A cover letter: your first step in the search for your dream job. But what does such an ideal cover letter look like and what do you pack your potential employer with? In this article we give you 10 tips for an excellent cover letter, so that you can shine among all other candidates.
Tip 1: Be Original
Are you applying for different positions? Please note that applying with a general letter is a real no-go. Having a base ready May and certainly can be useful. Still, it is much more important that you know that each application is unique. So also write a unique cover letter for each application. Then the employer feels that you have put time and effort into it and are therefore willing to give that little extra.
Tip 2: be brief and specific
Always keep a cover letter short and bonding. The best cover letter is no longer than an A4. You can certainly take this as a guideline. Alternate short sentences with longer sentences, be formal and definitely show your personality in your letter. And very important: no spelling mistakes!
Tip 3: Write your cover letter according to the AIDA model
Your cover letter is an addition to your CV. Your letter shows your personality and motivation. To build this nicely, employers like to see the Aida model back:
- Attention: Attracts the reader's attention
- Interest: arouse his interest with your unique qualities
- Desire: Awaken his desire for an acquaintance
- Action: Encourage him to take the desired action: invite you for a job interview
Tip 4: Tell us why you are excited about the vacancy
Many cover letters are often too much about the applicant himself and too little about the company. Link your qualities to the needs of the company you are applying for.
The employer is certainly interested in you, but above all wants to know whether you fit the identity of his company. Explain why you think this is the case.
Tip 5: Always Be positive
Radiate enthusiasm, both in your text and in the first conversation. Motivate your choice for the position in a positive way. Do not be negative about, for example, your previous employer or other things from the past. Your potential new employer will otherwise get the feeling that you are unreliable and will later speak of him / her that way.
Tip 6: Close with a Call-to-Action
In the last paragraph, invite yourself for a job interview. Pack this in a neat and polite way, for example: ‘I would like to explain my motivation further in a personal conversation.’’
Tip 7: Save your cover letter with a logical name
It is recommended to save your letter as a PDF. This way you can be sure that the formatting is preserved. Also pay attention to the naming. The potential employer will also be shown the file name. As logical as this may sound, this is not obvious to everyone. We save you the examples of names that have passed the review with us.
Tip 8: have your cover letter reviewed
To avoid spelling mistakes, it is advisable to have your letter read by someone else before it is sent. Your cover letter will also be read from a different perspective. This can lead to areas for improvement. Adjust it where necessary.
