How to Write a Cover Letter that will Help You Make a Real Splash
Sara DemiriIt is a fact that cover letters are read in human resources, and a well‑written cover letter can sometimes be the decisive factor in whether you get invited to a job interview or not.
As I was writing my last blog entry on the subject “How to write a good CV for the position of a translator in the localization industry”, I made a promise to myself to write another text about an equally important subject: how to write a good cover letter in the localization industry.
If you give it a thought, these guidelines are applicable in all industries and once you master the skills necessary to write a good cover letter, you can use them everywhere.
I have to be completely honest and admit that coming back from my vacation and finding my e-mail inbox filled with job applications from a great number of candidates has been the reason why I am writing this text right now.
What does a good cover letter even mean?
In the first place, the cover letter ought to exist.
I often hear my private and work colleagues, acquaintances and friends wonder, do I even need to write a cover letter and does anyone actually read it?
The answer to this question is: yes, of course!
A well-written cover letter is the ID of your CV or, literally speaking, a cover letter is an introduction to a good book.
Do you know that feeling when you pick one book out of many in a book store, read a short introduction and immediately want to read the rest of it? Pretty much the same thing happens with your cover letter. Its purpose is to make the employer want to read the CV, meet the candidate and learn all about them!
It is a fact that cover letters are read in human resources, and a well-written cover letter can sometimes be the decisive factor in whether you get invited to a job interview or not.
Why is that so?
Since CVs are mostly written in the manner of listing all the information about your experiences, education, knowledge and skills, a cover letter is, in comparison, written in a more free literary form, which has a human touch.
It requires a more individual and personal approach, so it is necessary to specifically adjust it for the job you are applying for. Forget about the ready-made, edited layouts in which you only have to change the name and the address of an employee.
What does a good cover letter consist of?
A cover letter should not be a retelling of your CV.
In a cover letter you can explain in more depth the important information concerning your work experience which you have not mentioned in your CV (such as projects, seminars, situations that helped you in your professional career).
Supposing you have listed all the important information about your experiences, education, knowledge and skills in your CV, your cover letter should answer the employer’s questions why you have applied for a certain job and why you have chosen a certain company. It should also answer the question why a certain company should choose you out of everyone and how you can add to its development.
A well-written cover letter is the ID of your CV or, literally speaking, a cover letter is an introduction to a good book.
It will not hurt to say a bit more about your personality traits and how you manage working in a team and in challenging conditions. This is an opportunity to introduce yourself to your employer as a future colleague, parent, adventurer or a passionate lover of one thing or another. Don’t forget that your cover letter is going to be read by another person, so let them first and foremost see you as a human being.
This may sound a bit incredible, but most of my colleagues from human resources consider cover letters to be the most important document in job applications. When I asked them why that is so, they gave me the following reply: in a cover letter I can read what the candidate’s motivations are, what drives them, how passionate they are and whether they have applied because they really see themselves working in our company or if they have applied for some other reason.
Of course, a missing cover letter can also be a sign that the candidate has not really done any preparations or planning when applying for a job, and that gives away the impression that they do not care very much. Therefore, next time you apply for a job, don’t forget to send a cover letter along with your CV. Do not be afraid to be honest, open and spontaneous. I am certain that good results will follow.