- Top 5 things to include in your cover letter
- 1. Overview of your background
- 2. Achievements that demonstrate your qualifications
- 3. Why you’re interested in this role
- 4. A polished and professional look
- 5. Concise and relevant points
- How to structure a cover letter
- What not to say in a cover letter
- Key takeaways
A great cover letter can entice a hiring manager to pick up your resume or call you to schedule an interview. However, what makes a good cover letter? Discover the best ways to structure your cover letter by learning some of our top tips.
While a resume introduces a potential employer to your qualifications and skills, a cover letter introduces them to you as both an individual and a candidate. It’s a letter that should highlight your personality, top skills, and greatest achievements. But what makes a good cover letter? What should you include and what structure should you use?
In this article, you’ll find some of our best tips and structure strategies to use when crafting your cover letter. Here’s what we'll cover:
Top 5 things to include in your cover letter
How to structure a cover letter
What not to say in your cover letter
Top 5 things to include in your cover letter
It’s important to note that you should customize every cover letter you write around the role you are applying for. That way your cover letter shows your enthusiasm and relevant experience for this specific role. However, while you are customizing your cover letter, there are a few items that should always be included.
Here are the 5 items every cover letter should have:
1. Overview of your background
One of the first things you should include in your cover letter is a brief overview of your background. Start with an introduction of you and the position you hold currently. You should then highlight some of your top skills and any degrees you have that are relevant. You’ll also need to show how your background aligns with the role and makes you the best candidate for it.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Marketing and have over 10 years of experience, specializing in content creation, social media strategy, and digital advertising. In my current role with [Company Name], I led the marketing team through a project that involved crafting targeted marketing campaigns while analyzing performance metrics. This project yielded a 50% increase in the sales of a recently released product.
2. Achievements that demonstrate your qualifications
You should also include specific achievements and examples that demonstrate these qualifications. Again, these should be relevant to the role you are applying for. Focus on adding achievements that show off your most valuable skills.
When considering your achievements, try to focus on the results. Use quantifiable information whenever possible, and be sure to customize these around the responsibilities of the role you are applying for.
At [Company Name], I played a key role in revitalizing the recruitment process for new employees. I reduced the average hiring time by 30% and improved the quality of our hires by introducing a new employee and recruiting onboarding process. The new system also increased new hire retention by 25%. I also oversaw all aspects of employee relations, including conflict resolution and training. Overall, employee satisfaction increased by 20% thanks to the procedures and strategies I applied.
It can also be helpful to include bullet points to make this section even easier to read:
Some of the highlights of the achievements I had in this role include:
Designed a marketing campaign that resulted in a 25% increase in client sales.
Introduced a new CRM system, resulting in an annual cost reduction of $50K.
Increased team performance by 40% by revitalizing marketing project processes.
3. Why you’re interested in this role
Hiring managers want to know you are excited about their role. They don’t want to receive a generic cover letter that shows you are disengaged. One way to combat this is to mention in your cover letter why this role or company excites you.
Focus on the two key questions, “Why do you want to work at this company in this role?” and “Why are you the best candidate?”
I have been following [Company Name]’s success in the [industry name] industry for many years. I am especially excited to see the results of the [project name] project you have recently announced. I’m even more enthusiastic about the possibility of contributing to such an innovative team. I believe my [skill 1], [skill 2], and [skill 3] skills will benefit the team in numerous ways.
4. A polished and professional look
Professionalism is crucial when you are applying for a job. For most jobs, you should use formal and professional language when writing your resume. You also need to take extra time to proofread your cover letter before submitting it. Spelling and grammar errors can be detrimental to your success when applying for a job.
5. Concise and relevant points
Above all, keep the information you share concise and include relevant points. A hiring manager will want to read your cover letter quickly, so make things as easy as you can for them. Keep everything you share in your cover letter relevant to the role you are applying for and avoid oversharing.
How to structure a cover letter
Along with including certain items in every cover letter, there is also a specific structure you will need to follow. Each cover letter should include the following sections:
Contact information. At the very top of your cover letter, include a header with all your contact information. That includes your name, phone number, email address, and any links you need to share.
Salutation. Whenever possible, your cover letter salutation should address the hiring manager by name. Other options include addressing a specific department, the hiring manager, or the title of the person you are sending your cover letter.
Introduction. The very first paragraph of your cover letter is your introduction. This should be a short paragraph that mentions the role you are applying for and your experience level.
Cover letter body. The cover letter body consists of two to three short paragraphs that provide an overview of your background, your key achievements, and your qualifications. This section should be directly tied to the role and provide specific examples of your experience.
Closing paragraph. The final paragraph of your cover letter should show your enthusiasm for the role, mention that you’ve included your resume, and ask the hiring manager to call you to set up an interview. Always thank the hiring manager for their consideration and time.
Formal closing. The final element to add to your cover letter is a formal closing. Just like you did with your salutation, keep this professional. “Best regards” or “Sincerely” work well here. You can then sign off the cover letter with your name.
What not to say in a cover letter
As we’ve discussed before, each cover letter should be customized around the specific role you are applying for. That means you shouldn’t create a cover letter that is filled with generic information. You shouldn’t include anything that would apply to every job or every applicant. Remember to be specific when using examples of your skills and achievements.
You also should avoid including negative comments about your previous employers. Not only is this unprofessional, but it can come across as negative and will reflect poorly on you. Salary expectations, irrelevant personal information, and exaggerations should also be eliminated from a cover letter.
The best cover letter is one that portrays your confidence and skills in the best light possible. Keep the letter positive and upbeat, stick with relevant information, and include skills that will make you stand out. If you stick to these tips, you will truly have a spectacular cover letter.
If you’re ready to craft a great cover letter, be sure to check out Career.io’s expert cover letter examples and writing guides!
Key takeaways
A good cover letter should include an overview of your background, specific achievements, and your reasons for being interested in a role.
The structure of a cover letter is important and should include contact information, a professional salutation, an introduction, a body, a closing paragraph, and a formal closing.
Avoid being negative in your cover letter, discussing salary expectations, or including irrelevant personal information.
