5 simple tips to write a cover letter

As if writing a resume wasn’t a tedious task, job seekers must also pay equal attention to the cover letter. A cover letter is like the opening act of any play-- if it fails to impress your potential employer, it will prove to be fatal for your job application. Hence BI India lists down a few basic pointers that will help you write your next cover letter.

Keep it short

Remember you are not the only one applying for the job in the company. Hence, a long cover letter will totally mar your chances of an interview. Your cover letter is the first communication with your potential employer. Keep it simple and short.

Not a mirror image of your CV

Believe it or not but employers often find a cover letter as the mirror image of the candidate’s resume. Never ever do that. While it is important to keep it short, it is equally important to write about the details that you could not mention in your resume. Talk about skill sets and your strengths briefly in a cover letter. This way, the employer gets a fair idea of your professional abilities.

Make it personalized

Since the competition is fierce in the job market, it is important to stand out. When you pen your cover letter, try making it personalized. Know about the company and the position you are applying for. If your cover letter is generic, a recruiter immediately figures out that your job application is not exclusive to the company but being circulated amongst other employers. This can totally put off the employer.

Highlight your skills

Making the cover letter personalized also means highlighting the right skill set in it. So when you customize your cover letter as per the job requirements in the company, ensure you highlight the right skills in it as well. For instance, if you applying for a job in marketing make sure you talk about your marketing skills in the cover letter. Use profile specific keywords in your resume.

Catchy subject line

A recruiter gets hundreds of application in a day which makes it impossible for him to go through each mail. Hence, a catchy title in the subject box will help you grab his attention and open your email.

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