complain about your job search journey in your cover
letter.
References

JOBSCAN HOW TO SERIES. 2018 [online] Available at https://www.jobscan.co/how-to-pages

[Accessed on 21 October 2018]