50MINUTES - How to Write a Successful Cover Letter: Ace your application

In a nutshell, a cover letter shows why you want the job. It is different from your CV, which is more a summary of your professional career and your skills. Therefore, do not simply repeat what you have already said in your CV in slightly different words: on no account should the two documents be identical. That does not mean that you cannot mention the same sort of things, however. Although putting across your skills and experience is the domain of your CV, your cover letter can allow you to concisely develop the main points and justify why you want the job. It allow you to link some of your qualities and skills with certain memorable experiences from your career. However, be careful not to turn your cover letter into an autobiography!

I am suitable for this job

Before applying for a job, it goes without saying that you have to be sure that you have the right qualifications. Motivation alone is not enough. You will only have a chance of interesting the employer if you demonstrate that you both qualify for the job (through your CV) and are motivated to get it (through your cover letter). It is therefore essential to read the job advert carefully before you begin writing your cover letter.

However, you do not need to satisfy all the criteria in the job application. Recruiters advertise for their ideal candidate. Some of the things they are looking for are obligatory, and will be clearly stated as such (for example, a category B driving licence or a certain level of education). However, your motivation can compensate for one or two skills that you do not yet have. So try not to throw in the towel too soon: it would be a shame to let an opportunity pass you by because you lack one little element that the employer wants, even though apart from that you may be ideal for the job.

Most employers receive dozens, even hundreds of job applications for every position. Interviewing all the candidates would be a waste of time and money. The CV and the cover letter therefore allow them to narrow down their choice.

In most cases, the CV is the first document that the recruiter is interested in. If it makes them think that your profile corresponds more or less to what they are looking for, they will move on to your cover letter. Since it is the second thing they read, your cover letter should therefore not be overlooked. It is a plus which can make you stand out from the other candidates. You may have a good CV, but a poorly written cover letter can spell the end of your application.

However, the recruitment procedure does not always happen like this. Your cover letter may be the first thing the recruiter reads. In this case, it becomes even more important. If it does not impress the recruiter, there is a good chance that they will not even take the time to look at your CV.

As we have already seen, the first step is to assure yourself that you have understood and assimilated the essentials of the job you are applying for. Take some time to analyse the advertisement in detail. This should already give you an idea of what to focus on when you write your cover letter. Try to match each of the employers requirements to a skill or experience.

Next, try to work out which of your qualities will be the most useful for the job. Employers generally provide a job description as well a list of necessary qualifications and required qualities. As a simple example, if it is indicated that the employee will have to interact with colleagues on a daily basis, it would be a good idea to mention that you enjoy teamwork, even if this characteristic is not explicitly asked for.

Contact the company

Job adverts are sometimes not very detailed and can be a bit unclear regarding the position and what it actually involves. In this case, do not hesitate to contact the person in charge of recruitment by email or phone for more information. However, try not to do this if you do not have any specific questions to ask.

Once you are sure that your application is coherent and suits the profile the employer is looking for, you can move on to the next step.

In order to understand who you are dealing with, find out everything you can about the employer. There are several ways of doing this.