Why Are Cover Letters Important?

Cover letters might seem like that nuisance that everyone just always “suggests” you should include with your resume, and you might find yourself wondering if writing a cover letter is really necessary.

Doesn’t your resume already say it all? And do you really need to tell them why you want the job? After all, you are applying for it.

While it might be an extra step involved with every job you apply for, it is one we highly urge against skipping.

Why Cover Letters Are Important

A cover letter or email is your chance to stand out from the other group of applicants. This is your opportunity to share what attracts you to the role you are applying for, the company, and to demonstrate how your skills and knowledge relate to this.

You will need to write a new cover letter for each application you submit. While you can keep some standard text in a template, you need to customise the cover letter for the role you are applying for.

Some companies require that applicants fill in a standard application form rather than sending in a CV with cover letter. If you are unsure about the application procedure, there’s no harm in calling to ask – it shows you’re keen to get things right. In general, you can safely assume a cover letter is required unless the application instructions say otherwise.

Things to Consider When Writing Your Cover Letter

There is a right way to do things, and there is a wrong. A great cover letter can improve your credibility, make a good impression, and spark additional interest in your resume. However, a poor cover letter could cause an employer to question your application from the beginning.

When writing your cover letter, there are a few important things to remember:

Length matters.

This is not a tweet – you aren’t limited to 280 characters. However, you should try to keep it to one page. You should hit all the main bullet points – why you’re interested in the job, who you are, and why you’re a great fit for the job – but you should remain clear and concise with your cover letter.

Be a detective.

Show the company you’ve done your research. Stroke their ego a little bit and let them know you are choosing to apply because you would be honoured to work for them.

Proofread.

Just a simple spelling and grammar check isn’t enough. Read your cover letter thoroughly and even have someone else proofread it for you.

Pro tip: Read it aloud to yourself. Sometimes things might read okay in your head but might sound funny aloud.

Close with a call to action.

Be aggressive and demonstrate your eagerness to get the process going. Tell them you look forward to speaking with them further.

If you are really feeling ambitious, you can even note that you will follow up with them in a few days. But remember, if you put that in the cover letter, you must follow through.

What Does the Perfect Cover Letter Look Like?

Keep in mind that your cover letter is your first impression to the potential employer, and you want it to be great. Think of it like this – you only get one chance with a first impression done in person, but you can revise your cover letter over and over before submitting it. Why not make it perfect?

Here’s an example of how to do it:

Structuring the perfect cover letter:

In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and explain why you are applying for the role.
In the second paragraph, explain what interests you about the company and why you want this job. Be sure to use examples of key projects, blog articles or initiatives they have introduced. Remember, you want to show you’ve done your research!
In the third paragraph, match their key job requirements with your key skills, knowledge and experience.
Close your letter with reinforcing what attracts you to their company, and why you would make an excellent candidate.