In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, deciding what to wear can be tricky—whether for a job interview or your day-to-day role. With companies increasingly adopting flexible dress codes, it’s essential to understand how to balance professionalism with comfort and self-expression. So, how do you approach dressing for a first impression? And what does daily attire look…
How to Write a Cover Letter
Yes, cover letters seem basic, but writing them isn’t so basic. Here’s how to write a terrific cover letter.
What’s a cover letter?
You’ll find all sorts of definitions, but here’s ours: It is a single-page letter that introduces you, highlights your relevant experiences and skills, clearly displays your interest in a specific job, and provides you with a chance to thank your future interviewer. It’s sent with your resume to a potential employer when applying for a job. It’s personal, which means a few things: It shows respect for the company and position, it is written in your unique voice, and may even tell a story about you.
According to the Youth Central, the Victorian Government, “The only time a cover letter shouldn’t be included is when a job ad clearly says not to include one. At all other times you should include a cover letter.”
Typically, the more white-collar the job (think office settings), the more often a cover letter is required; the more blue-collar the job (think manufacturing facilities), the less often a cover letter is required.
However, even if an employer makes no mention of a cover letter it’s in your best interest to write and send one. Because while a resume showcases your chronological experience and hard skills (technical skills that are learned on jobs), a cover letter better conveys your personality, excitement for the opportunity, and soft skills such as ambition, communication and leadership.
How long should my cover letter be?
People have short attention spans. We’re basically trained to be distracted, jumping from one task to another and one screen to another. Time is valuable, and people don’t seem to have much of it—especially a hiring manager. That’s why your letter needs to be well written, easy to read and one page.
How personal should I get?
Make sure to address your letter to the right person. You don’t want Mrs. Smith in accounting to get your letter when it’s meant for Mr. Smith in operations. When it comes to your own personal feelings, don’t be shy. Be transparent with your excitement and enthusiasm. Do this by writing how you feel, not like a robot. If you want to use a certain adjective, do it. If you want to use an exclamation point, do it. Be as natural as possible without going overboard and coming off as unprofessional. Hiring managers appreciate this and can better gauge whether you fit not only the position but also the company’s culture.
Should I brag?
You should be confident but not cocky. Don’t just say, “I’m Mike” or “I’m Jennifer;” say more about yourself. Something unique about your work experience and how it might pertain to this job. Something about your skill set. Metrics around something you accomplished. Maybe even something about your passion for the industry and the company’s contribution to the industry. If you do this correctly, the hiring manager is more likely to remember you and more likely to say, “Mandy might just be the best fit.”
What you shouldn’t do is talk about yourself in every sentence. It’s difficult, but try to limit your “I” mentions such as “I can… I do… I want… I will”, and replace some of them with “You…” and “Your…” statements. Remember, even though a cover letter is about you, it’s also about the company and the opportunity. Reflect that in your writing.
Should I thank them?
Always. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to say this at the beginning and end. You especially want to mention it early in case the hiring manager doesn’t read your entire letter. Yes, that’s possible, but don’t take offense; blame it on that attention span issue we mentioned. The bottom line is you need to sound genuinely appreciative. You’ve either said thank you via email already or will at an interview (hopefully), but it doesn’t hurt to say it in your cover letter.
OK, I’m officially set.
Now that you know how to write a cover letter, line up some job opportunities, and then start writing. We even included a cover letter example to get you started. While it’s 100% OK to follow our sample layout, don’t feel compelled to copy it—your cover letter should have your own personal touch!
Cover Letter Example
*Not an actual hiring manager, company, location, job candidate, etc.
1 October 2019
John Smith, COO
Company ABC
100 Lake Drive, Sydney, NSW 2022
Dear Mr. Smith,
Thank you for your time and for the opportunity to apply for Company ABC’s open office manager position.
Based on my research, COMPANY ABC is a great place to work. I’ve heard and read countless positive reviews about the benefits, culture, pay and work-life balance (and even your management style). That alone makes this an appealing opportunity.
When you consider how my seven years of office management experience at Company 123 and my passion for creating an efficient, fulfilling and productive workspace for my colleagues align with this opportunity, it becomes more than appealing—it becomes a dream job.
At company 123, I accomplished many things, including cutting costs on office supplies by 20%, helping HR accelerate a new hire onboarding process by 25%, and revamping the internal communications program. I’m confident I can do the same—and much more—for your business.
I look forward to speaking with you soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with any questions. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Mandy Jones
+61 400 000 000
mandy.jones@email.com
