It may be 2020, but cover letters have not become a thing of the past when it comes to successful job searching. In fact, research continues to show that employers favor resumes accompanied by cover letters when the time comes to make final hiring decisions.
Your cover letter is an added opportunity to showcase your immediate value to a company, your unique fit with organizational culture, your personality, and your enthusiasm for a position. It should complement and supplement – not regurgitate the same content as – your resume.
The best cover letter is the one most tailored for a job or career move. Here’s a look at four different examples:
Traditional
A traditional cover letter is just that: traditional. It’s short, concise and to the point – and it works well when applying to a traditional company, such as a well-established law or financial firm. It focuses on your ability to complete tasks and achieve results in a timely, thorough fashion.
Impact
In an impact cover letter, you can let your personality shine through in a more dynamic and cogent way. It is typically used when applying for roles where you’re expected to deliver on specific goals.
- When writing an impact cover letter, the key is putting your relevant accomplishments front and center, so your past successes really stand out.
Writing Sample
This cover letter format is all about communications and showcasing your writing, editing, reporting, and storytelling skills. It may serve to complement or substitute for writing samples – by becoming such a sample in and of itself.
- Take some creative liberty with this format, but triple check to be sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Show your passion as you make every sentence support a point.
Career Change
Crafting a career change cover letter requires a specialized strategy. While highlighting skills you have that relate to the job description, you also want to draw a parallel between your previous responsibilities and the new role. And, you need to explain why you’re making a career change and what’s driving you towards this specific opportunity.
- Identify transferable qualities and draw the reader in. Similar to an impact cover letter, list some unique qualities that you bring to the table. You may also have to weave in content that explains any gaps on your resume.
As you fine-tune your resume and cover letter to each job that interests you – and to help you find those opportunities in the first place – turn to the career development experts at PrideStaff Fresno. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more