Cover Letter Writing –
A Step-by-Step Guide
There are many schools of
thought that believe that a Cover letter is a thing of the past whiles others also
believe it’s still relevant. According to award-winning resume expert Melanie Denny, a cover
letter is your value proposition letter. Again, It proves precisely why you are
the best candidate to address the company’s urgent and future needs with the
professional skills and qualifications you possess to succeed in the job.
In this article, you will
be guided through a step-by-step approach to writing a well-structured cover
letter for a job application
A step-by-step approach
to cover letter writing
STEP 1: Engage in thorough
research
To begin writing your
cover letter, thoroughly read the job description and the requirements for the
job. A few questions like the ones below should guide you
·
What are the company’s priorities?
·
What are their goals for the role you are
about to assume?
·
What outcomes and accomplishments in your
previous roles match the goals?
·
What are the key phrases and verbiage the
company uses?
STEP 2: Your contact
information
Full name
Address (including zip
code)
Phone number with area
code
Email address
Example
Bryan Wilson
Independent Avenue, Accra- Ghana - 00233
+233551960790 • [email protected]
linkedin.com/in/bryan-wilson
STEP 3: Date
Be very sure to write the
precise date you are writing the letter.
Eg. 25th May 2023
STEP 4: Your recipient’s
information
Name of the Hiring
Manager
Name of the Company
Address of the Company
Example
Dorothy Sampson
Hiring Manager
BAX TV
P.O. Box AK, 228, Akatsi – V/R
STEP 5: Greeting
Under this, you are to address
the hiring manager by name with examples below
Dear Hiring Manager
To whom it may concern
(if you don’t know the name of the hiring manager)
Dear Ms. Sampson,
STEP 6: Opening Statement
In this stage, below are a
few questions to guide you
·
Who are you?
·
What are your relevant skills and
accomplishments?
Examples
I read about your
advertisement for a marketing manager at Media general group with great
interest. Talk a little about your skills and what you have done for other
companies previously
“I want to bring the
marketing department of Media Raven Inc. to the next level and help the company
exceed goals and reach more customers as Marketing Manager.”
STEP 7: The Background (Body)
This is where you outline to the company what exactly they want to know about
you. This should probably take 1-2 paragraphs with detailed and accurate
information. The following will serve as a guide to this aspect
·
What do you know about the company?
·
Why are you applying for this job?
·
What value can you bring to the company?
·
Include measurable results when possible.
Example
“As the Director of Marketing at ABC Company since 2018, I directed all
phases of both the creative and technical elements of marketing initiatives,
including data mining, brand creation, print/web collateral development, lead
generation, channel partner cultivation, customer segmentation/profiling, as
well as CRM and acquisition strategies.
Perhaps most importantly,
I offer a history of proven results, as evidenced by the following marketing
accomplishments for my current employer:
·
Captured a 28% expansion in customer
base since 2018, achieved during a period of overall decline in the retail
industry.
·
Led national marketing campaign
(comprised of trade shows, media, and PR initiatives) for my company’s newly
launched technology services division
·
Developed and executed SEO strategy
that achieved and sustained top 3 rankings on Google (organic, nonpaid results)
for key product search terms.
·
Oversaw the creation of a new company
logo and rebranded 100+ products to cement a cohesive corporate identity and
support new company direction.”
STEP 8: Closing Statement
During this stage, you conclude your statement with catchy closing remarks
where you assure the hiring manager of how you can restore hope to the company
with your skills outlined in the earlier stages.
·
Reiterate your interest.
·
Add a Call to Action.
·
Mention any attachments.
·
Use a professional sign-off like “Best” or
“Sincerely” before your full name.
Example
“Given the opportunity,
I’m confident I can achieve similar groundbreaking marketing results for BAX TV.
Ms. Sampson, I would
welcome the chance to discuss your marketing objectives and how I can help you
attain them. Feel free to call me at +233551960790 or email me at [email protected]
to arrange a meeting. I look forward to speaking with you.”
Sincerely
Bryan Wilson
A cover Letter Sample
Example 1: Administrative
assistant
Job description
In this role, you will
support 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'm drawn to this opportunity for several reasons. First, I have a
proven track record of success in administrative roles, most recently in my
current job as an administrative coordinator. A highlight from my time here was
when I proactively stepped in to coordinate a summit for our senior leaders
last year. I arranged travel and accommodation for a group of 15 executives
from across the company, organized meals and activities, collaborated with our
internal events team and ensured that everything ran according to schedule over
the two-day summit. Due to the positive feedback I received, I'm now tasked
with doubling attendance for the event this year and leading an internal team
to get the job done.
I am attracted to this role because of the growth opportunities that
[name of company] provides. The research that I've 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 is second nature
to me, and I'm 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,
[Your name]