Job-Seeking 101: How to Write a Professional Cover Letter for Your Dream Job

Are you looking for a career transition, but don't know how to write a professional cover letter to land your dream job? You are in the right place! Writing a cover letter is an essential step in the job-seeking process, as it helps to introduce you to potential employers and shows your interest for the position.

You might be asking: what makes a professional cover letter? Employers often receive hundreds of applications for each posted job, so a professional cover letter can help to set yourself apart from other candidates. Here are some tips to increase your chances to make a favorable impression with your cover letter.

Make a Connection

The first thing to keep in mind is that the purpose of a cover letter is to make a connection with the recruiters. Think: why should they hire you, and how can you give them a reason to do so? Start by addressing the person in charge of recruiting, and explain why and how you can contribute to the company.

Some employers might want to see that you have done research about their organization and what values it stands for. Prove to them that you can contribute to their mission and vision by mentioning prior experiences and how your skills can help the company reach its goals.

Create an Opening Statement

Creating an opening statement serves two purposes: first, it helps to introduce you as a potential candidate in a few words. Think of a simple opener that will make an impact in the minds of recruiters, like “I am confident that my unique set of skills will be beneficial for your company.”

The second purpose of the opening statement is to communicate why fulfilling this position is important to you and how you can add value to it. On the first line, recruiters should understand what type of job you are searching for and how it will fit into your career plan.

Highlight Your Top Achievements

As said, employers inspect hundreds of resumes for each job posting and will only spend a few minutes reading yours. That is why it is so important to make sure your experiences stand out, and for this, you should highlight your top achievements in a few sentences.

Remember, the first step is to determine what are your top qualifications and accomplishments. Once you have the answers, state them in a few words, why they are relevant to the job posting and how they resemble what the employers are looking for.

Describe Your Hard and Soft Skills

Recruiters not only look for experiences, but also for key soft and hard skills that are relevant to the position. For example, if the job advertisement particularly mentions proficiency in a certain technology, make sure to list this in your cover letter.

You can explain how you acquired those skills and explain why are you qualified to fulfill the position. Include any related experiences or accomplishments to show how you scored results in the past.

Conclusion

In summary, writing an effective cover letter for your dream job requires highlighting your past achievements and present experiences that are relevant to the position. Your cover letter should make a connection to the recruiters and introduce you as a well-rounded professional who can deliver to the company's mission.

A great cover letter should conclude with a call-to-action. Request an interview to continue the conversation, express gratitude for their time and consideration, and express your enthusiasm to come on board if accepted.

Actionable Steps

• Review the job posting to learn more about the company, its mission and values.
• Outline the core qualifications and skills needed for the job.
• Consider your experiences, achievements, education and other qualifications.
• Build an effective opening statement.
• Highlight your top achievements.
• Describe your soft and hard skills.
• Proofread your cover letter for any spelling or grammar mistakes.
• End with a call-to-action.