Writing a Cover Letter

Cover letters are required by most companies, regardless if they are tech giants or fast-growing startups. Take a close look at the vacancy description to know exactly what is needed. Some employers clearly state if they do, or do not accept cover letters.

The recommended length of a covering letter is 300 words, split into 3 paragraphs. Never send a generic cover letter as it is good practice to invest time into customizing each cover letter for the specific job.

When writing a cover letter, you may want to consider the following structure:

1. Start with the greeting. Address your cover letter to the person who will be reading it. Take some time to research the recruiter’s/hiring manager’s name.
2. Introduce yourself, specify the position you’re applying for, say where you learned about it and show your interest in the company.
3. Highlight your past achievements and explain how the future employer could benefit from them.
4. Thank the employer for their time and consideration, and include your contact information. Here you can add a few words about your qualifications and express an interest in continuing to the next stage in the hiring process.

Last but not least, make sure to save your cover letter in a compatible file format—DOC(X) or PDF—and name the document in an appropriate way (for example, John-Smith-Cover-Letter).

Need some inspiration for writing a cover letter? Check out this blog post.