How to take the Headache Out of The Cover Letter : the 5Ws

How to take the Headache Out of The Cover Letter : the 5Ws

A cover letter can be a challenge, especially if you are struggling with how to format it. However, structuring it in the right way can increase your chances for your job and university applications – answering the questions of the cover letter: what, why, who, how, when (the 5Ws) – will leave a good impression on the person reading it, making a positive impact on the outcome of your applications.

In this article, we will answer :

1. What is a cover letter and why is it important

2. Who reads it

3. Types of cover letter

4. How the cover letter should be structured

5. When you should send the cover letter

 

1.  What is a cover letter and why is it important

A cover letter is a document that is usually used for University or job applications to demonstrate your interest, personalize your work experience in a less formal and robotic way (unlike CV's), to be distinctive from the rest, and ultimately to show the core of the professional version of you.

It is important to have an effective cover letter because it is the first impression you will make as an applicant. Recruiters receive a big chunk of CV's and cover letters in order to find the perfect candidate if you want to have a better shot and be successful on your journey – it is advisable to convince the recruiter why they should pick you above everyone else who applied.

 

2. Who reads it

When it comes to jobs, it is important to underline the difference between: 

  1. The recruiter - who creates a poll of strong candidates for the role 
  2. The hiring manager - who eventually is the decision-maker factor in the process of selection.

 In regards to universities there are:

  1. The campus recruiter who reaches out to undergraduate students to recruit them for their master degrees and assists them in the process
  2. The general recruiter who evaluates the students and decides who will be accepted.

 Both Hiring Manager and General Recruiter review the documents sent by the candidates, and since most of them have the same experience and skills – an effective cover letter or motivational letter is the ultimate factor for the selection.

 

3. Types of Cover Letters

 

a) Cover letter vs letter of interest

The main differences between the letter of interest and the cover letter are timing, purpose, accompanying material with the letter, and content.

The letter of interest goal is to send a document to a certain company explaining why you would like to work for them and ask if there are any job opportunities that would match your experience and skills. It could be also called a prospecting letter or a letter of inquiry.

However, a cover letter is a document that you send as part of the application process for a specific position that is available. Additionally, the cover letter accompanies your CV and should contain a list of reasons why you are the perfect candidate for that role.

 

b)  Motivational letter or Graduate Cover letter

Additionally, there is another document that is worth mentioning - which is the famous motivational letter. Moreover, it is a document that is used by students when applying for a university degree where they explain their educational experience so far, what motivated them to apply for that specific degree and why they should be selected successfully for it.

The cover letter and motivational letter have the same purpose: to persuade the person in charge of making the decision that they are the perfect candidate. However, the cover letter describes you as a whole, while the motivational letter is designed for students without work experience.

 

4. How the cover letter should be structured

 

We covered what is a cover letter, why is it important, who reads it, and the types of cover letters. Moreover, now we are going to number a list of things that a cover letter for job applicants should include:

1.       Introduce yourself as a person (in two or three sentences max explain who you are, where you found this job offer, your current role, etc.)

2.       Convey why you want to work in this position (to upgrade your skills, apply your existing experience to the named responsibilities of that role, change of environment, etc.)

3.       Tell them why you like the company (is it the culture, the possible experience, something they are doing different than others, etc.)

4.       What you can offer them (use personal examples of your work experience where you display relevant strengths for the role you are applying – consult the STAR method)

5.       Thank them for the time and attention they invested in reviewing your CV and cover letter

 

 

5.  When you should send the cover letter

Lastly, it is best to send the cover letter along with your CV when applying for the job offers. Hiring managers love them, you make an effective impact on them by displaying in a personal manner your work experience, and how it is applicable to the position you are chasing. Additionally, having a good understanding of what is a cover letter and how to write one well – aids you with your chances to land your dream job

 

Lastly, it is best to send the cover letter along with your CV when applying for the job offers. Hiring managers love them, you make an effective impact on them by displaying in a personal manner your work experience, and how it is applicable to the position you are chasing. Additionally, having a good understanding of what is a cover letter and how to write one well – aids you with your chances to land your dream job

In the end, after you structured and answered, on a high-quality level your cover letter: what, why, who, how, when (5Ws) and presented it with your application – you will know that you gave your all in it and that there was nothing more you could have done.

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