Are You Unique? Prove It in Your Cover Letter!
9 September 2013
Read by 4027 persons
Much more than a first contact with a potential employer, the cover letter is, in a way, your entry point for your next job. Indeed, although ignored by some employers, the cover letter can very well influence the level of attention that will be given to your resume. It is therefore essential to know how to promote yourself well. To do this, you must emphasize the specific reasons why the employer should hire you rather than another candidate. Your letter must also charm its recipient by being pleasant to read and captivating.
Here are some tips that will certainly help you achieve these two important objectives:
1. Use qualifiers that avoid clichés
First and foremost, know that using rich and varied vocabulary is essential. It is therefore your duty to use all the tools at your disposal to write professionally, concisely, and originally. Keep in mind that precise terms are more effective. Whether you are an engineer, an administrative assistant, or a sales director, Monster.ca has a wide range of cover letter templates to inspire you. In addition, you will find cover letters applicable to various career levels, from internships to senior management positions. However, be careful not to fall into the trap of ease and only use pre-constructed phrases that are too often read by employers. Avoid using ready-made phrases or typical qualities that are found on most resumes. Make room for a little originality and try to find the right word every time. The reading will thus be more interesting and more convincing.
2. Know who you are talking to
When the time comes, it is not always easy to sell yourself. Sometimes you have to put your humility aside in order to draw a real portrait of our qualities, always as an employee, you will have understood. The content of your cover letter should be original but also personalized. Don't try to be different just for the sake of it. Make sure that everything you say about your strengths is true. Ask your colleagues, past and present, about your greatest qualities. This will undoubtedly give you several ideas for the content of your letter. Even ask your loved ones to describe you. Indeed, many of your interpersonal qualities will be honored in your next job and that is why it may be relevant to benefit your letter.
3. Present yourself as a solution to a problem
Why, out of all the candidates, would you be chosen? You certainly have a particular asset that sets you apart from other candidates, who appear similar. "Google" the name of the employer in question and find out about the company and its culture. This will easily allow you to find a lot of useful information to know in what specific way you would suit the company. Do you have knowledge or experience in addition to the requirements of the targeted job that would make you a dream candidate? Mention them in your introduction to draw the reader's attention to the fact that you would not only be able to perform the tasks related to the job, but also to propose new solution paths that could advance the company. Let them discover new perspectives on your field. Briefly explain how your niche skills will allow them to solve the problem that prompted this new hire. Finally, persuade them that it will be very pleasant to work with you and that you are the missing element of their team.
Follow these few tips when writing your cover letter and it should generate the expected interest from the employer.
Happy writing and good luck!
Mélanie Pilon.
Posted on September 9, 2013.
Monster.ca
