By: Lauren Beth Kelly
A cover letter is a crucial part of the initial interview process, as it offers you an opportunity to add color to your resume, and show off knowledge of the company you’re applying to, and demonstrate your writing abilities. An email cover letter, specifically will be shorter and more manageable than your typical cover letter.
In a cover letter, you want to explain why you’re applying for the employment position, give a self-introduction, and to provide additional information about your expertise based on your resume. Email cover letters are shorter and simpler than a standard hard copy and are usually no more than one page in length.
Here are some basic guidelines to help you if you are submitting your resume to an employer along with an email as your cover letter:
First, always be sure to include relevant keywords throughout your email. These are words that are used to select resumes from an applicant tracking system. They ultimately determine which applicants are suitable for the actual hiring manager’s viewing. Keywords can be found within the job description and are directly related to the required skills and qualifications for the position.
In the body of your email, you should try to be your natural self and engage with the employer. Use professional language, but also try and use “human talk.” Send your cover letter to a friend and ask if it sounds robotic to them! Since this isn’t your resume, you can let your personality work for you here. To also get noticed by an employer, consider what would compel you to select yourself for an interview.
In the first paragraph of the body of your cover letter, explain essentially why you’re writing. Be sure to mention what position you’re applying for as well as where you found the listing. Here, include the name of a contact if applicable.
Within the second paragraph, highlight what you have to offer the employer with examples derived from your resume. Here, you can use bullet points effectively as they will make the email easier to comprehend. Also, review the job listing so that you can include examples of your attributes that are a close match.
For the third paragraph, demonstrate your knowledge of the organization by having conducted the necessary research. Look for information about the organization online, including at their website. Then, explain how you will contribute to the overall mission of the organization. End the paragraph by thanking the employer for his consideration.
Finally, within your concluding paragraph, give a summary of the body of your cover letter. Here, you can also offer to schedule a call or meeting. And be sure to request that the employer read your resume.
After your concluding paragraph, use a formal closing such as “Sincerely” or “Best.” Then, below your signature, include your contact information by providing the following structure:
Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone
But before you send your email and attached resume, you can increase the odds of a hiring manager opening your email by making sure that you include a subject line with no more than 60 characters, and that states your name and the job title of the position you’re applying for. Remember that there could be a lot of applicants who are applying for different positions.
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Good and helpful information, thanks.
I found this information very helpful. I wrote a complete book this year, and had a difficult time trying to figure out just how a cover letter was supposed to be. Thank you for writing this piece.