7 Top Tips For A Cover Letter That Makes Employers Take Notice

For most job applications, you will be required to submit a cover letter, as well as a CV or résumé. This is your chance to really impress potential employers and convince them to invite you to interview, so you’ll want to make sure that they really take notice of all that you have to say.

With this in mind, here are seven tips for how you can make your cover letter stand out:

1. Good spelling and grammar

If you’re applying for a job as engineer, for example, then you might not think that spelling and grammar are a priority within your cover letter. Surely your skills and experience are more important? Whilst this may be true once you have the job, a cover letter littered with spelling and grammar mistakes can still make employers think twice about inviting you to interview, so it can be worth taking the time to get it right.

2. Be specific

You may apply to a number of different companies before you find the perfect role, but sending out a generic cover letter is not advised. If you really want prospective employers to take notice, then it can be worth doing your research and tailoring what you have to say. You might want to mention what it is that interests you about their business, or how you feel you might be able to contribute to an upcoming project, as this is more likely to catch their eye.

3. Highlight your expertise

Never assume that an employer will know where your skills and experience lay from reading your CV or résumé. A cover letter is your opportunity to grab their attention and explain exactly how you are the best possible candidate for the position that they are looking to fill. Highlight your areas of expertise and explain the ways in which you would be an asset to the company in question.

4. Apply for suitable roles

Using your cover letter to detail how you are well-suited to a particular role is usually much more effective if you have the skills and experience required. Remember to read job advertisements carefully before making your application and think about whether or not you will be able to demonstrate that you are properly qualified for the position in question. If you’re skills are mismatched to the role for which you are applying, then this is likely to be evident in your cover letter.

5. Don’t waffle

If an employer starts to lose interest while they are still reading your cover letter then they are unlikely to invite you to interview. Although you will certainly want to mention all the qualities that make you the perfect candidate, be careful not to repeat yourself.

6. Format correctly

Like spelling and grammar, using the correct letter formatting might not be a skill which you will need to use once you have been hired into the job role, but it is still worth including in your cover letter. Using the correct layout can also be a good way to convey your professionalism and set you apart from other applicants.

7. Meet application deadlines

Whilst you won’t want to rush your cover letter, you will also want to ensure that it is sent to the employer before the submission deadline. This is particularly important when sending your cover letter in the mail, but it can also be worth bearing in mind when applying online. If an employer receives your cover letter and CV or résumé after the closing date, then they may decide that you are not passionate enough about the role or have poor time management skills, and you are unlikely to be invited for interview.