If you haven’t updated your resume in some time, it’s best to consider resume writing services before making a career transition, especially to a new field.
It has become a trend and a narrative that job interviewers and recruiters alike no longer make use of cover letters in choosing their applicants. Applicant Tracking Software has taken over, and it’s not the time for keywords and specific statements found in a resume of a job aspirant. However, cover letter examples could still build up your profile despite the phenomenon. In its essence, there are many ways that an employee could screen an applicant for a specific job. A cover letter is one of them, and you should always keep them in handy whenever you’re trying to apply for a certain position.
Why bother?
A cover letter (also known as an application letter) is a document you usually submit along with your resume. It contains more explanations of what you can do as an individual. As a resume is very strict and formal when it comes to the contents, you could breathe and show your personality a little bit with cover letters. This is where you show your skills specific to the job you’re applying for – both hard and soft. Hard skills are those that are highly specialized and are applicable to producing a good output in a certain position of work. An example would have the skills to file a tax return would be considered a hard skill.
Knowing how to use office apps such as spreadsheets is also another example of a hard skill. Soft skills include abilities that could be useful in a position but are not highly specific to a job. For example, having good communication skills can be considered a soft skill, as you could use this ability for business processing outsourcing situations or dealing with management in a food environment. Cover letters typically contain 3-4 paragraphs of said skills, and it is best to utilize these spaces for more chances of getting employed in the job you’re aspiring to.
Why bother if a cover letter is optional? It is in your best interests to still write one. You see, employers sift through a pool of applicants using your resume. Cover letters are another way of their screening in order to zero in on people that are fit for the job and the company. Even if it’s optional, putting in an effort to include a cover letter is a sign of your earnestness, and it paints an image to the employers that you’re willing to put in the extra mile.
Types Of Cover Letters
- Application letter – An application cover letter is the most common and typical type of document that you see. This traditional method is used to explain and demonstrate your professional experience and skills as it relates to the job you’re applying for.
- Referral cover later – This is helpful when you’ve come from another job and you’re moving on from that work on good terms. Having someone vouch for you, usually your previous employer gives off an air of dignity and good faith to the next one. Hiring through the referral process is also a much easier route to getting a job since referrals from reputable people and companies are always preferred over blind selection on resumes. The process is also less expensive on both sides: employers have an easier time searching for applicants, and applicants spend less time on the process of getting hired.
- Value proposition letter – Think of it as a persuasive essay, specifically written in a professional sense and containing things relevant to what you’re applying for. This type of cover letter outlines the skills and experiences you can bring to the job. Specifically, you can highlight the value you could give to the company should they choose you for the position. The age-old “tell me about yourself” question could be answered by the things you put inside a value proposition letter.
