The Covering Letter for your resumè: the secret to find a job
The covering letter for a curriculum vitae First of all, a covering letter is different from a CV insofar as it doesn’t have a generic structure: it is, first and foremost, a letter.
Since writing letters has become so unusual nowadays, let me remind you about some features of this almost forgotten piece of writing.
A covering letter has a recipient
A covering letter should be written with its recipient in mind.
If you’re applying to an advertised job, you should, first of all, follow the procedures that were stated in the ad (e.g. compiling an online application, sending a written application or filling in a form). There may also be instructions that are relevant for the content of the letter (see below).
If you’re spontaneously sending your CV to a head hunter or a recruiting agency, you should gather information about the agency’s specific activities (for example, you should find out whether it deals with similar professional profiles to your own) and single out the person in charge of the business area you’re interested in or work in. This means addressing and targeting your letter to a specific person; this is essential in terms of communication, as a personal letter has far more chances of being noticed.
If you’re aiming for a specific company, studying its business model, the market it belongs to and the person in charge of your sector is of the utmost importance. Thanks to the Internet, finding this information is something anyone can do today and not a work for experts only, as it was up until 15 years ago.
A covering letter has content
A covering letter doesn’t add new information compared to that which is already written in your CV, but it focuses on two or three essential points that are particularly relevant for your interlocutor.
If you’re responding to a job ad, the letter shouldn’t be generic: it should specifically highlight in what ways your profile meets the job description. This allows you to better select the job adverts you want to answer and makes the recruiters’ work easier, thus giving you some advantage over your competitors.
If you’re contacting a head hunter directly, it’s advisable to include a paragraph that outlines your skills and the companies you’ve worked for, especially if they’re leading companies, as this will help the recruiter in positioning your profile.
If you’re making a spontaneous application to a company, you’d better briefly introduce yourself by stressing some of the skills or achievements that might be of interest to the firm. Remember: what matters is how interesting you are to the company, not how interesting the company is to you! It may sound counter-intuitive, but this is how business works.
A cover letter proposes something specific
A little enthusiasm never goes amiss.
If you’re responding to an advert, you should express your interest in the position being advertised.
If you’re writing to a head hunter, it might be worth giving the reasons for leaving your current employment and the goal of your job search. Basically, the head hunter should become an ally in pursuing your career goals, although you should obviously provide evidence that your professional profile is actually valuable.
As for a company, the ideal outcome would be to create such an interest in the recruiters that they decide to contact you first. Your professional goals should be presented as perfectly fitting the company’s needs.
A covering letter has no subject header
Gone are the days in which you had to specify “job application” or the likes in the subject header! Nowadays, this practice is out of date. This is neither for the better nor for the worse: it’s just the way it is today.
