Writing a cover letter can feel like an arduous task and is often a job seeker’s least favourite part of a job search.
If you’re launching a job search, you’ll likely encounter multiple opinions about cover letters ranging from that they are redundant and a waste of time to that they are the most important part of your application.

The secrets to writing a great cover letter

In this article, I’ll explore the various views on cover letters and share my favourite tips for writing a cover letter that actually benefits your application.

The origins of the cover letter

First, a bit of history. The cover letter as we know it first came to prominence in the 1950s as more and more of the economy transitioned to office and service-based roles.

It followed that an example of a candidate’s ability to write a formal letter was a good indication of their much-needed communication skills.

This gave the employer valuable insight that could not be gleaned from the brief employment history detailed in a person’s resume.

The cover letter also served as a useful mechanism for a candidate to detail their interest in the role and to elaborate on their current situation.

Before email and online applications, writing a cover letter made sense. After all, the employer would likely only receive a handful of applications for each advertised role.

The applicant would only send applications to roles in which they were truly interested and the cover letter was an introduction to the candidate.

In fact, a cover letter addressed the points that are typically discussed in today’s preliminary screening calls.

A lot has changed in the world of recruitment

In 2023 it’s fair to say the purpose of the cover letter has become unclear. To expect an employer to read the cover letter of every applicant is unrealistic.

Writing a cover letter for every application seems equally unrealistic from a candidate’s perspective.

Most important information is inputted online during the application process which is often time-consuming enough.

Statistics range on how many recruiters actually read cover letters, but this much is clear; in 2023 a high volume of cover letters certainly never get read.

Will a cover letter make a difference to your application?

So, in what circumstances will a cover letter make a difference and when is it ever worth your time?

I’m going to tell you three situations where writing a cover letter can actually benefit your application and job search.

1. When a cover letter is requested as part of the application process

If you’ve been asked to submit a cover letter for a role, then you really should.

In this case, the company is much more likely to read your cover letter and factor its contents into their decision. What’s more, failing to follow their instructions could count as a negative point against you and your application.

2. Write a cover letter when you are emailing your resume directly to an individual

If you are fortunate enough to have an email address instead of an online application link, then you have a great opportunity to include a cover letter.

However, I recommend that you don’t add an extra attachment, instead use the main body of the email to communicate the points of your cover letter.

Content in the email body is far more likely to be read compared to that which is contained in additional attachments.

3. When you have something vital to say a cover letter can be helpful

Let’s face it, lacklustre cover letters do little to move the needle on a job application. But a cover letter written with purpose and clarity can make a difference.

This is especially true if you suspect your resume might end up in the ‘maybe’ pile.

Let me give you an illustration

When I worked as a recruiter, I would start by reviewing each candidate’s resume. Some would clearly not have the required experience; their applications would be marked as rejected.

Some resumes looked fantastic and I’d get straight on the phone to talk to the candidate about the role I was working on.

Inevitably, there would be some resumes that piqued my interest but weren’t totally convincing. For these applications, I would check if a cover letter had been submitted in order to learn more.

If explanations were given that addressed concerns from the resume or if the cover letter was particularly compelling, then it would move the candidate from the ‘maybe’ to the ‘shortlist’ pile.

A word of caution, however, it is still better to include all the most vital and compelling information in your resume and to tailor this to the job description.

A resume is often your first impression and you need to make it count.

What makes a great cover letter?

We’ve already said that a mediocre cover letter makes little or no difference. So, how should you write a cover letter to get shortlisted?

Make your cover letter about them

The best cover letters are written specifically for the opportunity you are applying for.

If the letter you have written could be used for multiple roles, it is likely missing the mark.

Good topics to include in your cover letter

• Why you’re drawn to the company and their mission
• A personal anecdote that would demonstrate your genuine desire to work for the company
• The name of a contact that works for the company
• Some interesting research about the company that you could share to explain your interest

Including this type of personalised detail shows that you are taking this seriously.

It also helps convince the reader that you have a genuine interest in working for their organisation. Showing your passion in a cover letter is a great way to stand out.

Example cover letter sentences

When I relocated to Austin, one of the trickiest things was figuring out how to eat healthy whilst juggling the busyness of setting up a new life. I know that if your recipe delivery service was available then, it would have made a huge difference! That’s why I was so excited to see that you are setting up an office here and I would be thrilled to support you to expand into this new region.

I’m excited to submit my application for this role as a friend of mine has worked at ABC Company for many years and often speaks about the fantastic projects she is involved in.

I was recently researching sustainable fashion when I found an article about how Cool Clothing Company was the first major clothing brand to run a scheme that incentivizes their shoppers to recycle their old clothes. I was impressed by how successful this has been and I would be excited to bring my experience in loyalty schemes to help CCC continue to lead the way.

Be clear about what problem you will solve and how you meet the key requirements of the role

Every role advertised exists to solve a problem the company has. Read the job description carefully and consider the skills, experience, and track record that you possess that make you a person that can add value.

You could outline some key relevant achievements or core competencies or maybe give details of a relevant problem you solved.

Examples

As Innovation Director at Food Company, I’ve consistently mobilised cross-functional teams to develop and launch new products. Some key successes include:

• Launching X
• Cut costs from X to Y
• Opened new markets in Y & Z

Throughout my career, I have developed a combination of skills that I believe would make me a great fit for this role.

• Detail competency number one
  A sentence or 2 with further details
• List competency number two
  A sentence or 2 with further details
• Add competency number three
  A sentence or 2 with further details

Make your cover letter easy to read

So much of what we read is on our mobile phones and the same is true for busy recruiters.

It’s best to write your cover letter in short paragraphs, incorporating subheadings and bullet points for an easy skim read.

Keep the document to a maximum of one page and make every sentence count. Your cover letter should not be your life story and should be written as an urgent sales pitch.

As we mentioned above, you should write your cover letter in the main body of the email when possible.

This is the best way to ensure it gets read. If you are uploading a separate attachment then it’s best to use the same styling and formatting as your resume.

This helps to give a strong first impression and can reinforce your personal brand.

Conclusion

Whilst a cover letter is no longer an absolute requirement in 2023 there are instances where writing a cover letter can help you.

Most resume templates have coordinating cover letter templates, making it easier than ever to create a strong first impression.

You can find a whole range of resume templates with matching cover letter templates here on Job Search Journey.