What Employers Look for in a Cover Letter

When applying for a job, it is essential to demonstrate genuine enthusiasm and interest in the role. To make sure your cover letter stands out, include a date as you would with any business letter, and include the name, position, employer and address of the contact person. You can also reuse parts of your

cover letter

when applying for similar positions at different companies. As with any other job application material, it is imperative to review and recheck the

cover letter

for grammatical or factual errors.

To be as efficient as possible, avoid using a template-type cover letter and instead use industry-specific language that references points in the job description and the company's website. Employers will appreciate candidates who took their time getting to know the company and want to be there, rather than just wanting a job. To help you craft an effective cover letter, Business News Daily asked hiring managers and business owners what is the worst thing a candidate can include in their cover letter. Many employers use resume filtering software that searches for keywords and evaluates the extent to which resumes and cover letters match their preferred skills and experience.

Instead of focusing on your past, use the limited space of your cover letter to promote yourself, describe your ambition and express your enthusiasm for a new position and company in a different way than your resume. There's a time and place to talk about salary during the hiring process, but your cover letter isn't it. Keeping your cover letter concise will improve your chances of it being read and will make the hiring manager's job easier. The recruiter already has your resume, so there's no need to repeat all your work history in your cover letter.

This is often an inconvenience for employers who are tired of letters that merely summarize their candidates' resumes. Cover letters allow employers to hear your voice, understand your intentions and learn about your personality. People often make mistakes in their cover letter but if you take the time to do it well, you will be rewarded. Augustine says: “While your presentation may not be as specific as it would be for a position where the employer was known, this doesn't grant you a license to use a generic template for the main sections of your cover letter.”.