What Should A Resume Cover Letter Consist Of

Example : Administrative Assistant

Job Description

In this role, you will be supporting managers and other senior-level personnel by managing their calendars, arranging travel, filing expense reports, and performing other administrative tasks.

Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills will be critical to success.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience providing high-level admin support to diverse teams in a fast-paced environment

• High school diploma or equivalent work experience

• Excellent Microsoft Office Skills with an emphasis on Outlook and Excel

• Self-motivated and highly organized

• Team players who work well with minimal supervision

Cover Letter

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the opening for an administrative assistant at {name of company].

I am also attracted to this role because of the growth opportunities that provides. The research that Ive done on your company culture has shown me that there are ample opportunities for self-motivated individuals like me. A high level of organization and attention to detail are second nature to me, and Im eager to apply these skills in new and challenging environments.

I look forward to sharing more details of my experience and motivations with you. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Highlight The Right Experiences

Not sure what skills and experiences you should be featuring? Typically the most important requirements for the position will be listed first in the job description, or mentioned more than once. Youll want to make sure you describe how you can deliver on those key priorities.

Another trick: Drop the text of the job description into a word cloud tool like WordClouds, and see what stands out. Thats what the hiring manager is looking for most.

Avoid Generic References To Your Abilities

Whenever possible, tell meaningful anecdotes that tie your skills to concrete problem-solving activities or tangible business results youve worked on in your career. Any candidate can say they possess a desirable skill. To make an impact, you need to show hiring managers examples of your skills in action. For example:

Too vague:My skills would be a great fit for your organization.

More specific:In my role as a sales associate, I am frequently required to provide exceptional customer service on short notice. Exceeding customers expectations is a point of personal and professional pride for me, and this is a skill Im eager to continue developing.”

Too vague:Im a proactive team player.

More specific:In my current job, I proactively jumped in to help launch an internal recycling and waste reduction initiative. Together, our team contributed to a 25% reduction in solid waste production within the company.

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Dont Apologize For Your Missing Experience

When you dont meet all of the job requirements, its tempting to use lines like, Despite my limited experience as a manager or While I may not have direct experience in marketing But why apologize? Instead of drawing attention to your weaknesses, emphasize the strengths and transferable skills you do have.

Heres what that might look like: Im excited to translate my experience in to a position thats more .

Address The Hiring Manager

If you can address your cover letter to the reader using their name, do it.

Greetings like To Whom It May Concern and Dear Sir or Madam are old-fashioned, plus its easier than ever to find the right persons name using LinkedIn, exploring a companys website, or contacting their human resources department and asking.

Here are some cover letter salutation suggestions if youre struggling to find the right information:

• If youre not certain about the recruiters title you can leave it out. For instance, Dear Jane Smith is acceptable.
• If you cant figure out who the recruiter is, guess. For example, if youre applying for a marketing position, address the marketing director by name instead.
• If you cant find anyones name, address your cover letter to the department. For instance, Dear Marketing Department is okay.

Opening salutation examples

• Dear Recruiter

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Case Study #: Catch Their Attention

Over the past four years, Emily Sernaker applied for multiple positions at the International Rescue Committee . She never gave up. With each application, she sent a personalized cover letter. I wanted my cover letter to highlight my qualifications, creative thinking, and genuine respect for the organization, she says.

Sarah Vania, the organizations regional HR director, says that Emilys letters caught her attention, especially because they included several video links that showed the results of Emilys advocacy and fundraising work at other organizations. Emily explains, I had prior experience advocating for former child soldiers, human trafficking survivors, vulnerable women, and displaced persons. Its one thing to make statements in a cover letter, like I can make a pitch, I am a creative person, I am thoughtful, but showing these qualities seemed like a better way of convincing the recruiter that the statements were true.

This is what Emily wrote to Sarah about the video:

Here is a short video about my story with activism. The nonprofit organization Invisible Children made it for a youth conference I spoke at this year. It is about four minutes.

As youll see from the video, Ive had a lot of success as a student fundraiser, raising over $200,000 for Invisible Children. Ive since gone on to work as a consultant for Wellspring International and have recently concluded my studies as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar.

Do Your Research First

Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Of course, you should carefully read the job description, but also peruse the companys website, its executives Twitter feeds, and employee profiles on LinkedIn. This research will help you customize your cover letter, since you shouldnt send a generic one. Itll also help you decide on the right tone. Think about the culture of the organization youre applying to, advises Glickman. If its a creative agency, like a design shop, you might take more risks but if its a more conservative organization, like a bank, you may hold back.

If at all possible, reach out to the hiring manager or someone else you know at the company before writing your cover letter, advises Lees. You can send an email or a LinkedIn message asking a smart question about the job. That way you can start your letter by referencing the interaction. You might say, Thanks for the helpful conversation last week or I recently spoke to so-and-so at your company. Of course, its not always possible to contact someone or you may not get a response. Thats OK. Its still worth a try.

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What Information Should You Include In Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter should always include your contact details, and follow a clear structure, to convince the hiring manager that your CV is the one they should read. You should ensure your cover letter adheres to a formal letter format, for example addressing the reader by name.

Here is a definitive list of what to include in a cover letter – and what to avoid.

How To Personalise Your Cover Letter

In writing a cover letter, remember that it should never be generic it should be personalised and tailored to the job and company that you are applying for.

Have attention to detail. Scrutinise the job advertisement and ensure the details are exactly mirrored in your resume. For example, if job applications are to be sent to Stephanie Green, HR Manager, ensure that Stephanies name and title are on your cover letter and the spelling is exact. If the job title that you are applying for is Administration Assistant, ensure that you dont write Administration Coordinator.

Reference relevant skills and experience. If youve done your research, you will know exactly what kind of skills and experience the hiring manager is looking for. For example, if the advertisement mentions that they are looking for a Project Manager who is excellent at stakeholder engagement, you could say As a Project Manager with 8 years experience, I am known for my ability to influence and engage key stakeholders to achieve business goals.

Reference the company. In your research, you may have identified what the company goals or values are. Ensure that you reference those goals and values when writing a cover letter, and articulate how they reflect your own goals and values.

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Your Excitement About The Position

Heres an exercise: Think about yourself in the job youre applying for. What do you feel? Youre probably pretty pumped, huh. Now harness some of that excitement and put it down on paper.

For example, if you were applying to a web design or UX job, you could write, For as long as I can remember, Ive been interested in how the digital world works and how users interact with websites. Website design is not only my career, its my passion, which is why I hope youll consider me for this great role on your team.

This has feeling and emotion a far cry from the dry form letter you thought you had to write.

As we said, HR staff and hiring managers have limited time and a lot of resumes to sort through. Dont put them to sleep. Create something theyll remember you by. It just might be the difference between your application ending up in the trash or the inbox of the boss.

Write An Opening Paragraph

In the first paragraph of your letter, mention the job title for which youre applying and where you saw the position posting. Explain your specific interest in the role and company so the reader knows youve done your research and have genuine interest. Briefly state the main experience or qualification you have that makes you a good fit. The first section of your cover letter is also the first impression the reader will have of you, so it is important to appeal to that person quickly and succinctly.

Example:I’m excited to apply for the Graphic Designer position at Cloud Clearwater I found on Indeed. I understand you’re currently adding several new product lines, and I believe my skills in video and animation provide a significant advantage for creating a successful launch. As a longtime fan of your products, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to bring my unique style and passion for beachwear to the company.

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Finish With A Concise Direct Closing Paragraph

When writing your cover letter closing, be polite, confident, and continue to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job. Its important to write your final paragraph thoughtfully and strategically, so be sure to:

• Thank the hiring manager for reviewing your application
• Summarize why youd be a good hire
• Restate your excitement about the job opportunity
• Politely ask the reader to send you an invitation to interview

Heres an excellent cover letter closing example:

Look For The Hiring Manager

When it comes to cover letters, take the time to get personal. Find out as much as you can about the company and the hiring manager. Personalize your cover letter and, if you can, address it to the individual responsible for hiring. If need be, research online or make a phone call to find out who the hiring manager is.

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The Hiring Managers Contact Details And The Date

You also should put todays date and relevant company details on the left side of your cover letter. This is an established part of business letter etiquette, and shows youve got strong written communication skills.

Heres what the hiring managers contact details and date should look like on a cover letter:

City, State, ZIP

How To Start A Cover Letter

First things first, you need to do your research.

Take some time to look into the role youre applying for and the company and use this information to tailor your cover letter accordingly.

When writing a cover letter, you should find out:

• What does the company do?
• Who are its competitors?
• Who is its target audience?
• What does the role involve?
• What are the essential skills?

Once youve found answers to these questions, youll be able to make it clear in your cover letter how your skills and abilities match up with what the employer is looking for.

Not only will doing research give you the knowledge you need to tailor your cover letter and CV to the style of the company, it also demonstrates that youve got a real interest in the specific role and company.

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Mention How You Learned About The Job

Mention how you learned about the job in the first paragraph of your cover letter. The company wants to know how the job was sourced, especially when you found the listing on a job board or other site where they paid to post. That sentence can simply say, for example, “I learned of this position from the posting I read on Monster.”

Take it one step further and mention something about the company in your cover letter. For example, you can note a recent story in the news or mention a mission statement from the company website.

Which Resume Builder Template Should I Use

The resume template you choose is largely based on your personal preference and the impression you want to give to hiring managers. We design every template so that its flexible enough to suit any industry, level of experience and education, or skillset. So no matter which template you choose, you can be confident that its optimized to highlight your unique experiences and abilities.

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Choose The Top Three Requirements That Match Your Work Experience

The hiring company is going to list out a bunch of ideal skills. Don’t be intimidated. Make a list of all of the qualifications mentioned in the job posting under a header called Your Needs. Then, make a list of all of your skills in a column called My Qualifications. Simply pick the top three skills in the Your Needs column that match up with skills in the My Qualifications column and write a little blurb for each.

Focus on past examples of your work that show how you meet each of the hiring manager’s needs.

How Long Should A Cover Letter Be

The purpose of a cover letter is to sell your skills and ability to the hiring manager – think of it as your one chance to catch their eye to read your resume.

A good cover letter should be succinct. Keep your cover letter to four paragraphs that fit on one page in total. If your cover letter is any longer, it will only demonstrate to your employer that you lack focus.

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Finish With A Closing Paragraph

The next paragraph should focus on another key achievement or skill that is relevant to the position. Instead of repeating details from your resume, expand on specific stories or anecdotes that display your fitness for the role. Again, focus on stories that demonstrate the skills and qualifications outlined in the job description.

If youre changing careers, this is a good opportunity to talk about transferable skills or relatable experiences from your career.

Example:Achieving ambitious marketing goals is always a top priority, and I am always looking out for the best interests of the company. I enjoy delivering marketing presentations to potential clients and focusing on the strengths of an organization. My marketing skills at River Tech enabled the company to experience new levels of success and a 45% increase in customer engagement. I am never satisfied with the status quo, and I believe that a company should continually look for ways to improve and reach new clients through innovative campaigns.

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Tips For Using Keywords In Your Resume

Be specific. Include keywords that are as closely related to the specific job as possible. The more focused and specific you are in your language, the better the chance you’ll have at showing you are a good match and get picked up by resume scanning software.

Know the company’s value proposition. The company’s value proposition is what sets it apart from their competition.

Make sure your resumes keywords and your experience are formatted in a way to reflect the company’s brand.

For additional keywords or phrases important to the company, go to the company’s LinkedIn page to see how they describe themselves. Also, be sure to click on the profiles of the company’s employees and search for similar positions that you’re applying to, paying particular attention to how they describe themselves as valuable members of the company.

Use as many keywords as possible. Make sure you have touched on most, if not all, of the keywords that are relevant to each position. Of course, do not use a skill keyword if you don’t have that skill. Incorporate as many appropriate keywords as possible that help you match your qualifications to the job. However, the keywords must be appropriate and flow seamlessly throughout your resume. In other words, don’t overdo it.

The company’s resume scanning software might be programmed for a particular keyword, so you’ll want to include synonyms of the keywords.

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What To Include In Each Part Of A Cover Letter

When writing a cover letter to apply for a job, it’s important to include all the requisite information clearly and efficiently.

Your cover letter is a way to grab the hiring manager’s attention and it’s important to be sure that it’s polished, professional, and complete with the information the reader expects to see. If any elements are missing, it could even disqualify you from consideration for the job.