The attention of hiring managers or potential employers is drawn to cover letters that stand out because of their excellent writing. These cover letters stand out from the ones that other applicants send because they are special or intriguing in some manner. An important stage in the job search process is creating a standout cover letter because if you make an impression on the hiring manager with your cover letter, they may be more inclined to invite you for an interview.
The volume of applications that hiring managers get makes them all resemble one another. Writing a creative cover letter will help your application stand out from the crowd of other applications that have traditional, professional cover letters. Use these suggestions to help your cover letter get noticed and, perhaps, land you the job you’re applying for.
Employ a Standardized Structure
You shouldn’t deviate from the traditional cover letter style just because you’re creating a creative cover letter. As with other cover letters, creative cover letters need to have the areas below:
- opening (why are you applying)
- introductory paragraph (what makes you great)
- The following paragraph (what makes the company great)
- Third paragraph of the body (why you and the company are a great fit)
- concluding (how you’re looking forward to the next steps)
A cover letter should never exceed one page. The goal of the cover letter is to show that you are a good candidate for the next steps of the hiring process, not necessarily for the job. That’s what the interview is for!
Make your first sentence memorable
It’s time to hit the backspace key if your cover letter’s main opening is “I’m applying for Position X at Company Y” or “My name is…” Both of these sentences are flawed in the following two ways:
- Since they are unnecessary, you are wasting space! A hiring manager will already be familiar with your name and the position you are seeking for thanks to your application. No need to say it again.
- They lack personality and are generic. Give your potential employer a reason to be curious or interested.
Write a sentence that will grab their attention, use the limited space in the best way you can!
Personalize your letter to the particular job.
For the particular job for which you are applying, you might alter your cover letter. When looking for a new job, hiring managers frequently examine dozens, if not hundreds, of cover letters. You can get the hiring manager’s attention and interest by using specific words. Consult the job description and the firm website before composing your letter to locate pertinent keywords you can include. Additionally, make sure to include references to the company by name throughout your letter and address it to a specific recipient.
Use Confident Language, But Don’t Overdo It
It’s common for people to avoid writing cover letters because they should all sound confident. When you’d rather be humble, there are instances when it feels like you’re boasting about yourself. Although bold language, especially uplifting adjectives, should be used in creative cover letters, avoid being arrogant or overly dramatic.
Don’t repeat your résumé directly
You’ve probably heard this advice before, but it happens all the time: Don’t just reiterate your résumé in your cover letter!
Your cover letter is the ideal spot to elaborate on points that your resume leaves out, highlight the less tangible qualities that make you ideal for the position, and outline any unique circumstances that call for discussion (for instance, if you’re making a sudden or significant career shift).
Display your individuality
Allowing some of your personality to come through in your writing is one of the best ways to make your cover letter stand out. Your tone, language, and any other personal characteristics you want to share can all serve to highlight your personality. Your cover letter may have an energising tone and be filled with action words if you’re an outspoken, self-assured, and enthusiastic individual. Use a more formal tone and put more emphasis on your prior professional successes if you’re reserved, dedicated, and team-oriented.
Your anecdotes should be brief
While incorporating examples can greatly increase the effectiveness of your cover letter, many people make the error of adding extra or irrelevant details that cause their tales to drag on and lose their impact.
Any example or tale must adhere to my personal guideline of keeping it to three sentences in order to avoid going overboard and squandering important material. Here’s how to summarise it:
- Sentence 1: Introduce the skill you’re targeting.
- Sentences 2: Describe the circumstance in which you demonstrated this ability.
- Sentence 3: What was the outcome? Describe what it accomplished for the business and what it demonstrates about your character.
Write clearly
When your cover letter is efficient, it works best. This entails eliminating any extraneous words or sentences that are repeated. Filling each paragraph with content that is both extremely relevant and functional is one method to make your cover letter stand out. Hiring managers value any effort you make to streamline your letter so they can quickly identify and read the most crucial information.
Edit before submitting
The last step in creating an effective cover letter is proofreading. A neat, accurate cover letter that is free of typos and grammatical errors can show how meticulous you are. Hiring managers are more likely to view you as professional and competent if you take the time to read through your cover letter attentively and revise it for errors. If at all feasible, have a friend or member of your family read your letter and make any necessary adjustments.
Your potential employers will take around six seconds to look at your CV or resume. That means in order to attract them, you need something extra to serve as the opening act.
This is where a cover letter comes in. A cover letter is an introductory letter that should be to the point and precise about what exactly you are looking for in your job. A good cover letter can help the employers pick out the most suitable candidate for the job.
Basic writing abilities are needed while writing a cover letter as opposed to a CV. If you write this one-page letter appropriately, it will help you stand out from the crowd. Since everyone has the potential to make mistakes, it is preferable to hire a cv writing services that also offers cover letter writing services in order to acquire the finest resume and cover letter possible.
