What Makes A Cover Letter For Resume Stand Out?

23 September 2024

When job hunting, a standout resume is the first step in the door with a potential employer. But another component that should never be overlooked is the cover letter for the resume.

It’s your chance to show some personality in addition to your resume and tell a story.

Whether it is how and why you’ve made it to this point or why you are right for the candidacy.

Let’s run through some other resume tips and how they all fit together. Especially when you’re writing that ever-important cover letter for your next big opportunity.

Why A Cover Letter?

Before discussing structure and style, it’s worth considering why a cover letter is still essential to any job application.

While a resume or CV offers the facts about your experience and skills to date, the cover letter sets you apart. It sets the scene for who you are and why you’ll be perfect for the role.

1. A Strong Opening

At any given time, on average, there may be anywhere between 50 to 200 applications sent in for one advertised position.

So, how do you make your application shine while ensuring accuracy?

The best way to grab the reader at hello (or, indeed, their first sight of your application). How about a quick taste hinting at what they will soon discover?

Show them an enthusiastic interviewee brimming with excitement over the prospect of working with them.

2. Personalize & Make It Stand Out

One of the most important resume tips is never to be generic when writing a cover letter.

You want your cover letter for your resume to stand out!

Not sound like it was written by someone who submitted their application for every company advertised on the job boards.

Make sure you speak specifically about why you are interested in that job with that company.

Also, do some research before you apply for the job to get a feel for the type of company it is. Then, try incorporating similar values or beliefs about the industry into your cover letter.

For Example,

If the company you’re applying to is big on innovation and you’ve previously worked on a creative project, put it at the very start. It’ll make your cover letter more memorable.

“I am interested in applying for the Marketing Manager position at [Company Name]. I’m passionate about being able to tell creative stories and have developed and delivered some innovative campaigns. Which I feel would be a great fit for your team!”

3. Show, Don’t Just Tell

One of the most important resume tips when writing a cover letter is to support your claims with evidence.

Instead of saying, “I have strong conceptual skills,” give an example showing your leadership in action.

For Example,

“I oversaw leading a team of 10 to create a social media strategy that boosted engagement by 30% in 6 months. My direction helped the team to work together effectively.”

By giving specific examples, you don’t just make the hiring manager understand what you can do, but you also talk about your achievements.

4. Connect Daily Work To Job Title

Another great resume tip is to read the job posting closely and consider connections between your day-to-day experiences and what the company seeks. Now, highlight the same for your cover letter for your resume.

If the job description mentions that you need experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, you have it; mention it!

Don’t leave it up to the hiring manager to determine your qualifications.

For Example:

“I have worked with Salesforce for five years and know I can oversee and enhance CRM systems to facilitate customer engagement and business development.”

5. Don’t Just Paste Your CV

Your cover letter shouldn’t be a rehash of your CV!

Plus, recruiters get frustrated when they must read the same thing after reading your resume.

To take advantage of the ‘cover’ part of the cover letter. Yes, you need to use it as an opportunity to explain how you would benefit from an employer.

The best way to do this is not with complex and lengthy sentences but with clear and confident writing.

Let your cover letter show enthusiasm (a love, even) for the job.

For Example,

“I’ve always been impressed with [Company Name]’s reputation for sustainability, and amazingly. Your team is truly committed to innovation and the future.”

You can end it well with this!

“Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing how my experience and skills could contribute to your organizational goals. Please contact me at your convenience so that we can schedule a time to speak or meet.”

6. End It Well!

End your cover letter for your resume on a high note!

Politely let the employer know that you’ll be in contact to schedule an interview. Plus, don’t forget to mention how excited you are to apply for the position.

For Example:

“I would welcome the chance to speak with you further about how I could benefit [Company Name]. Thank you for your consideration. I hope to have the opportunity to contribute to your team.”

7. Proofread For Perfection

This is probably the most important part of writing a cover letter!

Keep it free from grammatical errors!

Typos and grammatical errors can make even the best-written cover letter appear sloppy and unprofessional!

One of the most basic yet frequently overlooked resume tips is double-checking your cover letter for typos. You want to show that you’re careful, and typos don’t give that impression!

Before you submit it, take the time to re-read your cover letter. Especially if it is a fresher cover letter. Get a friend or mentor to read it and provide feedback. A peer removal can always be useful in catching something that you missed.

7. Keep The Format Simple And Professional

Also, remember to pay attention to the formatting of your cover letter. Keep the contents on a single page and use spacing effectively.

In addition, maintain a professional tone while providing insight into your personality so that your letter leaves an employer wanting to learn more about you.

They shouldn’t lose track while reading huge paragraphs! That is a major buzz kill, and they might not even finish reading it!

At the top of the letter, include your name and address (alternatively, you can include your phone number/ email but not both), followed by the date and the recipient’s name and address.

If you can’t find this information easily, you can put yourself ahead of other applicants by addressing it properly: “To the Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

Yes, (Before You Ask Again), It Is Important!

Never ignore the power of a cover letter for a resume. A resume is just data, but a cover letter is your chance to tell why you became the person you are today and why the position you’re applying for is the perfect next chapter in your career.

Many job seekers may think the cover letter is less important than the resume. However, writing a strong introduction makes it easier for the employer to connect with you and put your resume on top of the stack.

Employers won’t even look at your resume if they aren’t impressed with your cover letter.

So, consider it an opportunity to bridge your resume to an interview.

To show personality and excitement about the position and get them to want to know more about you!

It’s a process, so be patient.

Work on personalizing each one before sending it out, and spell-check everything!

If our tips got you at that job interview, don’t forget to check out the interview questions to prepare yourself better!

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Are Commercial Banks A Good Career Path In 2022?

Are commercial banks a good career path in 2022? How many jobs are available in commercial banks? What are the best-paying jobs in commercial banks? Let’s discuss the above-listed queries in detail. A commercial banking career has been providing clients with credit products such as fixed income products, cash management services, syndicated services, revolving lines of credit, term loans, etc. Commercial banking has been divided into two categories: primary and secondary services. Primary services include payment processing, treasury management, cash management, lending money, accepting deposits, etc. On the other hand, secondary services include trustees in the financial transactions, accept tax deposits, dealing with foreign exchange services, etc. What Is Commercial Banking? A commercial bank offers general banking services, mortgages, lines of credit, payment processing, deposit accounts, business loans, and much more. 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Omar Ascha, Inspirational Leader, on 6 Steps to Finding Mentors and Transforming Your Life

If you've ever read biographies of successful people, you might have noticed one thing they all have in common -- they have great mentors. If you're wondering why finding a great mentor is so important, consider that knowing someone who's been in your shoes and has achieved what you want to is an invaluable source of information for navigating the tricky path to success. Considering that mentors are so critical to our success, it is astonishing how unprepared most of us are to find someone who can guide us. Jim Rohn says that we are the average of the five people we surround ourselves with the most. Take a moment to consider who those five people are in your life. Would you find them successful? If successful people do not surround you, how likely are you to achieve your own goals? Chances are, you've realized that you need to surround yourself with better, more successful people if you want to live the life of your dreams. Omar Ascha, a rising star in the world of finance, is an avid believer in mentorship, leadership as well as paying it forward. As an active member of his local community, Mr. Ascha dedicates his spare time to nurturing the minds and ideas of young professionals. Below, he walks through a few essential tips to ensure you find the appropriate guide for your career. 1. Isolate your most pressing concern, and seek help: If you were to take an unbiased look at your life right now, which is the one thing that you desperately need help with? Which is the one skill or discipline that would have the most positive effect on your life right now? Once you've isolated this problem, you can start seeking people who can help you with it. Make sure you are talking about a clear, unambiguous problem statement that the person you are seeking has overcome in their own lives. For example, you might be looking for someone who can teach you how to get 1,000 unique visitors to your website every single day. Once you've understood the problem clearly, you can move on. 2. Share your problem with your current network: There's a substantial probability that you are already connected to someone, directly or indirectly, who can help you with the problem you are facing. If you have a specific objective, make sure you share it often with the people you meet. Make it a point to bring up your goal in social situations. For example, the next time you encounter an acquaintance over dinner or drinks, you could say something like "I'm looking to grow my website to the point where it has 1,000 unique visitors daily." Look at how they react to this statement. It is possible that they might know someone, or know someone else who can put you in touch with the kind of person you are looking for. At the very least, it doesn't hurt to try. 3. Be where the people you are looking for are: You could have a particular problem and share it with your network of friends and acquaintances all the time. But if you want to give yourself the best chance of finding a successful mentor, you need to get out of the house and attend seminars, conferences, and events where these successful people hang out. Industry conferences, startup meets, and other events of their kind are great places for finding mentors and like-minded people. 4. Be a good listener: Instead of trying to impress the people you're seeking help from, try to listen to their stories and understand where they're coming from. Understand if there is a way your association will be mutually beneficial. Ask honest questions and then listen. If you approach people with the intention of adding some value to their lives, they will be more likely to be interested in helping you. 5. Be persistent: Expect some of your actions to fail. Once you expect failure, you're not as fazed by it. What is important is that you never quit. Analyze why something doesn't work and then hone your approach incrementally until you hit the jackpot. Never stop trying. 6. Hold yourself accountable to others in your community: Once you've found some people who have similar goals, the next thing you need to do is push each other to greater heights. Hold yourself accountable to someone and set measurable stakes for your actions. For example, if you're looking to lose weight, find someone who wants to do the same or has already lost a lot of weight and then make them your accountability partners. Finding people who are inspirational and motivate you is crucial if you want to succeed in life. Use the steps above to seek out mentors and other successful people. When you surround yourself with a thriving community, you will be amazed at how quickly your life changes. Read Also: 5 Steps To Accelerate The Growth Of Your Startup How To Attract The Best Talents For Your Startup How To Successfully Turn Around Struggling Companies

How To Become A Blockchain Developer In 2024? Is It A Good Career Path

Well, are you planning to become a blockchain developer? In this case, you must be passionate about cryptography, coding, and Blockchain technology. This means you might be curious to combine such interests and wonder how to become a blockchain developer. Above all, blockchain technology is about reshaping how we interact, exchange, and transact information online. With such immense potential, a wide range of industries are transforming. After a long research, I have developed some factors for becoming a blockchain developer. A blockchain developer is mainly like a data scientist. In this case, you would get an overview of becoming a blockchain developer. Of course, this includes essential skills, several training options, education, and multiple career opportunities. Skills and Qualifications Blockchain technology has been gaining popularity over the last few years. Not only that, but the blockchain developer industry needs candidates who can design well and know how to develop and maintain the significance and usage of multiple blockchain-based apps. Below, I will discuss the skills and qualifications of a blockchain developer in 2024. 1) Programming languages One of the most significant skills you need as a blockchain developer is knowing about programming languages. Ensure that, as a blockchain developer, you have an in-depth understanding of several programming languages. Some of the commonly used in the Blockchain development industry are Python, JavaScript, and Go. Above all, these programming languages can help you to create effective and efficient blockchain applications. So that you, as a blockchain developer, can handle a large set of data and transactions. 2) Cryptography and Security Blockchain is such an important built on the foundation of cryptography. As a blockchain developer, you must understand the science of encrypting and decrypting data. Furthermore, as a blockchain developer, you must know and understand several other cryptographic protocols. Additionally, security is a significant and crucial aspect of blockchain development. This is an essential part of being aware of blockchain security best practices, and you can have an in-depth understanding of how to incorporate access controls and other security measures to build securely and safely. 3) Smart Contracts and Decentralized Applications Smart Contracts are self-executing computer programs that would automate contract terms between parties. Above all, multiple smart contracts are such a critical component, especially of several blockchain-based applications. In this case, they help automate the procedures like artificial intelligence architect, ensuring the transactions are complete. These are mainly conducted in a decentralized, translucent, and secure manner. DApps are applications that run on the Blockchain. Above all, these are not controlled by any central authority. To be a blockchain developer, you must be skilled at developing, designing, and testing such intelligent contracts. After all, DApps are secure, user-friendly, and reliable. Qualifications: 1) Blockchain developer boot camps If you want a more immersive and intensive learning experience, do a blockchain developer boot camp. Virtual boot camps are such a significant and excellent starting point that you would get hands-on building experience. After all, professional engineers are also required to provide essential guidance. 2) Online courses and Tutorials There are numerous online courses and other tutorials that can help you get started. This would apply to your path and help you become a blockchain developer. Websites like Udemy, Coursera, and Code Academy recently offered several courses on Blockchain technology. These courses range from free introductory courses to more advanced courses on blockchain technology. 3) University Programs and Certifications Several universities offer Blockchain-related programs and other certifications. In this case, these programs range from undergraduate and graduate degrees, especially in engineering and computer science. Some universities provide blockchain courses and programs, such as Yale University, UC Berkeley, NTU Singapore, etc. Responsibilities To become a blockchain developer, leverage their cryptography, programming, and other distributed systems expertise. Below, I will discuss several of the responsibilities of a blockchain developer. Being a blockchain developer, you must know how to design and incorporate intelligent contracts. You not only need self-contracts, but you also must know about self-executing contracts with other predefined rules that are encoded on the Blockchain. Blockchain developers contribute to the development of Blockchain protocols. On the other hand, being a blockchain developer, you must understand such rules and other consensus mechanisms that govern blockchain networks. Another significant responsibility of a blockchain developer is to build decentralized applications. This would run on multiple blockchain networks. These dApps span various domains, including finance, supply chain management, and many others. Recently, Blockchain developers have conducted security audits, which help you identify several other vulnerabilities. Furthermore, this would also ensure the resilience and integrity of blockchain systems. They incorporate such best practices to secure coding, key management, and encryption to shield against cyber hacks and threats. Tools and Technologies It can be exciting and lucrative if you plan to pursue your career in the Blockchain industry. However, this is important for becoming a successful blockchain developer. Below, I will discuss the tools and technologies that blockchain developers use. 1) Solidity Solidity is one of the most crucial and most used software a blockchain developer can use. This software tool was created to target the Ethereum Virtual Machine, and C++, JavaScript, and Python influenced this. Aside from that, Solidity supports the OOP paradigm, and cis is another crucial language, especially for creating such intelligent contracts. Blockchain developers can create such applications to perform the self-enforcing business logic to contain the smart contracts. 2) MetaMask A Chrome Extension that could communicate with dApps is known as MetaMask. In this case, users can quickly receive and send such digital assets by using this open-source and decentralized wallet. Aside from that, this is simple to use and has many beneficial features, which MetaMask has recently surpassed all other dApps browsers. 3) Truffle As a blockchain developer, Truffle is one of the most essential software if you are looking for an Ethereum programming environment, asset pipeline, and testing framework. Aside from that, this is a famous tool among other developers because it allows them to combine easily, interact, deploy, and so many others. Even more, this is one of the most prominent tools in the entire cryptocurrency world. 4) Remix IDE Another well-known blockchain tool that a blockchain developer uses is Remix IDE. Moreover, this browser-focused blockchain development tool assists in creating and deploying several other smart contracts. Challenges And Solutions As we know, blockchain technology has evolved in recent years. That is why blockchain developers have faced multiple challenges and solutions. Below, I will discuss a blockchain developer's challenges and solutions. 1) Decentralization One of the most significant reasons the blockchain industry uses blockchains is decentralization. In this case, the transactions are confirmed by a set of nodes somewhat of a single node. Once the transactions are reviewed, they can't be changed. 2) Scalability After all, scalability depends on the potential to handle more transactions. As the demand continues to increase, all operating and defending systems from cyberattacks remain challenging. 3) Security Security is a significant benefit and a challenge for blockchain development. In this case, people can see, the security technology of a blockchain would be the target for cybercriminals. In Conclusion I have discussed how to become a blockchain developer in 2024 above in this article. Recently, Blockchain development has been at the forefront of technology. After all, discovering the ways of becoming a blockchain developer can unlock such a crucial career path, offering several other opportunities for growth and invention. I hope you find this article helpful. If you have queries, please comment below! Learn More About: Can Blockchain Help In Other Ways Apart From Cryptocurrencies? All About XMR: Blockchain Type, Specific Features, Price Prediction The Basic Principles Of Blockchain Fund Administration And E-Wallet

What Makes A Cover Letter For Resume Stand Out?