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What is a cover letter, and why are they important?

I have created and re-created many resumes, but I never created a cover letter. What are their purpose, and why are they important? #job-search #resume #cover-letters #job-searching

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Wael’s Answer

Check the link below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR4X-sAAFYI
Thank you comment icon Thank you! Shakuan
Thank you comment icon You are welcome. There are tones of more information online. Check it out! Wael Al-Rihawi
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Simeon’s Answer

Usually, your cover letter is supposed to be brief and mostly explain your interest in the opening and in the company itself. Try to keep your cover letter to five sentences or less. Also, try not to be super dramatic about how much you'd love the position and how it'll fulfill your wildest ambitions. Instead, keep it pretty contained and professional. The cover letter is more of a warm-up/opener to the resume and isn't supposed to be the focal point of your application.
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Christy’s Answer

There are sometimes hundreds of applicants for an open position. Make sure you stand out by writing a cover letter stating who you are and why you think you are a good fit for the job. These days with online job applications it is important to make sure you differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicants. I have found that many applicants only submit their resume and if they don't tailor the resume to the job, algorithms for the job description might prevent your resume from even being seen by the Hiring Manager.

As a Hiring Manager, I want to see a resume and cover letter that are thoughtful and tell me that the person has put some thought into their application and is showing motivation. Make sure that you do spell check on your cover letter as well. This shows attention to detail which in most positions is extremely important.

Christy recommends the following next steps:

If you are new to the job market, have someone you trust read your resume/cover letter and critique it. It could be a teacher, a friend or a family member.
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Nayeem’s Answer

Hi Shakuan,


A cover letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience.
The letter typically provides detailed information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for. A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out.
The first thing a potential employer sees in your job application is the cover letter. This doesn't just support your CV – it's an opportunity for you to stand out from the crowd and persuade the recruiter to put you through to the next round.
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John’s Answer

Shakuan,


I consider a Cover letter to have 2 important aspects. The first is to build a business case for why they company should hire you. You want to address what is unique about you that other candidates don't have. Maybe it is your experience, your skills, your drive or something along these lines. You want to relate your background to their job description to show that you will immediately be able to make an impact, if hired. Most importantly, you should demonstrate what you would gain from working at their company. Make your candidacy feel very mutual. "I want to work for you because...". Or "In this role I believe I will gain....". This will help them see that you will be engaged in their company and excited about your work.


The second important piece of a cover letter is to start building your personal brand. What kind of employee are you? What type of personality do you have? What are your values? You want to be professional in this cover letter, but also try to display some of your personality or values. You can really set yourself apart if you talk about your personal passions or values, especially if those are in line with the companies, mission or values.

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Lisa’s Answer

Cover letters are very important. The goal of the CL is to let the employer know who you are and why you would be a good fit for their job. The CL letter gets a recruiter to read your resume and the resume will get you the interview for a job or internship. It must be tailored to the job at hand, written with sincerity and be engaging. It is NOT a summary of your resume. I coach adults and young people how to write CL and resumes that work. Here is a template:


Paragraph #1 in 2 sentences state who you are (student at ... majoring in ..... Mention the name of the Job Title and how you know about the job (Website, referral, etc.)


Par #2 3-5 sentences only - Inform the reader of your experience and interests and connect the dots for the reader to the skills they need for their job. (I enjoy relating to the public, I am good with numbers, etc,. Explain why this particular company interests you. In other words, what you can do for the Co. Not what they can do for you.


Par #3 - 2 sentences - Last chance to sell /promote something about yourself, thank them for their time and consideration of your resume, look forward to hearing from you. Sign with name and phone number.
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