The Dos and Don'ts of Cover Letter

An effective cover letter is not just about what you write – it's also about how you present it. The cover letter is important for introducing your persona to potential employers, it provides the chance to dig deep into your experiences and your qualities and convinces employers you are the right fit for them. Getting it right means knowing what to embrace and what to avoid. 

Do this:

Personalise each cover letter to the position and company to which you are applying. The cover letter gives the employer an idea of your individuality. If you focus on values and organizational culture-aligned beliefs as well as experiences and skills that are directly in line with the position's requirements, it shows you are sincerely interested in the organisation as well as your capacity to do well in the position at hand.

Infuse some personality into your cover letter. Employers are most likely tired of going through generic cover letters; you will have their attention if you are doing things differently, for example, by sharing your personal experiences with the role of instances where you actualised certain competencies. Good storytelling will provide context for your experiences and keep the boring, robot-like feel out, what's more, your chances of being interviewed are increased.

Don’t do this:

Using generic templates that fail to capture your unique and tailored qualities is one of the pitfalls you want to steer clear of. While templates do save time, for the cover letter to be effective, it must resonate authentically with the specific job you're applying for. You will provide concrete instances that amplify your impact and use specific examples to showcase your achievements and contributions in your past positions. Be careful, though, as it is easy to overwhelm the reader with exhaustive details. The cover letter must be concise, not exceeding a page, so show the employers the value you are bringing to them, making sure to only discuss relevant skills and experiences.  

Lastly, overlooking grammatical blunders or typographical errors can tarnish the professionalism of your cover letter. Taking the time to meticulously review and edit your letter ensures that it is polished and error-free, underscoring your commitment to presenting yourself in the best possible light.