How to write and format a Cover letter (Cover letter template included).
A good CV is the main ingredient to getting that job interview you have been yearning for. However, at times a good CV isn’t enough to get you that interview, a good cover letter must also accompany the CV. A good cover letter will help you form a strong impression and increase your chances of getting the job you want.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a small piece of text that is attached along with the CV. Its purpose is to encourage the recruiter to look at your CV and pick you amongst other applicants for a job interview. A cover letter is you introducing yourself to a recruiter. So now that we know what a cover letter is, let’s see how we can write one.
Cover letter format/ structure
A cover letter is made up of four parts starting with the salutation, reference, body, conclusion, and then the sign-off. A cover letter is like a normal business letter however it has its own unique features that you need to pay attention to. We will look at the parts that make up a cover letter one by one in detail and see how to write those parts.
Salutation
The salutation part is where you address the recipient of the letter. Long back people used to use “Dear sir/madam” for their salutation however that is now outdated and obsolete. The best salutation to use “Hi themba, hello themba”, this is more personal and intimate. It helps you connect with the recruiter. Make sure to find the recruiter’s name, if possible, you can do that by calling the number attached to the job description. You can also go to the company website or LinkedIn page and check the ones responsible for recruitment in the company. However, it’s not all the time that you know the name so just a “Hi” alone will do the trick.
Example
“Hi themba”,
“I hope I find you well”
Reference
The reference part is where you state the purpose of the letter. This part is where you state what job you are applying for. Most people skip this part however it is a very important part. This is because many jobs might be advertised at the same time and using the same email so if you do not state which t job you are applying for the recruiter might not know which one it is and skip your application altogether.
Body
The body is the most important part of the cover letter. It is the bulk part of the whole cover letter. In this part, you will be basically explaining why you should be given the job. This is the part where you market yourself and persuade the recruiter to open your CV and pick you among other applicants. The best thing to do is to conduct deep research about the requirements of the role. You then list them and match them to the skills you have yourself.
So, after your mini-research you now include all the stuff you have found in your cover letter. You should include your skills, level of experience you have, qualifications, and achievements. Also, don’t forget to include your current situation that is whether you are working somewhere or not. You should also include your motivation for applying for the job, that is the reason why you are applying for the job. Do this in a way that makes you the right person for the job an example is displayed below:
Conclusion
Your conclusion is the closing statement of your cover letter. In this part you show your intent for progressing further;
“Looking forward to hearing from you and discussing my application further.”
Signing off
You should sign off your cover letter professionally. Do not use outdated forms of signing off like “yours faithfully”, rather use statements like “kind regards” to sign off your letter.
There you go now you have the perfect cover letter. Make sure to keep it short, maybe half or three-quarters of a page, and make sure you use simple professional language in your cover letter, and you will be fine. Good luck!
Download cover letter template here.
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