A cover letter is a crucial part of any job application, as it is the first thing employers read. It should be tailored to the position you are applying for and should immediately state what position you are applying for. Your cover letter should not repeat all the information contained in your resume, but should instead highlight or explain the elements of the resume that are directly applicable to the position you're applying for. According to a survey of 200 hiring managers from ResumeLab, a resume advice site, 83% of HR professionals agreed with the statement that a good cover letter can make them decide to interview a candidate, even if they don't think their resume is good enough.
This means that out of 10 resumes where the applicant may not have the right work history, skill set, or management experience, eight job applicants are likely to advance, as long as they can make up for it in their cover letter. The majority of hiring managers said cover letters were crucial to their hiring decisions, and 77% give preference to candidates who submit them, even if they are considered optional on the application form. Amanda Augustine, professional counseling expert at TopResume, shared some tips with Business Insider on best practices for sending cover letters, focusing on research to personalize the cover letter for the hiring manager. A cover letter should have three paragraphs: introduction, sales pitch and conclusion.
The introduction should state what position you are applying for and provide information that shows why you should be considered for the position. The sales pitch should highlight or explain the elements of your resume that are directly applicable to the position you're applying for. The conclusion should summarize the most important things to include in a cover letter in three points. Beyond that, hiring managers also find cover letters useful to understand anything surprising about a candidate's work history, such as a reason to change careers or explain an employment gap.
People often make mistakes in their cover letter and it's not much fun, but learn to do it well and the reward will be great. Without a doubt, writing a good presentation speech is essential even at a time when cover letters are increasingly optional.
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