Cover Letter: 3 Tips for Writing the Perfect Letter

Companies want to know why you want to work for them. Your cover letter must therefore present as many convincing arguments as possible, without making you seem arrogant. And the task is not easy! Writing a good cover letter is very important, that's why we give you three precious tips that will help you write a convincing letter.

1. Choose a personalized introduction
A personalized introduction will encourage the recruiter to read your cover letter. Guaranteed success, therefore, if it starts with a personal note.

Example: "I kept the first circuit I built at school, in physics class, because that's when I developed a real fascination for electronics."

This type of introduction will demonstrate your originality, allow you to immediately stand out from all traditional cover letters and arouse the recruiter's interest.
Develop the required profile in detail
Address all the criteria mentioned in the job description one by one and prove, with relevant examples, that you meet them.

Example: a company is looking for a person who speaks several languages. Most candidates will insist that they meet this criterion, without however providing proof by means of precise examples. Explain how you learned these languages or why your knowledge exceeds that of others. A stay in a foreign country, frequent contact with colleagues or friends abroad, or bilingual education are examples likely to convince the personnel manager.


2. In your cover letter, you could, for example, formulate your arguments as follows:

"My mother is from Spain, so I speak Spanish fluently. Furthermore, I am familiar with the culture and customs of this country. This is undoubtedly an asset for this job, which involves contact with Spanish clients."
"After finishing my studies, I did a six-month internship in London. Since then, I speak English fluently."
Establish a link with the company
The employer also wants to know exactly why you are applying. Creativity is key! You won't always convince by stating a reason that is actually a general observation about the company.

3. Here are some examples of sentences from cover letters:

"I am applying to your company because I would like to pursue a career in the insurance sector, and you happen to be the largest real estate insurer in Belgium."
"I am very interested in your company's international image."
Stereotyped and boring phrases do more harm than good in a cover letter. Opt instead for a precise formulation and clearly establish the link between the company and yourself:
"I am very interested in your job offer given that your company is expanding its activities in Southern Europe, a market that has fascinated me since my studies."


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Posted on October 23, 2013.