How to Write a Cover Letter – Template and Examples

If you’re considering a job change, you’re probably wondering what you’ll need to apply for the jobs that interest you. Typical documents that may be required during recruitment include a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter. Not sure how to write a cover letter? Today, we’ll guide you on what a cover letter should look like and what to include in it.

From this article, you’ll learn:

• What is a cover letter?
• How does a cover letter differ from a CV?
• What does a cover letter contain?
• How to write a cover letter that will interest recruiters?
• Why write a cover letter?

Cover Letter – Definition

Although a cover letter, alongside a CV, is one of the most important documents required during recruitment, many people still don’t know what a cover letter is. What is a cover letter? In English, this document is called a “cover letter”. It’s a document that, as a job candidate, you should send along with your CV to draw the employer’s attention to your qualifications, skills, and motivation for the specific position. It’s a kind of self-advertisement.

Cover Letter and CV

Wondering how to write a CV and a cover letter? A cover letter is sometimes confused with a CV. Curriculum Vitae is a professional biography. In chronological order, it presents the course of a candidate’s professional and educational path. It’s a clear and concise way to present the most important information about your professional life. What does a cover letter look like? How is it different? A good cover letter should refer to the CV (in terms of content and appearance), but it shouldn’t be a copy of it; rather, it should complement it. If you’re interested in a specific job position, make sure to write a cover letter for that position.

In addition to the cover letter and CV, the employer may also ask you for copies of documents confirming your education, references, or professional certificates.

How to Write a Cover Letter?

How to write a good cover letter? Writing a cover letter can be quite a challenge, especially if you lack experience in this field or lack self-confidence. Wondering how to start a cover letter? Who to address the cover letter to? Don’t worry, we’ll help you write a good cover letter. You’ll never have doubts about how to write a cover letter again.

A cover letter for a job has its structure and essential elements that you should include. How should a cover letter look like? How to start a cover letter? Write a cover letter, including the following elements of a cover letter:

• Location and date: in the top right corner of the document.
• Header: candidate’s personal information and contact details (make sure to provide a professional email address. Avoid private addresses that don’t include your last name. A professional email should have the following format: firstname.lastname@domain.com).
• Greeting: this is where you address the person responsible for recruitment – it could be a recruitment manager, HR department manager, or the supervisor of the position you’re applying for. The greeting should be in a formal form, e.g., Dear Sir/Madam. If you’re unsure who will be reading the document, simply write Dear Sir/Madam.
• Introduction: one paragraph in which you express your interest in the position and the company and briefly present your purpose for writing the letter.
• Main body: a detailed discussion of skills, work experience, achievements, and education relevant to the specific position. If you don’t have experience, present your most important skills, including soft skills, i.e., your personality traits. Focus on at least three reasons why the employer needs you. If you’re sending a cover letter in response to multiple job offers, try to convince the recruiter that you wrote your cover letter specifically for them.
• Conclusion: in this brief summary, once again express your enthusiasm, interest in the position, and readiness for an interview.
• Closing: with expressions of respect, sincerely, or best regards, and your signature.

Also, remember to include consent to data processing (GDPR). There’s no need to include it in the cover letter if you’ve already included it in your CV. If you’re applying for a position in a foreign company and the job posting was in English, write your cover letter in English as well.

How to write a good cover letter?

Now you know how to write a cover letter for a job. Now we’ll give you some tips on what to remember when preparing your own document – what to pay attention to when writing a cover letter for a job and what mistakes to avoid.

A cover letter should be brief. It’s best if it doesn’t exceed one A4 page. Ensure it looks good, primarily by being readable. A cover letter is not a showcase of decorative skills. Choose a readable font for the entire text, divide the text into paragraphs, and set equal margins. Also, remember not to repeat the content included in your CV.

Don’t replicate clichés in the introduction. The vast majority of cover letters start with an introduction: in response to the advertisement. Remember that you can use other interesting phrases – those that are not monothematic and boring. If you’re wondering how to write a classic cover letter but fear that yours will look like a million others, use unconventional phrases, e.g.: I have always been fascinated by, I am convinced that my experience and passion in the field of…, I have always dreamed of working in a place where…

Another serious mistake is adopting a begging attitude. Avoid exerting pressure, and don’t expect sympathy. An experienced recruiter will immediately realize that something in your professional life isn’t going well and will reject your application documents at the outset. Write a cover letter in which you present your professional profile, proving that you are the employee they are looking for.

Now you know how to write a cover letter. There are plenty of ready-made templates online that you can use. Using a creator will easily allow you to customize the selected template according to your expectations.