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Effective cover letters can help you enhance your chances of landing a job interview. They let the employer get to know you better, making it easy for them to decide if you are a good fit for the position.

Yet most job seekers think it's a waste of time because they either don't know how to write one or are unaware of the purpose of a cover letter.

In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the purpose of a cover letter.

• What is the purpose of a cover letter?
• Why the format of Your cover letter is important?
• Tips to create a professional cover letter
• How cover letter can explain employment gaps?
• How to explain limited work experience in a cover letter?

What Is The Main Purpose of a Cover Letter?

Cover letters can also show that you're a good fit for the company, especially if the job posting asks for someone with specific skills or qualifications.

Many recruiters also use cover letters to differentiate between candidates with similar skills.

Due to these reasons, it's best to include a cover letter along with your resume when you're applying for a job.

If you're still unsure whether to add a cover letter, surveys have shown that 45% of the candidates don't write a cover letter. So, if you write one, it will automatically make you stand out from other candidates.

Also Read: How to write a cover letter in 2022?

Why the Format of Your Cover Letter Is Important

When applying for jobs, you must do everything to set yourself apart from the rest of the applicants. A well-written cover letter is one way to do this.

Even if a hiring manager doesn't read your cover letter and just glances over it, they'll be able to gauge your written communication skills, attention to detail, and research skills.

Sending out a poorly formatted cover letter is like showing up in an interview in a dirty shirt. It gives a wrong first impression on the recruiters. On the other hand, a well-formatted cover letter makes a good first impression on the hiring manager and ensures that your application gets noticed.

Using a cover letter format is easy to get the design right. Pick a format from Hiration's Online Cover Letter Builder tool, fill in your personal information, and write the cover letter within 300 - 500 words. It saves you time and makes your cover letter professional.

Also Read: What is the correct format for a cover letter in 2022?

Tips to Make Your Professional Cover Letter More Effective

Your cover letter is the first impression you make on a prospective employer. It's where you can showcase what you have to offer and why you're the best candidate for their job.

1. Research the Company and Showcase Your Skills

You don't need to know everything about a company. But when you write the cover letter, you should research the company and the position.

It shows that you've put effort into your application.

According to your research, you should write a cover letter to reflect your relevant skills.

If you're applying for a customer service job, it's a good idea to mention that you've worked in customer service before and can handle challenging situations.

If someone is hiring for a sales position, they might want to hear that you've worked in sales before and have experience closing deals.

2. Explain Why You’re Excited About the Job

Recruiters like hearing why a candidate is passionate about their job! This helps demonstrate that you're not just looking for a paycheck; you're interested in the work itself and are in for a long time.

For example, if you're applying for a job in sales, you can say that you are extrovert and passionate about talking to people.

3. Keep Your Cover Letter Short

A cover letter is a sales tool and should be written in a positive, professional tone.

It should highlight your skills, abilities, and experiences related to the job you are applying for. However, you should not make the cover letter long.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your cover letter to one page and within 500-600 words.

Since recruiters anyway don't have much time to see a resume, it's convenient for them to read through an on-point and practical short cover letter to understand your skills and achievements than a longer cover letter.

4. Address the Hiring Manager by Name

The hiring manager is the person who has the power to hire you.

So, it is essential for you to directly address the hiring manager by name when writing your cover letter.

It establishes a personal connection and shows that you've done your research.

If you don't find the hiring manager's name, you can also address the cover letter with "Dear Hiring Manager" as well.

Also Read: How to address a cover letter without a name in 2022?

5. Fill Your Cover Letter with Numbers

Did you know recruiters and hiring managers don't want to read generic boilerplate?

Instead, they want to see numbers in your cover letter. That's because numbers are proof of your experience.

If you list specific numbers (such as "Managed and trained 4 new sales associates and increased sales conversion by 20%"), then the recruiter knows exactly what kind of work experience you have and what skills it takes to do it well.

6. Explain Any Red-Flags in Your Work Experience

If there's anything on your resume that could prevent you from getting the job (such as a bad performance review or an employment gap), explain them in the cover letter as clearly as possible so that the hiring manager understands your perspective and judges your candidature based on that.

For example: "My past raises some questions about my work ethic, but my references say otherwise," or "I've been out of work for two years because I had to take care of my sick mother." Be honest, but don't put words in their mouths either.

How Cover Letter Can Explain Employment Gap

Your cover letter is a great place to explain any gaps in your employment. If you were laid off, quit your job to raise your children, take care of a family member, or simply get a higher education, your cover letter offers a great place to explain your situation.

That way, the recruiter can look at your cover letter to see if you've done something to improve your skills in the downtime. For example, if you took any courses, certifications, or went back to school to get a degree.

Keep it brief and to the point. Employers are more concerned with your skills and what you can bring to the table than with your employment gap.

How to explain Limited Work Experience with a Cover Letter?

You may have limited work experience, but it doesn't have to be a limiting factor in your job search. Your little work experience can be advantageous if you position it correctly in your cover letter.

Here are some tips on how to position a limited work experience:

1. Include Unpaid Experiences

Unpaid experiences also count in your skills. Doing volunteer work in your community shows that you have leadership skills, and it provides you with valuable skills.

The body of the cover letter is an excellent place to mention your volunteer work and showcase what you gained from the experience that could be of value to the company.

2. Give Statistics in Your Cover Letter

Don't worry about being specific about how much work you did on each project or volunteer activity; just mention how long you worked on each one and what skills were developed as a result of working on them (e.g., "I managed the inventory system for three months and ensured sufficient stocks").

3. Add Relevant Skills

Include any relevant skills you have acquired through volunteering or other activities, such as public speaking or marketing, that might help you find a job once the internship ends or when you return home. For example, mention it here if you've developed a particular skill, such as event planning or public speaking while working on an event committee at your university.

Key Takeaways

We hope you understand what is the importance of a cover letter from this blog. A cover letter is an essential part of a job application, which gives you an extra edge in your job hunting process.

The recruiters may not read it, but it is still considered an applicant's best practice.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the topic:

• Research the company very well before writing a cover letter
• Address the cover letter to the hiring manager by name
• Showcase stats and numbers in your cover letter to showcase your accomplishments
• Explain employment gaps in the cover letter up-front

If you want to create a professional cover letter for yourself, use Hiration's Cover Letter Builder which will also help you write a compelling cover letter to get your dream job.

You can also send us your questions at [email protected] .

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What is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?

Not all candidates are confident in their cover letter writing skills simply because they do not understand what is a cover letter used for. A cover letter has many purposes: a casual introduction, encouraging the recruiter to read your resume, and getting you more job offers. Want to know more? Read our article on the purpose of a cover letter.

A quick Google search reveals that whether to send a cover level letter or not remains a highly controversial subject. Cover letters came around when employers could not easily access information on job seekers other than through their application documents. A resume and an accompanying cover letter were a means of introduction where applicants could detail themselves and their professional accomplishments to recruiters and employers.

But now, some job seekers have chosen to ditch the cover letter. They don’t understand how a cover letter can help recruiters learn more about them when social media is at their fingertips. According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey , 70% of employers/recruiters use social media to screen job candidates during the hiring process. Other job seekers find writing an additional document particularly challenging. The 2019 Job Seeker Nation Survey by Jobvite reveals that 9% of job seekers give up on sending an application, including a cover letter because they find it too long and complex to craft.

Does it mean that attaching a cover letter is as outdated as using a rotary phone? Are applicants right in skipping a cover letter? Not at all.

The hiring process is quite conservative in its essence. We all use technology and live in a fast-paced environment, but employers still require the same paperwork now as ten years ago, including a cover letter.

What is the point of a cover letter?

Let’s start with the basic idea that a cover letter is mandatory as a resume in the job hunt. If a job posting includes a cover letter among its requirements, it is easy: you simply do as you are told. It leaves no space for doubts because a cover letter is requested of you. But if a cover letter is not mentioned in the job description, it is up to applicants to decide whether to attach it or skip it.

You may think that you gave all the information about your work experience and qualifications in your resume. You can assume that recruiters don’t read cover letters or that they are useless. But considering a cover letter as a compliance test or a secret weapon will be an advantage rather than a weakness on your part.

First, you cannot know for sure whether a recruiter will read your application thoroughly or not. Some recruiters may not even consider your resume without a cover letter; when choosing between similar two candidates (one with a cover letter and one without), others will go with the cover letter as the better fit for a role. The point is that you just don’t know what will sway the recruiter, but your odds of being summoned for a job interview can only increase by including a cover letter.

With this understanding in mind, the better-written your cover letter, the bigger your competitive edge. A compelling cover letter is one more way to stand out and make an impression about yourself on the recruiter. It allows you to talk about yourself in a more casual tone.

So we can agree that a resume is a formal document and gives an outline of your work experience, and a cover letter allows you to tell your story and invent your narrative. If told well, it sticks with a recruiter.

Cover Letter Structure

Candidates find it hard to write an effective cover letter because they don’t know what to write. Should they repeat their resume? How can they catch the recruiter’s attention? You will have far fewer questions if you simply follow a cover letter structure made of four clear-cut paragraphs.

Paragraph One: The Introduction

The primary purpose of a cover letter for a job is to introduce yourself. After you address the hiring manager, you state your intention: “I’m writing to inquire about an opening for…” You give your reason for writing, the position you’re applying for, and how you learned about this position. Mention where you saw the job posting. If someone referred to you, give the individual’s name.

Paragraph Two: Your Experience

Specify how exactly you meet their job qualifications. It can be brief where you mention the number of years of experience or elaborate on a few of your most impressive capabilities that align with the job description. Simply put, this paragraph is where you explain what you offer and why you’re qualified: “I offer X years of experience in [whatever your specialty is] and skills [required in the job description], which makes me a strong candidate for this position.”

Paragraph Three: Attention-Grabbing

Keep in mind that the main goal of the cover letter is to get the hiring manager to read your resume and invite you for an interview. You can create some intrigue by telling them where they can find more information on your achievements: “The top portion of my attached resume highlights my career profile and three significant accomplishments that are also in alignment with this position.”

Paragraph Four: Conclusion

Express your interest in having an interview: “I’d welcome the opportunity to speak with you if you feel I’d be a strong candidate for this position in your organization.” Remember to add your contact details and a write-off.

Following this cover letter structure and using our cover letter writing tips, you can produce a well-written application of any length and adjust it for any job in no time.

Cover Letter Writing Tips

In addition to the cover letter structure, there are many nuances to keep in mind. From font type and font size to format and length, use these writing tips to make your cover letter more to the point:

• Length. The general recommendation is to keep your cover letter under one page at all times. You can make it much shorter: telling about yourself in the most concise and succinct form shows your excellent writing skills and respect for the recruiter’s time.
• Format. As much as resumes, cover letters follow a business format. Align all text at the left margin. Avoid indenting paragraphs.
• Greeting and Address. It has become customary to address your cover letter to a hiring manager by name, so take some time and effort to find the individual’s name. If it’s not possible, address your cover letter to the title, business function, or discipline most clearly related to the position for which you’re applying. For example, ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ or ‘Dear Selection Committee.’
• Fonts. Don’t use anything fancy. Arial, Courier New, Calibri, Verdana, and Times New Roman are the most common fonts used on resumes and cover letters. Readability is the main aim, so use font size 10 to 12 point type. It is acceptable to use a bold font or bullet points to draw attention to important points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Job seekers come from different experiences and backgrounds, but many want to understand various cover letter writing aspects correctly. We gathered 5 Common Cover Letter Questions and Answers to help you navigate the writing process.

A: Cover letters are a must for both entry-level specialists and seasoned professionals. It is your opportunity to show a glimpse of your personality. If you feel so confident that your resume speaks for itself, address it in your cover letter. Not word for word, obviously, but show off your awesomeness. Diversify the formality of your resume by making a friendly and strong cover letter.

A: Your cover letter should be original and live. It shouldn’t come off as a trite document used over and over again. How you achieve this is up to you. We write in each article that the job hunt is a 9-to-5 job in itself. Looking for a job is time-consuming and energy-expensive. To save time and ease the process, you can seek help producing a cover letter for each job posting that interests you by using an online editor. With GetCoverLetter, you can make a customized cover letter in less than 8 minutes, significantly expediting your job hunt and allowing you to send out more applications in much less time.

A: A cover letter is an excellent way to explain anything out of the ordinary to a prospective employer. You can mention if you had maternity leave, were laid off, changed a career path, or took time off to travel in a cover letter. However, be brief. An employer is more interested to learn about your relevant skills and experience.

A: Nowadays, you can send cover letters in the body of an email or as an attachment. You never know how exactly a recruiter will prefer to get it. However, if you send your cover letter as the email body, a recruiter will catch a glimpse of it when they open your email. If you have a strong opening line, the recruiter will keep reading and - voila – your resume gets selected for the next round of the hiring process.

A: A cover letter responds to a specific job posting. A letter of interest is submitted to inquire about a vacancy that is not advertised and express a willingness to work with the company in the future. Thus, the primary difference lies not in the letter structure but rather in intent.

The Bottom Line

Now that you know the goal of a cover letter, you can create an application with less dread and displeasure. Present yourself in a succinct yet casual form to a hiring manager to capture their attention and promote your resume. Use it as an opportunity to show yourself in a more personal way and express your enthusiasm and passion for the profession and towards the organization.

As long as you follow the cover letter structure, you will find the right words to introduce your candidacy and show how perfectly you fit the job description. If you want to end your job hunt as quickly as possible, you should use every tool in your toolkit.

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What is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?

To get the job you want, you need to stand out among lots of other applicants. While your resume is the first step in making a good impression, a well-written cover letter can actually help you seal the deal.

Table of Contents

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a document that you submit together with your resume when applying for a job. It’s basically a condensed professional introduction that aims to “sell” you as the best candidate for the job.

In short, a cover letter gives you a chance to introduce yourself to the hiring manager and explain why you believe you would do great in this position and benefit the company.

A cover letter should complement your resume — but not repeat the same information. The main purpose of a cover letter is to highlight your most important and relevant skills and add a personal touch to the application.

Do you need both a cover letter and a resume?

In most cases, a job application should include both a resume and cover letter — unless there are specific instructions that say otherwise in the job description. While hiring managers may not have the time to read through all the cover letters they receive, they will definitely read the cover letters of their selected candidates.

Plus, if the hiring manager is on the fence when choosing between two candidates, the cover letters may actually tip the scale in someone’s favor.

How do I write a cover letter for my resume?

A cover letter should be centered around your best professional qualities, achievements and experience. Only the information that you believe will make you stand out among other candidates should make it into your cover letter. How long should a cover letter be? A cover letter shouldn’t be more than one page — typically, 250 to 400 words long.

Most cover letters will have the following parts: a header, a greeting, an opener/introduction, the main body and a call to action.

Let’s look at these in a bit more detail.

This is the easiest section of your cover letter. Here, you should include the following information:

• Your full name and relevant professional credentials.
• Your location: city, state or country (optional).
• The way in which you prefer to be contacted: phone or email.
• A link to your professional networks or online portfolio (optional).

Introduction

The purpose of this section is to get the HR manager “hooked” on reading the rest of your application. Focus on your most standout features as a professional and explain why you believe that you are the perfect candidate for the position.

In the main body of your cover letter, add more supporting arguments for why you are the best choice for the job. Mention that you are well aware of all the responsibilities that come with the position and that you are fully equipped to handle them. Support this claim with specific facts and examples: these can be your accomplishments in previous workplaces, a particular set of skills, certification, etc.

Call to action

End your cover letter with a call to action — what would you like to happen next? You can mention when you will be available to start the new job (if selected) and ask for feedback on your application. It’s always a good idea to thank the HR manager for their time at the end of your cover letter.

Tips for writing an effective cover letter

There are a few simple rules to follow when composing your cover letter.

• Personalize your letter . Having a one-fit-all cover letter and sending it unchanged to different companies is a very bad idea. The main purpose of your cover letter is to convince the hiring manager that you are the perfect candidate for this specific job. If your cover letter is too general and doesn’t mention any specific information, it simply defies its own purpose. Plus, it’s very easy for the HR manager to spot a generic cover letter. This is why it is very important to customize your cover letter to the job you are applying for.
• Explain why you want the job . A cover letter offers you a unique opportunity to be more personal and tell the hiring manager why you are passionate about the job — something you can’t really do in a resume. Your motivation and enthusiasm about working for the company can be a very convincing factor for the HR manager to prioritize you over other applicants.
• Keep it short . Short cover letters tend to be more effective than long ones. This is often the case because hiring managers have a very limited time to spend on your application. Thus, a concise cover letter highlighting your most prominent professional achievements is the best way to go.
• Do your research . As we’ve mentioned right at the beginning, personalizing your cover letter is one of the keys to its success. To customize your letter, do some research on the company you are applying for, learn about its culture, mission, values and more. This can help make your application more “relatable” to the person reading it and make you a good fit for the company in their eyes.
• Fill your cover letter with facts and statistics . Avoid generalities in your letter. As it’s best to keep your cover letter short, use this space carefully. Include the information that would cause the most impact: numbers, professional achievements, awards, certificates and more.
• Fill the gaps in your resume . If there are things in your resume that you feel need explaining, the cover letter can be a great place to do that. For instance, if you’ve spent some time out of official employment, you can mention in your cover letter that, for instance, you worked freelance during that time.

Cover letter sample

Learn more about how to write a cover letter .

Should I put my cover letter or resume first?

Most employers will start by reading your resume — or, at least, by scanning through it. This will give them an idea about whether you have the needed qualifications for work in the role you’re applying for — and this is especially true in technical fields that you require a specific set of hard skills.

While HR professionals will generally read the resume first, if they are interested in the candidate, they will definitely go on to read the cover letter. And, if there is a choice to be made between several candidates with similar qualifications, a cover letter may actually play a decisive role in the final choice.

Learn more about how to write a resume .

Letter of interest vs. cover letter

The term cover letters is often used interchangeably with letters of interest. However, there is a difference.

A letter of interest indicates your desire to work for a specific company — but it doesn’t have to be sent to an open job offer. There may actually be no vacancies in the company you are sending the letter to at the time — but you want your candidacy to be considered if a position opens up. A cover letter, on the other hand, generally accompanies your CV in response to a specific job offer.

Learn more about cover letters and letters of interest in our post: Letter of Interest vs. Cover Letter: Difference, Tips and Examples .

Modern cover letter formats — a video letter

While standard cover letters are sent out as documents, there are also new cover letter formats emerging that can make your application even more personal. A video cover letter is one of such formats.  The primary aim of the video cover letter is the same as of a standard cover letter — to introduce yourself and make your case as the best choice for the job. The video format makes the letter much more personal and gives your potential employer a chance to get to know you even better.

Summing things up

• Most job applications these days need to include both a resume and a cover letter.
• The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself and make your application stand out.
• Your cover letter should be brief, memorable and highlight your most relevant skills and experience.
• Use as much specific information as possible: include numbers, professional accomplishments, relevant certification, examples from your previous work, etc.
• Customize your cover letter for any new company and position you are applying for.
• To make your cover letter more personal, consider using a video format.

We hope that you have found some useful tips for composing your cover letter in today’s post. Happy job hunting!