Official Letter Format
Do you know how to write a formal letter? Do you know what the format of a formal letter looks like?
If you don’t know, make sure you look up what the format of a cover letter looks like. The format of a cover letter is just as important as the content because the format of your cover letter will be an indicator to the hiring manager or recruiter – whether or not you know what a cover letter is.
My recommendation is always to provide a cover letter when applying to roles even if it is not a requirement. You may be up against candidates that decided to put in some extra time writing that cover letter and ultimately potentially lose your chances of moving forward.
To get a free cover letter template, email us at info@buenoschonigconsulting.com to learn more!
Address to the Hiring Manager or Recruiter
Putting “Dear Hiring Manager” should not be what you put in the address line. If you can please avoid this, that would be most beneficial for you.
This shows that you didn’t take the time to do research on the role and even the company. It could be that the hiring manager posted about the role and if you’re not taking the extra time to do your own due diligence – it can be interpreted by the decision maker reading your application.
One way to figure out who the hiring manager is for the role is to search on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an amazing FREE tool to use if you are trying to find a decision maker or hiring manager for the role. Do some research on the company to see if you can get more information on the hiring manager.
If you’re working with a recruiter or recruiting agency, ask them if they can provide the name of the hiring manager. They usually will be able to provide it to you.
Answer Why and What
Now the content is what makes reading your cover letter worth it and can sometimes even be what makes a hiring manager want to speak to you right away. Your cover letter should be repeating information that you’ve provided on your resume. Your cover letter should essentially be answering why you are interested in the company and the role and what can you bring to the table.
Use your cover letter to expand on projects or experience where you can dive deep into metrics and showcase your work. The cover letter can also be used a way to point out a potential problem or issue and use the cover letter as a way to provide a solution.
Be thoughtful and show that you’ve done your research. Cover letter should not exceed more than 1 page and should be getting straight to the point. Cover letters can harm your applications if there are grammar or spelling errors. It can also be detrimental if you submit the wrong cover letter to the the company. Obviously you may be applying to other jobs, but it is imperative that you are detail-oriented and do not give away that you are applying to other jobs by accidentally submitting the incorrect cover letter.
