Do you really need a cover letter?

You have surely heard many people saying that the cover letter is crucial. At the same time others argue that it is useless because recruiters are probably gonna ignore it or the screening software won’t read it (yes, there are automated systems to analyze CV).

Cover letter: is it necessary?

The truth is, the real strength of the cover letter is its uniqueness. There’s no point in copying and pasting pre-made templates. You need to make your persona and your motivation for that position shine.

However, this is equally true for your CV and your LinkedIn profile. You have to stand out from the crowd, use all possible tools to promote your image.

Therefore, if it is true that the cover letter could be trivial for some applications, it is also true that it represents an incredible tool since it is literally your first interaction with the recruiter (imagine starting an interview with a preset sentence).

So to be prepared for any situation it is good to have a ready and personalized cover letter.

How to write the cover letter?

Remember the main purpose: to promote your person. Your goal is to capture the attention of the recruiter in order to get an interview. Let’s proceed by points:

• Before applying, gather as much info as possible about the position and also about the company (if possible)
• Try not to write too much, most of your details are already in your CV.
• Check your grammar. Write the letter using an auto correct (on Word or Google Docs for example)
• Honesty is rewarded. Talk about your weaknesses, your flaws and how you are gonna improve yourself, perhaps even with this new work experience!
• Write easy. Keep sentences short, avoid passive verbs if you can, and don’t create text walls: just put a space between individual paragraphs (just like in this article).
• Explain why you applied for the position, what is the motivation that prompted you to choose that job: remember to be honest!

You can also structure the letter in 3 main points:

• Introduction: start with basic greetings, write your name, surname, place and remind the position for which you applied.
• Body: here you have to stand out from the crowd by explaining why you are the right person for that role. You can mention some experiences you’ve had (but just a hint), but mainly what are your soft skills that make you the ideal candidate.
• Conclusions: thank the listener for the attention given and give your availability for an interview.

How to write a cover letter for a spontaneous application?

In this case you really have to focus on your creativity. In the case of spontaneous applications, there is a concrete possibility of not receiving a response because these have a lower priority level than direct applications for job offers.

The advantage of the spontaneous application is that you can access all the information available about the company. Knowing this you can understand its values, mission and goals. Your profile must be able to satisfy these needs.

Accurately describe your motivations that led you to apply and why you chose that company. Imagine having to answer the classic question “Why do you want to work with us?”.

Use the preset templates or not?

Surely using a predefined template can be useful for responding to ads faster. However, we recommend customizing the content as much as possible in order to stand out in the ocean of (probably preset) emails that companies receive.

You can be inspired by models, but don’t limit your creativity. Your identity also shines through your communication skills.

Don’t forget that it’s unlikely that you’re gonna be the only candidate with the hard skills required for the position. Your soft skills and motivation make you better than the others. And that’s exactly what recruiters are looking for in new talents.