Two things make a cover letter effective: personalization and professionalism. A generic letter won't stand out. But writing good cover letters can be tough. People struggle with where to start, how to highlight skills without repeating their resume, and how to be professional yet show personality.
That’s where AI tools for cover letter writing, like Eskritor, can help. Eskritor AI writing helps job seekers overcome writing challenges, saves time, and creates strong cover letters that get noticed.
What Makes a Cover Letter Compelling?
A compelling cover letter is relevant. It tells the employer what they need to know about you and nothing more.
Understanding the Employer's Perspective
Employers have seen at least 72 applicants for every job post since 2023, and that number is only increasing. From the employer’s perspective, they have limited time and resources and must focus on finding key applicants with clear potential. That’s why professionals like you must stand out with a cover letter.
If your cover letter can’t quickly show why you're a good fit, your application will likely be brushed away as another generic applicant.
Aligning Your Skills with the Job Requirements
Focus on demonstrating relevant skills, not listing every past job. Carefully analyze the job description, pinpointing 3-5 key skills or requirements. Then, showcase specific examples from your experience that directly prove you possess those skills. Irrelevant jobs dilute your message and make it harder for employers to see if you fit.
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Effective Cover Letter
Writing an effective cover letter is about grabbing attention quickly and keeping that attention across the whole letter.
1. Research the Company and Role
The first step is understanding the company and the job role so can tailor your cover letter and show you’re “compatible” with the company. When you reflect their values in your cover letter, it tells them you’ll integrate smoothly into the workforce and that working with you is easy.
Here are the fastest ways to find information about the company and job you’re applying for:
For the job role:
- Look for keywords that are emphasized in the job description. This is the most important part of the role and what you should focus on in your cover letter.
- Figure out what the goal of that job description is for the company. What problem is the company trying to solve by hiring someone in this position?
For the company mission and culture:
- Look at the company website; they might have an About Us page with their team and their culture.
- Look for employees who work in that company through LinkedIn and read through their profiles and posts.
2. Structure Your Cover Letter Professionally
If you’re writing a cover letter on a website form, add 2 spaces between your intro and the body of your cover letter. Then add 3 spaces again for the closing statement (e.g. Kindest regards, Name). This little detail helps structure your cover letter to look more professional.
If your cover letter is via Google Docs or Microsoft Word, add a proper header with your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL (or any other professional link about you). Add a proper header and footer for your Document so it looks professional.
Lastly, keep your paragraphs snug. Aim for 4 to 5 lines so your paragraphs don’t look too big.
3. Craft a Strong Opening Paragraph
The opening paragraph is your first chance to make a strong impression. Here are three techniques to grab the reader's attention:
- Mirror a key requirement: Directly reference a crucial skill or responsibility mentioned in the job description to show you’ve read it.
- Mention a referral: If someone within the company referred you, mention their name in the opening for credibility.
- Highlight a relevant achievement: Mention a significant achievement or accomplishment that directly relates to the job as soon as you can.
The main idea of a strong opening paragraph is to stand out by paying attention to detail. Or to be an exceptional candidate and open your cover letter with a very relevant job experience.
4. Showcase Relevant Achievements and Skills
83% of hiring managers think that a cover letter is essential because that’s how you make your relevant job experience stand out to answer the job description.
In your cover letter, Instead of saying what you can do, focus on what you have done. Here’s how to effectively showcase your achievements and skills:
- Quantify your results: Whenever possible, use numbers to highlight the impact of your work. For example, instead of saying "Improved customer satisfaction," say "Increased customer satisfaction scores by 15% in Q3 2023."
- Focus on results, not just tasks: Instead of "Responsible for managing social media accounts," say, "Developed and implemented a social media strategy that increased follower engagement by 25%.”
Mentioning your impact and achievements instead of your previous responsibilities is like a shortcut to your hiring manager’s heart. These employers want someone who can bring results, not just fill in a job description.
5. Express Enthusiasm and Cultural Fit
Being enthusiastic and showing your employer that you’re culturally fit for their company is all about balancing professionalism. Even if your work experience isn’t the best, 82% of hiring managers say a strong cover letter can persuade them to invite a weak candidate for an interview.
Use sentences like:
- “I know that [x value] is important to [company name] and in my previous work, I was [x value], and that was the difference maker in getting [y results].”
- “I know this industry because I regularly watch [topic].”
These are subtle sentences that essentially replace, “I’m passionate about this.” or “I’m very eager to work here.” Conveying a genuine interest in the company by showing how you participate in that industry shows the employer that you’re more than interested in the position. You’re familiar with it.
6. Conclude with a Call to Action
The conclusion is your final opportunity to leave a positive impression and encourage the hiring manager to take action. Here are some examples of a compelling closing:
- "I am available to hop on a Google Meet or Zoom to discuss more."
- "Let me know what else you need from me!"
These examples convey your willingness to proceed without being overly assertive. Avoid phrases like "I expect to hear from you soon" or "I look forward to an interview," which can sound presumptuous.
Finally, it's a good idea to reiterate your contact information in the closing paragraph. This makes it easy for the hiring manager to reach you and is a subtle call to action. Here are some ending cover letter examples for job applications:
- “Kindest regards, Name (name@gmail.com)”
- “All the best, Name (name@gmail.com)”
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Cover Letters
Common mistakes create a negative first impression and oftentimes will disqualify your application. So focus on quality and watch out for these mistakes.
Generic Content
The first and most egregious mistake you can make is to have a generic opening statement in your cover letter. This shows you didn’t read the job description and that your cover letter lacks effort. From the employer’s perspective, if you’re going to be lazy at the beginning of the cover letter, how can they trust you to be a good employee?
Remember, customization is key. Don’t just search “professional cover letter format” on Google and copy-paste that structure. Tailor your opening paragraph to each application and highlight the specific skills and experiences that make you a strong match.
Overly Formal or Casual Tone
An overly formal tone is stiff and impersonal while being super casual is unprofessional. Aim for either a mix of both, meaning clear and concise language, avoiding slang or jargon. Avoid using unnecessarily complicated words when a simple version is easier to understand.
Spelling and Grammar Errors
Spelling and grammar errors damage your credibility. Even a single typo can be a dealbreaker. They suggest a lack of attention to detail and can make the reader question your communication skills.
You can avoid writing mistakes altogether by using AI writing tools like Eskritor.
Leveraging Eskritor for Your Cover Letter Writing
Eskritor is an AI content writer, designed to assist with creative, academic, and business writing like cover letters.
AI-Powered Content Generation
Eskritor can help you draft personalized cover letters by improving your writing tone and style. The AI can adjust your cover letter to sound better, using the right words to bring out your personality while remaining professional.
With Eskritor, you can focus on writing your cover letter roughly and then use Eskritor to make it look presentable later.
Customizable Templates
Eskritor also has a variety of industry-specific templates that can be used for cover letters. If you’re making a cover letter for marketing, Eskritor will ask you what kind of marketing-related info you want to include in your cover letter, like industry trends, expert insights, and so on.
These highly relevant templates are sure to make your cover letter stand out, by providing instant value to your employer with an industry trend or statistic. All you have to do is edit the cover letter to make it more specific about your achievements and experiences to make it personal.
Grammar and Style Enhancement
Eskritor is also a grammar checker, so your cover letters are error-free and polished before you submit them.
Using an AI writing tool like Eskritor, keep your cover letters consistent since you won’t physically exhaust yourself from repeatedly writing cover letters. You can ask Eskritor to write your cover letter in a formal, simple, objective, or descriptive tone, and it will reliably rewrite your cover letter every single time.
Time Efficiency
Using Eskritor can save you a lot of time when applying for jobs. You can save as much as 10 minutes of writing per cover letter because of how much faster Eskritor is. This extra time lets you spend more focus on other job searching tasks, like researching companies or preparing for interviews.
Final Tips for a Successful Cover Letter
These are the final two cover letter tips for job seekers to set yourself apart from other cover letters and get you an interview.
Authenticity
Employers can often “sense” when something isn’t genuine. The usual signs are being too enthusiastic in the cover letter. Or exaggerated achievements, especially if they result from a group effort.
This is another reason why using AI tools like Eskritor is great for writing cover letters. Eskritor helps you remain consistent with your cover letters, remembering the writing style, and tone, and ensuring your cover letters sound consistent throughout the day.
Follow-Up
Scheduling follow-up emails in advance can be a helpful way to ensure you don't forget and maintain a consistent approach.
The appropriate timing for follow-up communication depends on the employer. Some employers explicitly state their expected timeline for reviewing applications. In these cases, it's best to respect their stated timeframe and wait accordingly. However, if the employer hasn't provided a specific timeline or isn't very communicative, you can initiate a follow-up as early as two business days after submitting your application.
Conclusion
A well-crafted cover letter is personal, shows attention to detail, and only has information that’s relevant to the employer. Remember, common mistakes in your cover letter, such as a generic opening, will significantly worsen your application. In today’s competitive job market, employers easily have 50+ application options, and a poorly written cover letter can result in immediate dismissal.
If you have a hard time creating personalized cover letters, use Eskritor to create consistent, high-quality cover letters for all your job applications.
Dubai, UAE