Are you wondering how to write the perfect cover letter? Are you wondering
if you even need to include one with your resume? In this video I will answer
these questions in five simple tips and if you stick around until the end I have
a special bonus just for you that will help you in your job search strategy. If
we've never met before I'm Heather Austin from ProfessorAustin.com
and The Career Club on Facebook and on this channel I provide simple
solutions to help you build a business or launch a career you love. So if you're
new here consider hitting the subscribe button down below because I post new
videos every week to help you nail it when it comes to your career. Let's dive
in to it. So do you really need a cover letter with your resume? Here's something
to think about... Most recruiters, hiring managers and
employers would agree that a cover letter is just as important as your
resume or CV. In fact they recommend spending just as much time on your cover
letter as you would your resume or your CV. Here's something else to consider...
Your cover letter becomes the most important at the very last minute when a
hiring manager or an employer is trying to decide who to bring in for an
interview. Most likely they'll jump over to your cover letter to see if you will
be one of the chosen few. Before we jump into the five strategies to help you
write the perfect cover letter, keep in mind that your cover letter can take on
a few forms. One would be an attachment to an email.
The second form would be some type of explanation inside of the body of an
email and then the third form would be inside of an applicant tracking system.
Either way follow these tips to the perfect cover letter. Tip number one,
customize your cover letter. Start by addressing the person that you are
sending the cover letter to. This is called the salutation. This can be
something like Dear Mr. John Doe or Hello Ms Sally Smith. Do
everything you can to find out who will be receiving your cover letter. This can
be something as simple as a phone call to the company or some research on
LinkedIn. Do your best to avoid common phrases like "To whom it may concern" or
"Dear Hiring Manager." Customizing your salutation shows the one receiving it
that you took the extra time to find out who they were. Next introduce yourself to
the reader and state what position you are applying for. If you are referred by
someone in the company or by someone that knows the hiring manager or
employer, make sure you mention it right up front. This leads us to tip number two.
Demonstrate that you are the solution to their problem. Start by evaluating the
job posting. What particular pain points can you solve. Explain how your skills
and expertise are the solution they've been looking for. To gain a greater
insight into what the company's pain points are, conduct some research on
their website. Also follow their social media networks. Read articles the company
has published. Read articles others have published about the company. Doing this
will shed some light on how you are the solution to their problem. This is also
the perfect time to mention why you want to work for the company. Why do you like
them. What about the company or position
stands out most to you. Talk about them and what makes them unique. This leads us
to tip number three. Show your personality. Today more than ever it's
important to show your reader who you really are. If you really want to stand
out from other candidates, include a story about yourself that relates to the
position you are applying for. You could include a funny story. Humor is a great
way to break the ice and captivate your audience. Just make sure your story
highlights your skills and expertise. The idea here is that you want to leave your
reader wanting more. You want to grab their attention, captivate them and want
them to take interest in who you are as a person.
There's a famous saying "facts tell, stories sell". Stories are a great way to show
your personality and your character. However you don't want to go overboard.
Keep your cover letter concise and to the point. This leads us to tip number
four. Don't rehash your resume. Think of your cover letter as a supplement to
your resume. This is the perfect time to share more details about your most
important accomplishments. Explain your skills and talents in action. Give clear
and direct examples of your accomplishments and how they relate to
the job you are applying for. Finally on to tip number five. Structure your cover
letter appropriately. As I mentioned earlier, begin with a customized
salutation, followed by a strong introduction that explains what position
you are applying for and why you want to work for them. Get creative with your
sentence structure. You only have a few seconds to engage your reader. Try using
a statement that shows your passion and love for the company and the position.
Round it all off with a clear and concise conclusion that contains some
type of call to action such as a reference to your resume, an invitation
to interview or even a good time to talk. There you have it folks!
Five simple steps to the perfect cover letter. Let's recap! Tip number one -
Customize your cover letter. Tip number two - demonstrate that you are the perfect
solution to the problem. Tip number three - show your personality. Tip number four -
Don't rehash your resume and then finally, tip number five - structure your
cover letter appropriately. Thanks guys for hanging in there and until the end. I
promised a special bonus for you and here it is, The Ultimate Guide To Staying
Positive During Your Job Search. It's a step-by-step resource guide that will
give you action steps that you can take today to overcome the frustration and
overwhelm of a job search. I'll go ahead and
link it up in the description below. Also, if you haven't had the chance,
join me over on Facebook, in my private community The Career Club. Where you'll
network with other business professionals just like you to learn
even more solutions and strategies to live your career to
the max. I'll go ahead and place a link below for that as well. So I have a
question for you. What do you enjoy least about creating a cover letter? Feel free
to share your comments and connect with others below and if you know someone
that might benefit from this video please feel free to share it with them
and don't forget to hit that like button below and if you're new here, consider
subscribing. I'll see you guys in the next video.