9 Tips on How to Write An Effective Application Letter
A recent study showed that a recruiter spends an average of 6 seconds per CV. In that short span of time, your application should stand out to grab the attention of the employer.
While looking at dozens if not hundreds of applications per day, another identical resume wont do the job. You need a letter, that speaks of what value you can bring to the table. A letter that informs, amuses and impresses any recruiter.
Take a look at these tips and techniques to craft a strong covering letter that could open the doors to a future job.
1. Open with a Catching Line
In the case of covering letters, the first impression often is the best impression. So in the first few seconds itself, the recruiter will know whether it is another one based on online templates alone or has the capability to be unique.
Begin the covering letter with something that individualizes you, such as a particular success or changes you brought into a firm you worked or any inspiration that has led to choosing this career.
2. Dont Rewrite the CV
One common mistake that everyone does is to expand the different sections of CV itself on the covering letter. Mostly, recruiters will be looking at both the CV and covering letter side by side. So mere repetition of the same content will not do the job. Talk about two or three skills that you want to highlight and offer examples of how these have come to use before.
If you need professional help to write an application letter, there is always help available from service for paper writing. These online platforms assist in developing letters after getting all the necessary information and can provide with a top-notch CV and covering letter that works hand in hand.
Approaching such services ensures that your application is error free and professional at the first look. A well-presented file with attention given to the details of the position and the company will go a long way to impress the recruiter.
3. Talk About the Company
Do research about the company and make it a point to mention what impresses you the most and why you choose to work there. This will show the recruiter that it is not another copy of the same letter you are sending to everyone and will add more value to it.
4. Find a Contact Person
Be sure to address the letter directly to the recruiter or the hiring manager. This information would be available on the company website, if not, make a call to the information desk and find out. If still not successful, start with the greeting Dear Hiring Manager.
If you have any contacts who referred to the job or can act as a reference to you, dont forget to mention their names, in the first paragraph itself.
5. Customize the Letter
Hiring managers can easily tell if what they are reading is a generic application letter. Instead, tailor the letter to fit the job specifications. The skills required for one job would be different from another. Choose those will apply for the specific job and elaborate on them.
Add personality traits and how that would fit the firm and the position. It might sound time-consuming to do this for each letter, but a custom letter will get you a second look for sure.
6. Dont Point out any Weakness
Too much honesty is also not recommended. If you are lacking a skill, dont explicitly mention it. Preferably, focus on the skills that would be useful for the enterprise. Omit unnecessary parts of why you left the last job or anything else that would be uncomfortable how much salary you expect.
However, if there is an employment gap, a letter offers the opportunity to explain it.
7. Use Keywords Wisely
Most recruitments today happen through online platforms. Using the keywords described in the job listing could catch the eye of the recruiter. For example, as per the job listing, an ideal candidate who can lead diagnose and follow-up on incidents use such phrases in the resume too. One can also mention examples of such experience used relevantly in the past.
8. Make it Presentable
It does not matter if it is a letter, even that needs to have a good presentation. If you have a distinct format for the CV, try to match the same format to the letter. Try to keep in concise, preferably within a single page itself. Proofread to ensure there are no typos and spelling mistakes
9. Finishing Line
The end paragraph is equally important to the rest of the content. Keep it simple and to a couple of lines. The point is to make a strong impression, and a large conclusion paragraph would just refute the point.
Writing a perfect application letter is as critical as the CV. A bit of authenticity and neatly penned letter could be just what one needs to score a job interview.