How To Write a Cover Letter
Hiring managers receive tonnes of applications and a well-written cover letter could determine whether you get an interview or not. In these competitive times they might not even get read if certain pieces of information aren’t found quickly.
Here are some tips on how to craft a good cover letter:
Tailor each cover letter for each job application.
Find out the name of the person hiring and address it to them. As in conversations, if you mention a person’s name, it keeps their attention longer than if you don’t.
If the job specifies a required qualification e.g. CCNA certification, make sure you highlight that you have this near the top of your cover letter.
We have come across cases where applicants possessing the necessary qualities were not called in for an interview because they buried the key points in their CV.
Now that we got your cover letter sorted, time to wow the hiring managers with your CV. Below are some tips to get you noticed!
1) The first and simplest is to keep your CV between 2 to 4 pages MAX!
Hiring managers receive a tonne of applications and rarely have the time to pore over lengthy resumes. If your resumes don’t catch their attention within the first page, they will rarely move on to the next page.
Tinker with font size and line spacing etc if you have to have more on the page but also think about how easy and appealing it is to read.
2) Don’t start your CV with a personal paragraph unless you have something that is out of this world to say.
If your statement could have been written by almost anybody, then reclaim that valuable page space for selling yourself in other ways. Everybody has a story to tell and unless yours is so much more amazing than the other hundred applicants whose job applications need reading, then make it easy for the person reading your application and cut to the chase.
3) Showcase the skills that an employer is looking for by relating these skills to your work experience, qualifications or interests.
Starting with a skills section, outline your strengths, accomplishments and break down your qualifications into their component classes. Explain how certain courses taught you the skills that are required in the workplace such as customer service, responsibility and time management. Do mention skills such as the languages you can speak etc. If you have a short employment history, an interests section can be included at the end.