How to Figure Out What to Include in a Cover Letter

How to Figure Out What to Include in a Cover LetterHow to Figure Out What to Include in a Cover Letter2Writing a titelseite letter can be daunting to even the most prolific of wordsmiths. Its difficult to know what you should say, what you should stay away from, and just how long it should really be. Dont let your cover letter come between you and the job of your dreams, though Heres how to figure out what to include in a cover letter, once and for all.What to include in a cover letter (and what to leave out)Dont repeat your resume.If you thought you could just copy and paste your resume onto your cover letter (and add in some filler words for effect), think again. Your cover letter is basically your elevator pitch on a page. As such, youll need to ditch the idea of having it be a longer version of your resume. This is your chance to tell your story.Make the connection.Hiring managers are busy. They dont have the time to read a lengthy cover letter to determine if they should contact you for an interview. So make it easier on them by showing how youre a perfect fit for the job. How? By going through the job description and then showing specific instances of how you possess those skills and work experiences theyre looking for. It not only shows that you read the job description thoroughly, but that you are able to connect the dots and position yourself as the perfect candidate for the position.Show off your soft skills.Theres really not a great place on your resume to highlight all of your soft skills. But if youre looking for a remote or telecommuting job, youre going to absolutely need to include them (i.e., your strong communication skills, your ability to problem-solve and self-manage, etc.) in your cover letter. Even if you dont have previous remote work experience, talk about how youve solved tech issues in the past, or your superior collaboration skills while working on a team. That can convey to an employer that you would be able to handle working in a r emote environment.Focus on them.Your cover letter isnt really all about you. In essence, your cover letter is a means for you to show an employer how you can help them if hired. Thats why its important to show an understanding of the companys current situation, and expand upon how youd improve it.For example, if the companys website is a slightly out of date (and perhaps youre applying for a web designer position), you might point out some of the sites problems- and how you could fix them using all of your past experience. That way, you are communicating your passion about the position, but showing them how much of an asset youd be to their organization.Offer examples.Employers enjoy facts and figures, and the more of them you can include in your cover letter, the better. Dont just state that you ran a team write down the successes your team achieved. If you hit some huge numbers during Q3, include those as well. That said, only you know your industry. If you feel that your figures wont fly by a potential employer, it might be better to not include them, since it could actually harm you rather than help you.Put your personality out there.Resumes tend to be cut and dry. Theres a formula you have to follow, and all you have to do is plug in info here and there. Heck, you cant even choose fun fonts because they might not be able to be read by the ATS (Applicant Tracking System). leid so with a cover letter. After all, you dont want your cover letter to sound like a robot wrote it, so be sure to infuse a little bit of your personality into your paragraphs. Just be sure to still maintain your professionalism while allowing your reader to get a sense of who you really are- and why you deserve a job interview.Ready to start your job search?Browse Open Flexible Jobs