10 Tips to Write a Better Cover Letter

10 Tips to Write a Better Cover Letter 10 Tips to Write a Better Cover Letter The good news is  there are specific, concrete tips you can follow  to write cover letters that will get you hired. Here are some  of the most important pointers to know: 1. Write a New Letter for Each Position This sounds incredibly daunting, but it is necessary if you want to prove to hiring managers youre invested in the role. If you push out the same old cover letter to every  company, employers will be able to tell. Writing a new letter doesnt mean starting from scratch every time. Reuse  phrases and paragraphs from previous cover letters that are relevant to the role youre applying for, but be sure each letter is tailored to the specific position and business. One great tip is to outline the letter first, as it will speed up the whole writing process. 2. Use the SBO Format SBO  stands for situation, behavior, outcome. This is a great  strategy for answering questions during interviews, but it can be equally effective in cover letters. Start by describing a situation youve experienced that is pertinent to the position youre applying for â€" e.g., a time you disagreed with a coworker about a project. Then, explain the behavior you used to fix the problem â€" e.g., talk about how you listened to your coworkers concerns and blended your ideas with theirs for the good of the project. Finally, explain how your behavior directly influenced the outcome of the situation â€" e.g., by collaborating with your coworker, you were able to generate higher profits with the project. 3. Be Confident in Your Abilities You dont have to be arrogant to know what youre good at. Dont lead sentences with I believe or I think. Employers want you to be sure of yourself. 4. Keep It to a Page in Length Like your resume, your cover letter should be no longer than a page. While its tempting to include as much information as possible to convince the company to hire you,  a  shorter cover letter will better keep  the readers attention. They dont need to know every single detail of your work history, just the relevant ones. 5. Dont Repeat Your Resume If a hiring manager is reading your cover letter,  its because  your resume has already  grabbed their attention.  They  dont need to reread it in paragraph form. Its fine to talk about experiences that are included in your resume, but if you do, be sure to expand on them. Write less about the duties you performed and more about the ways you exceeded expectations or thought outside the box. 6. Display Your Personality Anyone can look good on paper. Job seekers forget that companies dont just want someone with skills â€" they want someone who will also fit in with the team. If your cover letter sounds like  every other  applicants cover letter, the  employer wont  be able to see the person behind the accomplishments. 7. Talk About Your Life Experiences Related to showing the real person behind the cover letter, making  connections between non-professional experiences and the position can show the hiring manager youre a well-rounded person  who  can draw upon personal knowledge to get things done. One example might be  talking  about how studying abroad in college taught you to connect with different people and navigate new situations. 8. Clarify Any Gaps in Employment Recruiters and hiring managers understand how tough the job market can be. Your cover letter is  a place to explain why you were laid off (without the sordid details, of course) or why you took a gap year after college.  Employers  will be much more understanding if they know the reasons behind  the gaps on your resume. 9.  Highlight  Aspects of the Company You Appreciate Its always a good idea to thoroughly research a company before you apply.  Use the information  you find to show why  you would be a good fit for the company. If you appreciate the organizations emphasis on face-to-face client interaction, then say so. This will demonstrate that you not only did your research, but also align with the companys values. 10. Reread and Edit Over and Over You might be surprised how neglectful applicants can be with their cover letters. Check every aspect of the document, like your formatting, the correct address and company name, the hiring managers name, etc. If a company cant trust you to correctly format a cover letter,  it  wont be able to trust you with  the positions responsibilities. â€" Writing a great cover letter is crucial to nailing a job application. There is no around it: Youre going to have to spend a lot of time on your cover letters. However, these practical tips will give you more direction  and make the process far less painful â€" and far more rewarding. Harris Roberts writes online for multiple publications. He has an interest in startups and small business growth. He previously worked as director of accounts at a small boutique creative agency.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. We're SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. 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