Writing a Stand-Out Cover Letter

This article was written by Rafal Szaniawksi for myGwork.

‘Nobody likes to write a cover letter’, that’s what most people tell me. ‘Does anybody even read them?’ usually follows.

I always say that writing a cover letter is your greatest chance to distinguish yourself from the crowd, make an impression on an HR person or hiring manager and prepare yourself for an interview! Because a well-written cover letter is a powerful self-reflection and storytelling tool which doesn’t have to be the monster most of us see.

So here are a few of my favourite tips which may help you nail your next cover letter.

Golden rule - NEVER go generic. Cover letters need to be always customised and personal. Not to mention, you need to double-check the spelling, the names, address, the job etc… We have all been there copying and pasting things which, well, weren’t correct.

Now, let’s go to the substance! Think of your Cover Letter as a three-section message, with- The Opening, The Body and The Call to Action and now let’s go through each of them.

The Opening- the Attention grabber! You need to open strong and immediately draw the attention of the reader. So forget about generic ‘I am applying for the position of… in your company’. Write something more personal, linking you and your story to the role and the organisation you want to get- eg. ‘‘I have only one life and I would like to make it matter’. That’s what I would respond if you ask me why I applied for the role you are recruiting for.’

The Body - the Interest and Value section. This part consists of two sections, the first one talking about your background and/or skills and experience and how it fits into the role and the second telling your new employer what value you can bring. In other words, you tell them how you can help solve their problems. Do NOT repeat information from your CV. Build on it and simply add a relevant experience which highlights your value and enthusiasm for that kind of job/ organisation/ cause.

The Action- the Grande finale. You want that job, that’s obvious, so end your Cover Letter equally strong and encourage them to reach out and invite you for the interview. Stay personal, but professional. eg. ‘I would like to have a chance to talk about the challenges and opportunities in this role and how my skills, experience and passion can be used to help you overcome them and benefit your organisation/ customers/ employees. I look forward to meeting you and the broader team.’

Finally, some important tips to remember.

The Cover Letter should be brief, no more than 1 page. Anybody should be able to read your Cover Letter at glance.

Be brief, but enthusiastic, professional and interesting. Watch the tone of your letter. Stay mature, professional and on point. Avoid humour. While it’s great that you have a sense of humour, you will have a chance to show it later on in the process. This is not the time. And last but not least, be yourself.

Ask yourself a few questions before even applying- Do you want this role? Do you want to work for this organisation? Why? if you are able to answer those questions, then writing your focused and impactful Cover Letter will be much easier.

Good luck!

You can check out Rafal's CV Writing Workshops over on the Events page of myGwork.