Cover Letter Writing for Career Changers

Alongside customising your resume and preparing for interviews, as a career changer, you also need an impressive cover letter, especially since hiring managers may not take the time to assess resumes thoroughly before making their decision. Therefore, you need everything at your disposal to make an immediate and lasting impression – in this case, your cover letter. 

Cover letters for career changers, like every other good cover letter, should show that the applicant meets the qualifications of the job and is suitable to work with the organisation. You want to do a little research to understand the company's values, mission, and culture, then tailor your cover letter to them, showing your passion for the new career path and your enthusiasm for the industry or role you are pursuing.

The major difference between a conventional cover letter and a career change cover letter is its presentation. For career changers, the cover letter is focused on emphasizing the relevance and value of your past skills to the present position and to the place of work. Let your cover letter show how your previous experience, even if in a different industry, has equipped you with skills that prospective employers will find beneficial. For example, you can include an instance where you quickly learned new skills or processes in your previous career and relate them to the challenges of the new role. Certain qualities like leadership, problem-solving, communication, and adaptability are sought after by employers all over the world, these skills are what you should reference in your cover letter. 

Since career changes are often accompanied by skill gaps and you might not be afforded the opportunity to explain them on your resume, use your cover letter to address the gaps and potential concerns the employer might have. Talk about your intention to transition into a new field and briefly explain your reasons for the change. You may back this up with experiences and stories that led to your decision to make this change, just make sure they are concise and convey your enthusiasm for the industry or role you are pursuing.