How to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

Most job seekers believe the resume is the most important part of their job search.

They are wrong.

The cover letter is just as important as your resume.

A cover letter can help differentiate you from other candidates. It can put in more detail why your skills, background and experience fits an open position perfectly.

Read below for some tips on how to make sure your cover letter stands out.

  • First of all, never send the same cover letter to all positions to which you apply. You must craft a different cover letter for each and every position. Why? Because each position is different. You can certainly use a cover letter template that you create, but you need to make sure the cover letter offers details about why your background, skills, etc. are a great fit for that particular job.
  • Think of your cover letter as something as a sales pitch (but without the sleaze). The point of the cover letter is for the hiring manager to read it and say, “Eureka! I have found her!” (or words to that effect). So you focus on the particular job and its particular requirements and you craft a cover letter that shows how your particular work experience, skills, education, etc. fits the description.
  • So take a look at the job description. It undoubtedly will say something along the lines of “Must possess excellent customer service skills.” Or  “Must have at least five years of forklift experience in a distribution center.” And so on.
  • Then, in your cover letter,  you address these: “In my 10-plus years working as a customer service manager I’ve received commendation from both customers, colleagues and supervisors about how well I handle customer complaints.” Or, “I’ve worked at Toys ‘R’ Us’ distribution center in Ontario for six years as primary forklift driver. I’ve had just one minor accident in that time and have received safety awards three years in a row.”
  • Research the company via Google and look for news releases about its products, services, growth plans, awards, etc. Then you can incorporate what you find in the cover letter. “I noticed that your firm was named one of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin’s top 30 businesses last year, moving from #25 in 2013 to #7 in 2014. I’m eager to be a part of a company that’s growing and believe that my skills will be an asset to a company on the move.” Researching a company and then mentioning something about it in the cover letter shows that you’ve taken the time to learn more about the company. Very few candidates do this and so you’ll stand out.
  • Your very first line should grab the reader. Instead of saying something like “I’m applying for the position of customer service manager with your company,” say something such as “I’m happy to be applying for your open customer service management position and the opportunity to join the XYZ Company team.” In the second example you’ve personalized the sentence. People – and hiring managers – pay attention to personalization.
  • Lastly, since most resumes/cover letters are e-mailed or otherwise sent electronically today, make sure your subject line stands out. Instead of “Application for Warehouse Manager Position,” try “Safety-Oriented, Experienced Warehouse Manager.” Which one do you think will make a hiring manager take notice?

If you’re looking for new opportunities in the Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino counties), send your well-crafted cover letter and resume to the recruiters at Arrow Staffing. We look forward to reading them!

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