It’s that time. You’ve started your job search, and you come across the dreaded application requirement: the cover letter. While cover letters might never be fun to write, they are rewarding, and they’re a great way to showcase your personality and capabilities to your potential employer. Here are some helpful do’s and don’ts for writing your cover letter so that you can display your best self and win over your employer!
Do: Format Your Cover Letter Properly
If you’ve never written a cover letter before, it can be intimidating to know where to start. I highly recommend starting with a template. A template is great because it gives you a jumping off point, as well as an example. When I was applying for jobs and internships in college, I relied very heavily on templates to start. Once I felt more confident, I moved away from them and formatted my own way. However, I still generally remained pretty close to the template standard format.
Here are some great resources for example cover letters and templates. I used some of these when I was applying for jobs!
Overall Format
If you don’t feel like clicking on those links, the overall format goes like this:
- Formal Header
- Salutation
- Introduction to you, statement of what job you’re applying to and how you found it
- Body paragraph: why you’re a great applicant, etc.
- Closing paragraph: why they should remember you, how they can reach you
- Sign off
Pro Cover Letter Tip
If you want to go the extra mile (and I suggest you do), look up templates and examples of cover letters specifically for your field. For example, if you are applying to a teaching job, here is a great article that shows examples of cover letters for different types of teaching jobs and highlights what they did well. Here are other resources from Indeed and University of San Diego. I wish I’d had that guide when I was finishing up my teaching credential program at SDSU!
Even if you’re not a teacher, there will likely be a cover letter example and template for every field. Take advantage of these.
Don’t: Rely on AI to Do It for You
While AI might be okay to generate ideas, it is a horrible idea to send out an AI-generated cover letter. Employers want to know who you are. This comes through in your writing. An AI generated letter not only takes away the chance to give them a glimpse of your personality, but it also shows that you’re too lazy to write a simple letter. Yes, it takes time, and yes, it’s not the most fun thing in the world. However, it is what likely will get you in the door. AI can’t tell your story the way that you can, but it can get you thrown out of consideration for being lazy.
Long story short: don’t use AI for anything more than ideas.
Do: Incorporate the Job Description
The job description is literally a list of things the employer wants to see in a candidate. You want to show how you demonstrate these skills or personality traits. You resume only covers part of this. Especially if you don’t have a lot of work experience or your previous jobs aren’t closely tied to the position, you want to emphasize the skills that overlap. Provide examples for when you demonstrated these characteristics, and make sure that they are all relevant to this new job. I recommend picking a few of the key traits in the job description and working with those.
Don’t: Stuff Your Cover Letter for Key Words
I’ve seen videos of people putting key words from the job description in white font and scattering them throughout their resumes and cover letters. They do this so that they can get past the Application Tracking System (ATS), the automated AI screening system that employers use. While this is more common for resumes than cover letters, it still happens. If you’re worried about this, I recommend learning more about it and checking your resume’s score here.
Essentially, keep your cover letter brief and genuine. Emphasize who you are and why you’re a great hire. Let your actions do the talking.
Do: Personalize Each Cover Letter
If you’re applying to jobs, it probably feels like you have a mountain of cover letters to write. It’s exhausting. Nobody can deny that. And it takes a lot of time to personalize each letter, but it is absolutely worth it.
Each cover letter that you write should be created specifically for that one job. Even if you use the same template or many of the same ideas, be sure to change some aspects. This is a great opportunity to share your research into the company. What about their mission statement resonates with you? What drew you toward them? Do you have some experience that you feel applies very clearly to them? If hired, is there something that you see yourself clearly adding to the company?
Be sure to do this! Even if it takes more time, it will yield better outcomes.
Don’t: Send One Generic Cover Letter
Employers are looking through tons of applications. Yours needs to be great to stand out. If your cover letter is the same for 20 jobs, the various employers will be able to tell. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. If you’re applying for similar jobs, definitely keep many of the same details. However, add at least one or two details that explain 1) why you are applying to this job specifically, and 2) how you are qualified for this specific job/how your previous experience has prepared you for this specific job. This will make a big difference.
Do: Explain Why You Will Succeed in This Job
The main point of a cover letter is to hear 1) why you want this job, 2) who you are, and 3) why they should choose you. As I mention below, you want to include your strengths in your cover letter, and you want to add examples of these. This gives your potential employer an idea of who you are as a worker and what you can bring to the team. Your resume only lists the facts. You want to explain them and offer proof of your competence.
Additionally, explain why your interest in the job will add to your success. In my credential program, we were constantly asked about our why, and this is something that goes for a job search as well. Someone who is genuinely passionate about a job is almost always a better candidate than someone who just wants a job. Why? They will work harder, become more involved, and stay longer. They will actually add to the work environment. Even if you are not naturally this kind of person, you want to portray the aspects of yourself that might be like this. Teamwork, a passion for an aspect of the job, and the desire to get involved are all great things to mention in a cover letter.
Don’t: Be Unprofessional or Too Personal
You should absolutely say why you are interested in this job. However, you need to be strategic about it. Of course most of us ultimately want a job for one reason: it pays, and we have to live. Do not say this in your letter. Focus on why you want the job in connection to your skills and desire to become a part of the company. Aim to be part of something bigger than yourself. Avoid mentioning that you want this job because of things like security, location, money, or promotion. Focus on things that are noble and are also valued by the company.
Additionally, don’t try to use pity or humor. If you want your reader to feel bad for you (i.e., “I hate my current job because my boss is mean” or “I was laid off from my job because of campus funding cuts”), it will probably have the opposite effect. They might wonder why you are even including that. With humor, it usually doesn’t come across the way that you want it to, and you risk sounding immature or too flippant.
Do: Be Upbeat
Nobody wants to hire a negative person. They suck the energy out of the room, and chances are that the workplace already has at least one of those. Throughout your letter, be sure to convey a useful kind of positive energy. Your reader should understand that you’re excited about the opportunity and passionate about using your skills.
Don’t: Be Over the Top
At the same time, please don’t go to town with the positivity. There is a such thing as toxic positivity, and it’s annoying. Nobody is going to believe that data entry is the most exciting job in the world and you’ve dreamed of it your whole life and you’re going to make it the center of your entire life. Yes, it might be a cool job to you, but you don’t want to seem like you’re brownnosing too much. If you go too crazy with the enthusiasm, employers are going to think that you’re dishonest at best or insane at worst. Remember that they’re people, too.
Do: Emphasize Strengths Through Examples
Your cover letter is a perfect opportunity to explain some of the stuff in your resume and help yourself to stand out. While you haven’t received an interview yet, consider this a written interview. This is your chance to show who you are as both a person and an employee. It’s a lot harder to not hire someone who stands out as a capable person who would fit into the workplace. That’s why you need to show who you are and why you’re so great.
To do so, incorporate specific examples of why you are a good fit. If you can add something quantitative, that’s awesome. Remember that you want to set yourself apart and provide evidence for your strengths.
An Example
Let’s say that you’re applying for a camp counselor position. You can say this:
“I love kids and parents have told me that I’m great with kids!”
Or you can say this:
“I have demonstrated my passion for working with children through my involvement in XYZ summer school. While this was personally fulfilling, it was also professionally enriching because I gained skills in behavior management, positive reinforcement, and planning STEM-based activities for 4-6 year old children. At the end of the program, I received five positive recommendations from parents in my final review that emphasized my ability to lead children.”
Obviously this is stronger if it’s more concise, but you get the idea. Elevate your language and your use of examples!
Don’t: Brag, Exaggerate, or Lie
This should go without saying, but it’s bad when a lie catches up to you. Dishonesty in applications is too common, and you don’t want it to come back to haunt you. Just don’t take the risk! The same goes for exaggeration–if it’s only remotely close to being true, leave it out. Focus on wording your strengths better.
Finally, be sure to keep a professional tone throughout. You should hype up your strengths and sell yourself to your potential employer. Avoid coming off as too arrogant by bragging about your accomplishments. Humility goes a long way. If you’re not sure how you’re coming off, have someone give your letter a second set of eyes.
Do: Proofread and Show Someone Else
As I mention in this article about letters of recommendation, it is one of my pet peeves when someone does not proofread. While we all make mistakes, it is usually clear when someone has not proofread their writing. This can greatly affect your credibility! It makes it seem like you are too lazy or apathetic to be bothered to do so. No employer is going to pick a lazy person over a more qualified individual.
The easy fix is to proofread yourself, give it to another person to read, and/or run it through Grammarly. The more eyes on your paper, the better. Feel free to ask for feedback beyond tone and conventions–what else could you add? What would make it stronger? Did you forget anything?
If you have access to someone who works in HR, I would recommend asking them to glance at it as well. This could be a family member, family friend, or friend’s parent. They will likely be able to tell you what to add or take out to be a more competitive applicant. As always, remember to use your support network.
Don’t: Submit Last Minute
Just like with college applications, homework, and concert tickets, things often go wrong last minute. With job applications, it’s possible that a submission portal will close after a certain amount of applicants have applied. With internships, the portal usually stays open until the final day, but it gives you peace of mind to submit earlier. Besides, it might make a good impression on the recruiter!
Do: Submit Your Cover Letter as a PDF
While this is more selective, it helps to save and submit your document as a PDF. If you submit it as a Word or Google Doc, you risk having the formatting get messed up when the person opens it. Even if you check on your computer to make sure things look fine as a downloadable document, it can change on someone else’s screen. Don’t let something silly damage your credibility and professionalism.
Don’t: Exceed One Page
Your cover letter should be brief. A general rule of thumb is that you should keep it under one page. Remember that your potential employer has limited time and many applicants. Prove yourself quickly and concisely, and don’t ramble!
A Final Word
Writing a cover letter (or several cover letters) isn’t easy, but it does get easier with time. Using these tips, you’ll be able to craft a strong, compelling letter that will stand out to your potential employer. What have you found helpful? Let me know!
Photo Credit: Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash
