How to Write a Cover Letter (in English)

This wikiHow teaches you how to write a cover letter in English, from preparation, to drafting, and to completion.

Table of Contents

Prepare the letter

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Take a piece of paper and draw two columns. The left column will be “Required” and the right column will be “My Capabilities”. Read the job posting carefully and familiarize yourself with the requirements of the job. You then need to compare them with your skills and work experience.

In the left column write down the requirements and skills required for the job.
In the right column, write down the points on your resume that match the requirements.
Writing down job-related characteristics will give you important information to include in your letter quickly and efficiently.

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Start composing your contact information at the top of the message. You need to make them accessible so prospective employers can know who you are and contact. Make sure you put in the right letterhead effort before starting the body of your letter.

Remember to align the entire text to the left.
Type the writing date then leave a space and add your contact information including:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Personal website (if you have one)
- Link to your LinkedIn profile (if applicable)

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Company information presentation. After presenting your information, you need to add the name of the employer, the title and name of the person to whom you are applying, and the name and address of the company. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Including the side of the company you’re applying to will show them that you took the time to write a specific letter or cover letter for this company and did your research on the hiring manager for this company. position for which you are applying.
Self-editing will set your letter apart from most other job applications with similar copy and paste content, which shows that you are truly dedicated.
If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, visit the company’s homepage to see if you can find him. Search on LinkedIn or even Twitter. If you still can’t find a specific name, find the head of the department you’re applying to. If all else fails and you still don’t get the name you want, that’s okay, just write it at the top of the letter and send it to the department’s hiring manager. For example: “[Department] Hiring Manager”.

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Mention the person you are sending the message to. The letterhead should be formal and begin with the specific recipient. Don’t write “To Whomsoever it May Concern,” as this is rather informal, generic, and gives the impression that you didn’t know the company at all.

In short, if you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, simply write “Dear [Department] Hiring Manager”.

Compose the letter

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Write a compelling first paragraph. Recruiters read a lot of cover letters, most of the time they skim through and decide very quickly whether your letter will go to the trash or in the “keep” pile. Don’t ignore the lead, treat your cover letter like an article. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Begin with a strong statement to emphasize to the reader that you are interested in applying for [the position] of [the company].
Be brief and specific about what drew you to the job. What do you like about the company? Given an example, don’t be afraid of it becoming a little pitch about the company’s popularity.
Your style should show the director that for the job of the company you are not only the right fit, but the perfect fit.
For example, if you are applying to a newsroom, try presenting your letter in a journalistic tone. Is the editorial style serious or a little humorous? If it’s a more serious company such as a big brand or financial group, you need to write it confidently, but always politely.

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Let them know where you found the job vacancies. Before applying, you need to find out if you know anyone in the company. You will have an advantage if you have an acquaintance or referral and don’t be afraid to include their name in the letter if you have permission.

If you don’t know anyone in the company, mention where you saw the job posting, such as the job website, the company’s homepage, or the newspaper, etc.

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Convince them why choosing you can benefit the company. You should not tell them about your benefits if chosen by them. A vacant position means a problem that needs to be solved. You came here to solve that.

Look at your accomplishments as well as your experiences and pick one or two to present. They should highlight why you are the right choice.
For example, if you find the position requires someone who can lead a team and handle multiple projects at the same time, look at your track record to see if you have any experience that addresses that need. If you’ve led team members before, briefly talk about how your leadership has evolved over multiple projects.
Whenever you can provide statistics and numbers, take advantage of it. When talking about the employer’s benefits if they hire you, try including statistics such as an increase in profits or a reduction in costs under your leadership.

Complete the letter

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Briefly summarize in one sentence why you are a good candidate. Closing your letter with the right sentence is an important factor that will help you get to the interview. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

As you explain what you can do to build the company, remember that you want to be a part of it. Be about your contributions to growing the company, not what the company will do for you.
Ask yourself if you were an employer, how would you look for a candidate.

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Invite recruiters to contact you. Emphasize to the reader that you would like an opportunity to talk more about the position and provide your contact information again. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You can add a thank you note and end the letter with the following sentence I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience .
Don’t just ask the employer to contact you if he feels you’re qualified. Show some confidence (not complacency) by saying that you look forward to talking more.

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Closing letter. The ending can be seen as thoughtless or spoil the whole letter if you don’t use it appropriately. Use Yours sincerely or simply “Best”.

Making it too formal can cause the letter to lose its sincerity or not fit in with the rest of the letter.
Unlike writing love letters, you should end the letter with sentences like “Best” or “Best wishes”, that will show proper respect. ^{[6] X Source of Research} Also ending with “Cheers” or similar can make the letter less formal or even give off a feeling of overconfidence.

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Write your name right below. After finishing the letter, write your name on the last line, then add a signature if desired.

If you have a signature stored on your computer, insert it below your name.
Or, you can print the letter out and sign it by hand. However, you will then have to rescan the letter to your computer.
Signatures are not always required.

Advice

Cover letters need to be clear and to the point. The employer’s first impression is your presentation throughout the text.
Divide the letter into three parts, and never write more than one page. Employers often skim through the entire letter to see the basics before reading it carefully.
The letter must be very formal and must not contain any slang or impolite language.
Check for grammar and spelling. Write in paragraphs and remember to use punctuation.
Include phone number, email address and name of your referrer if applicable.
Instead of a cover letter, you can also ask someone else to draft a cover letter for you and attach it with your CV and resume to the employer.
Ask a relative or friend to read over the letter to double-check for mistakes.
Use a basic font like Arial or Times New Roman. Avoid funky fonts like Comic Sans, which will instantly ruin the spirit of the letter and give off an unprofessional look. While there are a few odd professions that need to show off their unique personality even in fonts, it’s rare. You should choose the safe option.
It is recommended that you draft the letter on a computer instead of handwriting because this will look more formal, easier to read and make it more desirable to read.

Warning

Just because you send a cover letter doesn’t mean you got the job. So avoid statements that sound like you’re ready to go to work “When you hire me, I will do these things”.
The body of your cover letter should not be repeated in your CV or resume.

Steps

Prepare the letter

Compose the letter

Complete the letter

Advice

Warning

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