How To Write A Cover Letter (Example Included)

A well written cover letter could increase your chances of an interview by 50%. We'll show you how to write an awesome cover letter that impresses employers.

Writing a good cover letter is a crucial step in the job search process, yet many people don’t write one or don’t put in the time to write an effective one.

So how do you write the perfect cover letter?

This short video will give you the necessary steps to create an effective cover letter that helps you land interviews.

We often hear people ask - Do I need to send a cover letter?

The answer is yes. You should always send a cover letter unless the job posting says no cover letter is required.

The point of a cover letter is to give a bit of an introduction as to who you are, your interest in the position, and why you think you’d make a good fit. It also adds a human touch to the plain old boring resume.

Ok, So let's get started….

The first thing we’re going to cover is the format and then we’ll cover the things you absolutely need to mention in your cover letter if you want to stand out from the hundreds of other job seekers.

Ok let's take a look at how a cover letter should be formatted..

As you see in our template, your header should be your name , contact number and email address. You can keep it similar to the header on your resume but don’t include your address.

You should then include the receiver's name, title, company name and address. If you can’t find the name of the hiring manager, you could leave that off. You can address the letter as “dear hiring manager” but always try to make an effort to find out the hiring manager in charge.

You should try to keep your cover letter between a half a page to ⅔ of a page long. Remember that most employers only spend a few seconds going through your resume and cover letter. No one wants to read an in- depth page long cover letter.

Three paragraphs is a good length and we’ll go through what each paragraph should contain - we’ll then show you an example of an excellent cover letter.

Paragraph 1 should be an introduction to who you are and the position you’re applying for. Include where or how you found the opening, The title and a job ID number if there is one. You should also lead into the next paragraph by stating a brief summary of qualifications or your interest in the position.

The second paragraph should discuss your qualifications and the achievements which show why you’re a good fit for the position.
Remember that you want to stand out from the other hundreds of candidates that are applying for the position. So don’t just give examples of what you did in your last position, show how you went above and beyond. Mention a few examples of quantifiable or measurable achievements in your career.
Use compelling language and don’t repeat the information in your resume. Try to bring your experience to life and this will encourage the reader to look into your resume in more detail.

In the third and last paragraph, Close it out by saying you feel that you’re a good fit based on your qualifications. Remember, you should include a call of action - which in this case would be inviting you to an interview. Ask them to give you call and schedule in interview.
And the The last thing you should do is thank them for taking the time out to consider you.

Lets put this template into action. Here is an example of a great cover letter:

Hi Susan,
I’m writing to you to express my interest in the Accounting position you have open on your company website with the job ID# 11220. I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and am confident that my experience and skill set would be a great match for this position.
I have a strong knowledge of accounting principles backed by experience I have gained in the last 12 years. In my previous position, I managed the accounting of a financial consulting firm with over $30 million in revenue. I not only met expectations but exceeded them by increasing cash flow by $4 million. I helped achieve this by changing our accounts receivable policy and negotiating better contracts. There is more depth on my experience and skills in my resume which I would appreciate you looking over.
I am certain that my experience and skill set would make me a great candidate for this position as well as a great asset to your company. Please give me a call at the number above to schedule an interview at your convenience. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
John Smith

So there you have it. Remember to include these 3 points in your resume -
* Who you are
* Your qualifications and how they can benefit the employer
* And a call to action asking to schedule an interview.

[Kenz]

Jobs are expecting too much, resume, cover letter, job reference, drug test, Facebook history. For basic pay 😂

[lizardgeek]

It must be nice feeling qualified when applying for jobs.

[ProfessorHeatherAustin]

Great tips on what should be included on a cover letter. I totally agree that finding out the hiring manager or HR professionals name is key.

[tafaramukarakate]

"you wanna stand out from the hunreds of applicants"
Hundreds of applicants watch this video

[ashenwinter]

For more basic jobs just a paragraph or less is fine. Someone hiring people for a $15/hr position doesn't care as much about all that. Just make sure to mention you are available, have transportation, and need to learn certain skills from that job to start your own business in the future (It may not be true for you but has worked great for me).

[dianadominguez]

This video was very informative and straight to the point with relevant examples! Thank you for the video.

[andreassalgadog]

Great video! It's down to the point and it gives you ideas to start without having to watch more videos.

[trapbois]

Actually I think a cover letter is only necessary if one, someone directly reaches out through email asking for your resume for a particular position. Even if they didn't ask, its best to include one because chances are you were referred for the position. The other reason is if there is a position you really think you are an absolute stellar fit or because you want to increase your chance of getting in. Other than that it doesn't make any sense because you have to change your cover letter for every new position/company. If companies are really interested in you, they will ask for an interview which highlights your strengths and weaknesses.

[Aflay]

That’s great that there are people who increase revenue by 4 million

Now where is the example where the person flexes experience from working at McDonald’s that’s what I’m looking for.

[Paul-ymlr]

Screw it... I literally have nothing. I have NO experience whatsoever. But I did enjoy the video! Very informative and right to the point and with EXAMPLES! Unlike others. It was so frustrating but finally found a useful video regarding proper cover letters.

[atriasmith]

This video was awesome and very helpful. Thanks buddy😁

[abumunir]

Great tips on what should be included on cover letter. I totally agree with this. Thank you for this informative video.

[taliberkeleywork]

This was very helpful for my Family Studies class! Thank you!

[bansabanana]

I learned where to put the paragraphs, names, title, company name, and address from this video!

[wasimjaan]

Thanks for short and brief cover letter info☺☺

[GoalInspiredCareerCoaching]

Great tip in writing cover letters. They are not needed all the time so I always tell applicants when they are not necessary but when you need them this is the way to go. Important to include the job ID . Including a CTA is very important.

[jzartiga_]

Commenting for a greater reach. Thanks, ZipJob!

[syindrome]

Excellent tips on making a generic cover letter that will get you overlooked (with a bonus of rampant typos)

[drasc]

Every cover letter example is for a stellar candidate who hardly needs information like this for help crafting their cover letter. Know your audience- people with little to no experience, like me and the other plebs in this comment section

[AshVentureOfficial]

1:44 Paragraph 1
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