Tips in Writing Cover Letter For Fresh Graduates
In recent times in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of job postings has decreased severely by 29%. While most people were struggling to keep their jobs or find new jobs, the fresh graduates struggled the most as the job vacancies for new entrants dropped by 73%. Securing a job as a fresh graduate has been challenging as 31% of the class of 2020 is still unemployed.
Most people, however, fail to land a job because of inadequate cover letter writing. A well-crafted and strong cover letter can greatly increase your chances of getting employed. In the cover letter, you have the chance to narrate everything about yourself professionally and speak directly to the recruiter about your accomplishments, personality, skills, and your interest in the job position.
This guide will go over how you can ace your cover letters as a fresh graduate and quickly grab the recruiter’s attention.
Research the Company Well
This is a helpful tip because learning about the company you’re applying to, and the hiring managers or employers will help you tailor your cover letter accordingly. Researching is an important step that you can not miss when you’re applying for different jobs. Each company is different, and so are the vacant positions. If you don’t know well enough about the company or employer, you can’t convince them to hire you.
When you start researching the company, you can tailor the cover letter according to the company’s mission, values, culture, history, and operations. After that, analyze the job description to know which skills are required and which are preferred by the employers. Highlight these skills in both your résumé and cover letter.
For proper research, check the company’s website, annual reports, social media sites, and industry publications or press releases. LinkedIn is also a great tool where you can find more about prospective employers.
Address the Cover Letter to a Specific Person
To make a more personal and memorable first impression, you can address the cover letter to the specific hiring manager or recruiter. If you’re unsure who the hiring manager is, just write “Dear Hiring Manager” and continue with your letter.
Clearly Introduce Yourself
Once you’ve clearly researched the company, it’s time to get started with your cover letter. The first paragraph of your cover letter is what matters the most because it is your opportunity to make a lasting and strong first impression of the hiring manager.
The first paragraph should contain relevant details about who you are, how you discovered the job opportunity, and why you’re interested in it. It is also the right place for you to mention how much you know about the company and if you know any peers who have worked or are currently working there.
Engage the Reader
The recruiters and hiring managers go through hundreds of cover letters from applicants. How can you make sure that your cover letter stands out in a crowd and sticks in the minds of the employers?
To do that, you’ll need to grasp their attention within the first few seconds of them reading your introduction paragraph. This can be done through an interesting opening anecdote, expressing excitement about the job or company, or mentioning an accomplishment. Your achievements, experiences, and skills can be of great use to impress the employer, so they want to know more about you.
Quantifiable details are more relevant as they can demonstrate your skills through your experiences. Think beyond your work experience, especially if you don’t have much, and highlight your wins during your academic career, community work, volunteer work, or internships.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Experiences
Your cover letter is all about your professional zeal and how ready you are for the job. Employers will be looking for the most in-demand skills, especially skills that will be even more relevant for the future. You can relate those skills to your experiences, for example, how your leadership qualities helped you supervise a team during your internship or academic project.
If you don’t have professional experience, you can add real-life situations that might require those skills.
Go Beyond Your Resume
Your resume will obviously have your previous work experiences, so it’s better not to repeat anything unless you want to further elaborate. Use the cover letter as an opportunity to only talk about how your experiences have helped you become more qualified for the job you’re applying for.
Use Action Verbs
Action verbs will show your employer that you’re confident enough in your skills to produce effective and desirable output. These verbs will engage the employer so you can communicate well.
Proofread and Close Strong
We can’t stress enough how important it is to go over your cover letter multiple times and proofread it. You can even ask a friend to proofread it for you. Additionally, to close strong, you want your final paragraph to seal the deal for you. This means that your goals and what you wish to achieve should be evident in the final paragraph.
You should thank the employer for taking out time to read your letter. Plus, you can mention that you’re available for an interview to discuss your qualifications and how you’d be a great fit for this position.
Ask a Professional for Help
Even when you’ve proofread and done everything right, a professional’s work will be far better because of all the experience and expertise they have. If you don’t want to risk losing out on an important job, you might want to consider utilizing a professional resume and cover letter service. Our expert and professional resume writers can help you draft a strong cover letter that will captivate the recruiter’s attention and help you stand out amongst the crowd.
Resume Professional Writers is a resume writing company. In addition to our top resume writing services, we also offer LinkedIn profile writing and CV writing services.
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