Want to write a good cover letter and resume? Let me help you…

It has been many years since I submitted my last cover letter and resume in search of a job. But since I started working, I haven't stopped being interested in this topic. As time goes on, there are different criteria and styles in writing a good cover letter that can help you stand out from other candidates when looking for a job.

On the other hand, writing a cover letter does not stop with finding a job, because you have the opportunity to participate in project engagement, part-time jobs, present your skills and knowledge when applying for various conferences, seminars, or academies that serve professional development.

That is why your "blade" for written communication must not become dull, but you must nurture and perfect it. This text helps you find the best tips in one place before you start writing your cover letter.

Sending method

If you send your letter and CV physically by mail, format it as a business letter with a header, your physical address, but also an e-mail address, as well as all the contacts that potential employers can reach you.

If you send the letter and CV by e-mail, there is no need to enter all contacts (your email address will certainly be visible), but even in the case of sending a cover letter, it can be attached as an attachment in .pdf format or the body of the e-mail the motive why you applied for a certain job and answer the question in advance what qualifies you as the best candidate for the vacant position?

Address at the beginning of the cover letter

If you know the name of the director or human resources manager, start your cover letter in a friendly tone, addressing the person by name and surname. If you still don't know who is hiring new employees, still don't put impersonal addressees such as "Dear Sir or Madam" because they are too generic and general. Specify at least the address for the position in the company, which can be a manager, a person for human resources, and the like. While doing research on the company you want to write to, Google and LinkedIn can be a great resource to find not only the people who work there but also their job titles and areas of responsibility. If you move on to the next level of selection, your big advantage over other candidates is that you are well-versed in information about the company you want to work for. This will surely mean to your future employer or client.

Length of  the cover letter

Although it provokes more creative effort, understand the cover letter as an accompaniment to your biography. The University of Wisconsin recommends a letter that is no longer than one page. If there is a risk that the content will go to the other side, reduce the font size before removing something from the text. But keep in moderation, every potential employer will want to hear more than you enjoy, rather than listening to a repetition of what you have already written in the letter.

Writing style

Stick to professionalism. 

A precise and concise approach to a potential employer will evoke a respectful relationship between the person reading your letter. It serves as a "shop window" for your qualities, professional skills, and the advantages you bring with you compared to drudge. But until there is an opportunity to say and show how much you know and what you can do, the letter should attract attention and initiate the action of calling your phone number, i.e. sending an email inviting you to a job interview. The writing style should be mature and precise, to communicate enthusiasm and a positive attitude towards new professional challenges, without too much enthusiasm and use of jargon.

Format the text of the letter as a composition in primary school:

• Introduction
• Elaboration
• Conclusion and call to action (in your case, a job interview)

Zakomplikovana

In that way, you actively hold the attention of the person who reads the letter and offers a whole set of information through which they will meet their future colleague. Systematic and clear writing is extremely important, whether you arrange things chronologically or in order of importance, do not jump from topic to topic and confuse areas from your private and professional life.

A few steps when creating and sending a cover letter and resume

Before writing your cover letter, you should research the potential employer and what they expect from your job application.

If it asks for everything in the body mail, send both attachments in the text of the email you are addressing.

If he asks for two special attachments, send them in the attachment, with a short address in the body of the email, because it will probably not be read. It is possible that the person who receives the candidate's applications does not even read all the mail, but only prints the attachments and forwards them to the one who will do the selection process.

If they want everything in one document, combine your cover letter with biographical data, taking care to go in this order. Name the document with your name “Ana Pataki - cover letter and CV”.

How to format a document? 

Process the content of your cover letter and biography in a formatting program, be sure to check and correct spelling and grammatical errors. Even if you can, send it to someone to see how the documents will arrive, what they will look like, and whether everything will be clear and grammatically correct.

Save the document to PDF, because not everyone has Word and not everyone has the same version of Word. It is important that the future employer sees that you think about everything and work with confidence when it comes to preparing documents.

What to write in the subject of the email? 

It is important to know you are not the only applicant the future employer will receive if you respond to a job advertisement. That is why the title of the email that carries your biography and cover letter must be clear, precise, and effective. It should be titled with your name "Ana Pataki - job application".

In case you are sending a CV and cover letter, without an advertisement, the title must attract attention, which is why it is especially important to think about what will keep the recipient's eye: your name and the purpose of sending these documents. That's the best recipe.

Good luck! 

This post you read maybe contains information that you already knew, but it was gathered in one place. I have empirically tested all the bits of these advices, and I can guarantee them with my practice. That is why it was important for me to gather the best tips in one place that can lead to a new job, desired scholarship, or a position that attracted you, but you had no idea how to show interest in it and start doing the business of your dreams. Apply the suggestions from this text and let me know if you succeeded? I wish you all the best!