9 steps to write a

compelling cover letter

And start getting more interviews

www.buildyourtomorrow.org

Copyright © Smaato Build Your Tomorrow

 SO Why should you write a cover letter, anyways?

Write a cover letter. Just do it. With the contradicting advice online on how to write a cover letter, or
even whether to write one at all, we understand if you’re confused. But our advice is simple. Write a real,
proper, cover letter (not a generic application note). Go big, or go home - or in this case, stay home.

Forget everything you’ve read about cover letters. We’ve reviewed the most and the least popular
career advice online and consulted with hiring managers to bring you the most actionable and sound
cover letter advice. We’ve condensed everything we’ve learned over the years into this guide, to reshape
how you approach your job applications and to give you the most effective advice. And we hope that
among all the noise out there, this is the only cover letter guide you’ll ever need to read. We’ve thought
out every step to enable you to craft THE cover letter (to go with your kickass resume).

Why should you even write a cover letter? Simply because cover letters can be what gets you pulled out
of a stack of applications and called for an interview. They can make the difference between hearing
nothing from a company and eventually getting offered a job. You want that, right? Repeat after us, ‘I
want to write a cover letter that will put me at the top of applications… even if that means more tough
work.’ We won’t lie, you’re not going to get a great cover letter in 15 minutes. But the result will be
well-worth your effort.

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 Before we get started, let’s go over some cover letter philosophy. Why do hiring managers keep
subjecting you to this painful, torturous exercise of writing a cover letter? Haven’t they figured out that
‘you can’t say much about yourself in a simple letter,’ and they should just go ahead and interview you? If
these are questions you’ve asked yourself, you’ve come to the right place. Same if you ever felt like
starting your cover letter with:

‘You’re probably reading a lot of applications. And you’re probably not enjoying yourself. I’m writing this
cover letter, and I’m not enjoying myself, either. So, let me cut to the chase.’

Or if you ever finished a cover letter with the ‘bad boy/girl touch’:

‘I’m sick of writing these ‘pedestrian’ cover letters: you’re sick of reading them. I won’t gush with some
sanctimonious speech about your company; I apply to companies only for whom I’m interested in
working.’

Yes, these are bits from real cover letters. Notable ones for sure, but notable because of how bad they
are.

And before you tell us that a letter can’t possibly capture all of your ambitions, habits, passions and life
stories, let us ask you to step into the shoes of a hiring manager for a moment. Hiring is not just about a
set of skills and experiences or employers wouldn’t need a cover letter, or even to conduct interviews.
Think about it - they could just look at resumes, pick the candidate with the best knowledge and
experience to do the job, and be done with it. What a time save! But obviously, hiring the right
employee is about much more than just where they’ve studied and worked. It is about that, but about
other factors too - like what kind of person you are, if you are an effective communicator, how motivated
you are to do the job. While these traits can also be determined in an interview, imagine that hiring
managers had to interview every single applicant with an adequate resume! That wouldn’t be a very
efficient hiring process, right? And that’s why the cover letter matters - particularly in a ruthless pit of
competent, motivated applicants.
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 Hiring managers require covers letters to make a decision about more than just your skillset, which is
(hopefully) already outlined in your resume. So how do you convey who you are through such a limiting
format as the cover letter? We’ll show you exactly how. When you create your cover letter, you’ll model it
after actual letters that secured job offers for applicants. And we’ll save you from doing one or more of
the 4 sins of cover letter writing:

1) not sending one at all,

2) wasting it by summarizing your resume,
3) sending the same letter to every job you apply for,
4) writing a dreadfully dull letter that make hiring managers reconsider their careers.

So what should your cover letter do? Very simply put, it should answer the question ‘Why should I hire
you?’ You use it to:

1) Explain why you’re interested in the job.

2) Emphasize why you’d excel at it.
3) Convey information that’s not already on your resume.

All this while being attention grabbing, succinct and interesting. Eek. Right? But don’t discourage. Once
again, we’ve devised a sound step-by-step approach to writing a compelling cover letter that, combined
with your great resume (now that you’ve given it a complete makeover with our 10 steps!), will get you
an interview where you want.

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 Step 1:
respect the 10 goals of a
cover letter
Here, we dive deeper into cover letter philosophy.
Remember how we said that a cover letter needs to
1) explain why you’re interested in the job,
2) emphasize why you’d excel at it, and
3) convey information that’s not already on your resume?
Well, these are only 3 of the 12 intentions of your cover
letter.

Step 2:
figure out what to
include in your cover
letter
A cover letter is not a summary of your resume. It’s an
unique opportunity to convey something relevant to the
employer that’s not already on your resume - and here’s
how to work out what you should talk about.

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 Step 3:
structure your cover
letter
While a cover letter is used to convey your
personality, that doesn’t mean it should be a long,
unstructured, heartfelt blab about your life and
desires. Far from that. Here’s our structure for
writing a compelling cover letter, paragraph by
paragraph.
+ 4-6 paragraph cover letter template
+ 5 real-world examples

‘i’m the most qualified candidate’

Step 4:
‘I’m applying for [position that doesn’t exist] avoid these 23 sinful
sentences
‘Ahoy, there’

We like to treat cover letter writing as if it were a religious

activity. And like any self-respecting religious manifesto,
‘I’m a visionary leader.’ cover letter writing also has its sins, which you must refrain
‘This job is beneath me’ from doing. Here, we go over 23 sentences that thou shall
not say.
‘I work well independently and as part of a team.’

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 Step 5:
get inspired by 5 more
real cover letters
Here are 5 more cover letters - not to copy,
but to get inspired from.

Step 6:
address your limitations
head on
A cover letter won’t get you a job that you’re completely underqualified
for. It can, however, get you a job for which you lack a few of the
requirements. That’s right. A study showed that recruiters gave higher
ratings to business school applicants who were more concerned with
being seen accurately in their applications, than those who clearly just
wanted to be seen positively. So instead of hiding your shortcomings, we
advise you to address them head on. Much like George Constanza in his
playbook on Seinfeld: ‘My name is George. I'm unemployed and I live
with my parents. I'm probably not the candidate you've been envisioning,
I don't have a decade of experience as a Product Manager nor am I a
Certified Financial Planner.’ Well, maybe not exactly like George!
+ 6 word-for-word templates
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 Step 7:
use appropriate
salutations
Use appropriate salutations - this one’s for those amongst
you who feel like spicing up their introduction with an ‘Ahoy,
there’ and concluding their letter with a heartfelt plea for an
interview, or a simple but joyful, ‘Cheers.’ There’s nothing
wrong with spicing things up, but within the bounds of
appropriateness - so we’ve compiled a list of salutations and
sentences you can use in your cover letter.

Step 8:
choose a simple format
The eighth step to writing your letter is choosing a format.
Or rather, not choosing a format. There’s really no need to
do anything with your cover letter other than writing a few
paragraphs in black on a white page, and sending it to
someone. This being said, we’ll also go over a few more
formatting rules that will enhance the hiring manager’s
experience when reading it.
+ 10 simple formatting rules

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 Step 8:
send your application in
a neat (email) package

Similar to ‘Step 10: Send your resume like a pro’ in

our ‘10 Steps to Give Your Resume The Ultimate
Upgrade’ eBook, we emphasize the need to triple
check how you send your application: what to write
in the message, when to send it, how to send it,
who to send it to, etc.

Let’s get started!

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 A word from the authors

While I work as the COO of an investment firm in London (and was honored in 2018 by Forbes as
one of the 30 under 30 for my work in finance), I also teach a career design workshop for graduate
students at Pierre et Marie Curie University in France every year. And over the years, I’ve
volunteered to mentor students from across the world in designing their careers, building their job
applications, and preparing for interviews. Some of them were students, others had 20+ years of
work experience already. Through these experiences I became increasingly convinced that:
1. Our traditional education, even at its best, overlooks some very important skillsets.
Alexandru 2. The career information available to us is scattered and noisy.
Agachi 3. Like all extraordinary journeys, your professional one involves thoughtful design, extensive
preparation and regular adaptation.
The first resources we built started simply as a way of putting online some of these lessons learnt
over time and sharing them more easily with our students. And from there it started growing to
encompassing all aspects of a professional journey.

The most important lessons I have learned in life (so far!) are that: 1) any skill can be learned and
perfected, and 2) we can do anything we commit our mind to.
It doesn't matter where we start from, what our circumstances are, or what our initial aptitudes are.
There's always a way.
That being said, I was lucky to study at some of the most highly regarded universities in the world
(McGill University and the London School of Economics) and to now work in a very niche field that's
extremely lucrative, and that I love. One can say I found the career of my dreams - patient
MIRONA engagement consulting.
Agachi But it wasn't always easy. In fact, my high school guidance counselor was a bit of a discouraging
bitter person (anyone recognise the type?) who wouldn't exactly have bet much on my success.
Today, the joke's on him.
So I started Build Your Tomorrow in an effort to give out better, more positive, actionable career
advice.
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 Step 1:
respect the 10 goals
of a cover letter
 1. Write a proper cover letter

This is the first good intention - actually recognizing the importance of writing a cover letter and sending
it along with your resume. A surprisingly high number of applicants don’t send a cover letter at all. They
just send their resume, sometimes not even bothering to write a proper submission email, instead just
writing something along the lines of ‘Here is my resume. Blah blah’

Well, ‘blah’ right back at you. A cover letter is a unique opportunity to tell the recruiter why they should
interview YOU. So unless it specifically says in the job description NOT to submit a cover letter, take
advantage of it. Whether you decide to write it in a new document, before or after your resume, or even
just include it in the body of your submission email, go for it!

2. Write more than a resume summary

A cover letter outlines why you’re interested in the job and why you’d be an asset to the company in that
role. It’s an opportunity to bring something to the table that your resume cannot capture - your
enthusiasm, a unique experience, your personality. So a cover letter is not a summary of your resume -
why would a recruiter want a lengthy summary of your resume when they can just check out your resume,
anyways? When you apply for a job, you literally have about two pages, one for the CV and one for the
cover letter, to make an impression and convey that you’d excel at this job. So don’t waste a full page
repeating information readily available on your one other page. Your cover letter should add something
new, something more, to your application.

Hiring managers don’t just hire ‘work experience,’ they hire a person - a person with a personality,
motivations, interests, passion, strengths and weaknesses. Most of these can’t be communicated in a
resume, which is why most job applications require a cover letter. It’s really not to torture you, it’s just to
narrow down the number of interviews to conduct.

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 3. Convey personal traits like work habits, professional interests and/or strengths

Imagine having a conversation with a close friend, and they ask you why you think this job is right for
you, or why you’re so excited about this opportunity. Think about what you would say to them. Are you
quoting your job history to them or are you sharing something more personal, that perhaps isn’t in your
resume? Like the fact that you love to quote statistics to support your arguments, or that you color code
and label all of your possessions. Better yet, has a previous boss or mentor told you that you were an
impressively fast learner or an agile sales closer? Have subordinates congratulated you for your
outstanding mentorship, quick decision making or rigorous project management? Put it in the letter.
Sharing a trait of your personality makes you more personable. With a caveat, though - don’t overshare,
remain professional!

Like so:

My initial role at the Law Firm was to follow up with our clients to ensure they had signed and submitted
all the necessary paperwork. I was introduced to a confusing workflow at first, which led me to devise a
process to streamline my follow up process. I implemented a partly-automated workflow that freed up
time, allowing me to take on additional responsibilities. My greatest achievement was the document
execution escalation procedure that I created, which has been used ever since then by our department. I
became known as the ‘escalation champion’ after one of my supervisors started referring to me as such,
due to my tenacity in getting affidavits back on time.

4. Explain why you’d excel at the job

You’ve probably guessed by now, given our very strong hints, that your goal in the cover letter is to add
value that your resume hasn’t added to your candidacy already. The only way to do that is by very clearly
(and very bluntly) explaining why you’d excel at the job. We show you how in ‘Step 3: Structure your
cover letter.’
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 But this doesn’t mean being too ‘braggy’. Grand statements like ‘I’m the best candidate for the job’ are
a no-no. They make you sound like a carpet merchant calling out ‘I have the best carpet. The most
luxurious carpet.’ You’re only missing ‘I offer good price, too. Best price.’ Opt for more substantive and
meaningful statements instead.

The truth is that you don’t need to convince the recipient that you’d be the absolute perfect employee in
the world for the role they’re offering. You just need to show compelling evidence that proves you’d be
good at the job and that you’re motivated about this opportunity.

5. Focus on accomplishments and results more than skills

This is true for your resume as well. For example, don’t state that you’re an effective communicator.
Prove it by focusing on your communication accomplishments and results. The more specific you are, the
more impressive and convincing you will sound. How many deals did you negotiate? Did you effectively
lead meetings or give speeches? How much money did you earn for your company? How many new
clients did you attract or retain? Once you’ve explained your results, you can conclude that you do
indeed have a skill that will make you an asset to the hiring manager.

As a rule of thumb, whenever you write down a skill in your cover letter, automatically ask yourself
‘Where did I prove this?’ and ‘How can I substantiate this statement in this sentence?’

6. Demonstrate long term thinking

What can you do for the company in the long term? Recruiters prefer candidates who aren’t afraid of
nitty gritty daily tasks, yet who also demonstrate a strategic mind. Most of the time, they don’t want you
to simply ‘do your job.’ They appreciate it when you think critically about your daily tasks, seeking to
improve processes and obtain better results for the company. So did you improve internal processes and
optimise workflows? Did you uncover errors and correct them? What products did you launch? What
14 programs did you implement?
 While you can outline such thinking from previous experiences, you can also go the extra mile by sharing
what you believe you can contribute to the company within the next two to five years. You can find
enough information about a company online - in transcripts of investor meetings, social media, website,
news, and press releases - to speculate where you can make a difference in the medium to long term.

7. Address your shortcomings head-on

If there’s anything suspicious about your application, like an employment gap, excessive job hopping,
lack of experience, or missing qualifications, take control of the narrative - before the hiring manager
discards your application. The secret is to add an extra paragraph towards the end of your letter where
you acknowledge you have this shortcoming and explain what you’re doing to make up for it.

But please do not write sentences along the lines of ‘I’m not the smartest, but I’m hard working’ at this
level. We address what to write instead in ‘Step 6: Address your shortcomings head-on.’

8. Keep it conversational (but not casual)

Some applicants take a very formal, stiff tone in their applications. But in doing this, while trying to be
respectful, you may also also distance yourself from the hiring manager, to the point where they might
think you’re not very personable and engaging.

The best cover letters are written in a warm, conversational tone (although, that doesn’t mean casual!).
Imagine you’re speaking/explaining things to a colleague whom you respect and like, but don’t know
very well. Writing in such a natural voice will help you connect with your reader and establish rapport.
This certainly doesn’t mean you should be overly casual, as if speaking with your sibling (avoid slang and
informal grammar or spelling). Instead, aim for a conversational, friendly, and engaging tone. Like in this
example:
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 I came upon your posting for a Digital Marketing Coordinator while browsing Linkedin, and it really
jumped out at me. It seems like a surprisingly multi-faceted Digital Marketer role, which must present
new challenges given your growing team and the fast-changing SEO and social media rules. Solving
challenges and going the extra mile to attract traffic come naturally to me, and I believe I would be able
to help uphold,and even exceed, your website’s lead conversion objectives.

When I work on a website project, I aim not to be simply an SEO analyst or copy-writer. I am also a
researcher and a problem solver. While working at ABC Company, I kept track of the e-commerce
performance every day to adjust our SEO, content and conversion strategies. I was very reactive to drops
in traffic and conversions, devising new approaches and A/B testing them. As a result, I often pushed my
coworkers in the design and copywriting teams to come up with new, inventive ways to capture leads
and convert them into sales for ABC. I also wasn’t satisfied with a social media strategy that just
‘worked,’ maintaining our online presence. In my spare time, I took it upon myself to become familiar
with the social media strategies that helped grow a brand’s audience and keep customers engaged,
following online courses and attending relevant events. My greatest accomplishment was overhauling
our presence on social media, gearing it towards creating additional value for our customers. I’ve prided
myself in being a versatile digital marketer with a growth mindset that employers can benefit from, and I
would love bringing this dedication to [company].

9. Customize your letter to fit the job description

You should definitely not be sending out the same cover letter to every job you’re applying for. To
illustrate this point, I wrote two VERY different cover letters for positions that are similar, but at
companies in different industries. You’ll get to read these in ‘Step 3: Structure your cover letter’ and
‘Step 5: Get inspired by 5 more real cover letters.’

You don’t necessarily need to write each cover letter from scratch; instead, customize enough to speak
with nuance to the specifics of the job opening, while showing you’ve really done your research about
the company and industry you’re targeting.
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 The employer should get the feeling that you wrote to them, rather than to 50 different companies,
because you’re really thrilled about their company and position. Remember from our ‘10 Steps to Give
Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook that everyone enjoys feeling special. Make the reader and
company feel that this opportunity is special to you.

10. Show enthusiasm for the job

When reading a cover letter, recruiters can tell right away if you’re using it to apply to several positions
and you just changed the name of the role and company. Candidates who take the time to write a
targeted letter explaining why they’re a match for this job, and why they’re excited about it, stand out in
the pile of applications. These make for a compelling letter that shows a strong personal interest in the
role. And employers want candidates who are interested in their job, not any job.

But how do you show your enthusiasm? It’s as simple as demonstrating your knowledge of the company:

• Use the company jargon - keywords that you picked up from the job description and company
website.
• Match responsibilities you’ve had to experiences you’ll have in the job you’re targeting. And if
you can, relate experiences you’ve had in the same industry (not just the same role) as the company
you’re applying with.
• Work a fact or observation about the company into your cover letter. Do this in your opening
paragraph, if you can. For example, you could say ‘I was attracted by your recent press release on
TechCrunch. In light of the work your company is now beginning to do in customer experience
automation with AI, I thought my two-year experience with your competitor, [insert company], would
make me a valuable candidate for a position in your Product Development team’ or ‘I have been
following with great interest the success of your company in introducing and marketing its latest feature
[insert specific product or service]. That interest has prompted me to send you this letter, along with my
resume.’
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 These are a lot of intentions for a single letter - and considering the work you’ve already put into
creating the perfect resume (hopefully following our 10 steps), it becomes A LOT. And it will take time.
But it’s what makes the difference between successful job seekers and those that stay unemployed for
several months, or who accept a job that is ‘beneath’ them. So your alternative is to continue not getting
interviews, which we’re guessing is not what you want. Success is tough, but well worth the effort - and
we guarantee these steps will help you achieve it faster and easier.

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 Step 2:
Figure out what to include
in your cover letter
 Unlike your resume, a cover letter doesn’t need to address every single one of the qualifications listed in
the job description (despite what other career advisors might say on the Internet). Trust us on this one.
You do want to cover all of the qualifications listed in the job posting between your resume and cover
letter combined, but your cover letter shouldn’t be a list of key skills and qualifications - that’s what your
resume is for.

Instead, your cover letter should add something new to your application, something your resume
doesn’t already convey about you.

How do you do this?

1) Identify the 2 most important requirements in the job description. These can be skills in the list of
requirements that are also repeated in the role summary, for example.

2) Write down the sentences and words used to describe these skills in the description.

3) Check these against current employee profiles in a similar role or at a competing company in the same
industry. What skills do they list on their Linkedin profiles? What experiences? This will ensure you’re
selecting the top two skills, rather than the subsequent 2-4.

4) Select two of your most notable work experiences from your resume. These should be closely related
to the 2 most important requirements in the job description. You’re aiming to show that you’ve met
these requirements in the past and can do so again for the hiring manager.

5) Once you have your experiences, add context and additional results (that are not on your resume).

6) Be explicit about how they relate to the role you’d be doing for the hiring manager by reusing the
sentences used to describe them in the job posting.
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 This framework is relevant even if you have little to no experience. The trick for you will be to show
transferable skills that you acquired while volunteering, during internships, in extracurricular activities, or
even from your education. To know what transferable skills are and how to demonstrate them, we
explain this in ‘Step 5: Compose your skillset strategically’ of our ‘10 Steps to Give Your Resume The
Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook.

And speaking of the eBook, make sure you read ‘Step 7: Sound like an insider with role and
industry-specific keywords.’ The same advice applies to your cover letter! Write your experiences using
the appropriate keywords.

Now, onto ‘Step 3: Structure your cover letter,’ where we show you how to write these out!

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 Step 3:
structure your cover letter
 Dear Mr Lynch,

Your listing on Linkedin for a Data Analyst role recently caught my eye, and I believe you will find I am an
exceptional candidate for this position.

I am an accomplished data analyst and graduate student in the Finance & Economics program at
McIntosh University. Over the past three years, I have worked in data analysis across multiple functional
areas in a variety of industries. I am now seeking a position that will make the most of my data analysis
experience in a fast-paced financial environment, while offering additional opportunities for personal and
professional development.

In exchange, I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed analysis skills, and a talent for
problem solving with a demonstrated ability to treat and analyse large data sets.

My accomplishments and qualifications are further detailed in the attached resume. I welcome the
opportunity to meet with you and discuss the value that I can bring to your organization.

Best regards,
Kate Michaels

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 So what do you think of this cover letter? Sounds like anything you wrote?

At the risk of shocking some of you... this is a terrible cover letter.

Why?

• A short cover letter is not necessarily a good thing, unlike what popular career websites say online.
While it seems respectful of the hiring manager’s time, it’s also generic and doesn’t say much about you.
If anything, we could argue it’s actually disrespectful of the recruiter’s time because it’s filled with
platitudes and doesn’t help him in any way.
• It doesn’t add any information on top of what the resume says. The cover letter serves as an
integral part of your application - it’s not just a letter to say hello and repeat what’s on the resume. It’s a
chance to 1) convey your personality, 2) communicate your enthusiasm for the job, and 3) convince that
you’re the best fit for the position.
• The above cover letter reads like 9 out of 10 cover letters out there. 9 out of 10 candidates write a
cover letter just because they have to - an attitude that gets reflected in the letter. Be the 1 in 10
candidates who goes the extra mile to personalise their letter and tell the recruiter why they are such a
great fit for the job.

Think about it - a longer cover letter signals that you took the time to personalise it and feel passionate
about the job. The only risk you take is that you write something too long that the recruiter won’t read
entirely. Not so bad. The potential upside, however, is that the recruiter will remember you for your
enthusiasm and competence.

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 It’s true, though rare, that some recruiters don’t care about cover letters and it might very well be a
waste of time to write one. But this is the exception not the rule, and you have no way of knowing
beforehand! So unless there are instructions in the job description that say otherwise, we advise you to
write a great cover letter that will set you apart. We did it and it got us interviews even in places where
no open positions were advertised. In my case, a hiring manager complained that the cover letter was
‘too wordy’, but they still asked me to interview and ended up offering me the job. They were just
worried about my ability to be concise given that the role involved quite a bit of content creation. And to
be honest, my cover letter was 700 words long, so I had really overdone it. A much more reasonable
word count is around 400 words. (FYI, the ‘bad’ cover letter above is about 150 words.)

So once again, go big, or go home. We’ll show you the structure you should follow to obtain an effective
cover letter. In fact, we’ll give you so much structure it will look like Frank Gehry conceived your cover
letter. It will be pure awesomeness.

So here’s what a better version of the previous cover letter reads like:

Dear Mr Lynch,

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of Data Analyst for the Fintech-er.
As a data analysis professional with two years’ experience, I believe my diverse skills and qualifications
will make me an asset to the Fintech-er product development team.

As you will see from the attached resume, I’ve built my career through a variety of roles and industries,
mostly in small companies where I was not just the data analyst but also a project manager, the team
leader, a researcher and the liaison between the engineering and customer service teams. I’m not only
used to wearing many hats, I sincerely enjoy it. And I believe the fintech industry is the place for me to
thrive in an exciting, challenging and fast-paced environment where no two work days are exactly the
same.

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 In addition to being flexible and having a versatile skillset, I’m also a fanatic for details - particularly when
it comes to data collection and analysis. One of my recent projects involved collecting and analysing data
from over 3000 users. I extracted the users’ data from the customer’s own database, preprocessed it into
a usable format, and handled missing values in a robust way. I then analysed and modelled the dataset in
Python, always careful not to make inferences from insignificant findings. The result? I communicated my
findings to the Product Development team and helped them completely reorganise their feature
development priorities, in particular targeting six problematic user workflows for redesign. I believe in
applying this same problem solving mindset to tasks as simple as prepping users for data collection, and
as sophisticated as making informed product development decisions.

Last but certainly not least, I want you to know that I’m a passionate Fintech-er fan, having used your
debit card since it first became available to the public in a Beta version. I’ve been following the fintech
industry since its early days and your launch of Payable. I’m very excited to help make your vision into
reality. I also signed up to Line, your new offering, and I use it for all of my transactions. I really enjoy the
new version of the app - the navigation is much more efficient and the budget management feature is a
really nice plus.

In closing, I am thrilled at the possibility of being involved in the fast growing fintech industry. And I
would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the value that I can bring Fintech-er and its Line
project. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Warmest regards,
Kate Michaels

Don’t you feel like you know this person after reading this? That her passion is actually palpable? That
you want her to work for you? That’s the feeling a good cover letter should give!

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 So let’s break this down:

Dear X,

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of [position] for [company]. As a
[position title] with [length] years’ experience, I believe my diverse skills and qualifications will make me a
valuable asset to [company/team].

As you will see from the attached resume, I’ve [detail most relevant achievement].

In addition to being [attributes proven by above-written achievement], I’m also [new attribute]. [Prove
new attribute that is highly relevant to the employer.]

Last but not least, [outline personal interest in targeted company/product, demonstrating knowledge of
their product and mission.]

In closing, [restate your enthusiasm for the job, highlight your potential added value and make yourself
available to discuss your application further]. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing
from you.

Warmest regards,
Full Name
Signature

27
 Paragraph 1.
The opening sentence: The compelling reason to read on

• The opening sentence of a cover letter announces its purpose and gives the reader a compelling
reason to read on. (Which is why we advised earlier to include a specific detailed fact about the company
here, to demonstrate interest and enthusiasm.)

• If you're responding to an advertisement, say so in your letter: ‘I am applying for the financial analyst
role advertised on Linkedin.’

• If someone mentioned the job opening to you, be sure to use his or her name in the introduction: ‘I
am writing to you at the suggestion of Baba Ganoush, who told me you may be looking for a new
assistant.’

• Write your pitch. What makes you a valuable candidate? If you’re not sure how to write a pitch, refer
back to ‘Step 8: Grab a hiring manager’s attention with a strong executive summary’ of our ‘10 Steps to
Give Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook.

28
 Paragraph 2-3.
The body of your letter: What makes you a valuable candidate

• This is where you write about the two experiences you chose in the previous step of this guide. You
can dedicate one paragraph to each experience. If deemed relevant, you can even write a third one.

• Explain more in depth what makes you a valuable candidate. What do you have to offer (in terms of
experience, achievements and personality) that would make you a great fit for the role?

• Then, use the STAR framework to make your narrative compelling. The STAR acronym stands for
Situation, Task, Action and Result.
- Situation: What situation was your previous employer facing and needed your input? This should be
a challenge you think the employer you’re applying to also has.
- Task: What was your task in the situation?
- Action: What actions did you actually perform? This should be something outstanding, which can
really set you apart.
- Result: What was the direct result of your outstanding action for the employer? Ideally, this should
be something that the recruiter will want you to replicate/emulate for their company.

• Don’t forget to use the appropriate role and industry-specific keywords!

29
 Paragraph 4.
The pre-closing statement: Your personal interest in the role

• Outline your personal interest in the targeted company/product, demonstrating knowledge of their
product(s) and mission.

Paragraph 5.
The optional paragraph: The explanation for a shortcoming

• When you’re missing a requirement for the role, you should always address this in your cover letter.
This is the place to do it. The person in the example above didn’t have any specific limitations, but we
give you plenty of examples in ‘Step 6: Address your shortcomings head on.’

Paragraph 6.
The closing statement: The conclusion

• This works as a conclusion to your letter. Use it to restate your enthusiasm for the job, highlight your
potential added value and make yourself available to discuss your application further.
• Always thank the reader for their time and consideration.

30
 I used this structure to rewrite my 700-words-long cover letter, and here’s the 450-words result:

Dear Michael,

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of User Engagement Scientist at
Anonymized Healthcare Company (AC). As a Patient Experience Consultant and Business Owner, I
believe my versatile skill set, qualifications and experience with engagement tactics in healthcare, will
make me an asset to your Engagement Team.

As you will see from the attached resume, I have been working alongside doctors in Paris, having
founded a consulting business for independent medical practices. I implemented personalized solutions
to increase their revenue through better patient acquisition, retention and reactivation. In other words, I
have been analysing and observing patient behaviour in order to better cater my clients’ services to their
patients’ needs and expectations, increasing patient retention by 20% on average. To do this, I engaged
with their patients on a regular basis, testing different tactics and continually striving to deliver the best
quality of service. I have also made an effort to automate patient engagement by increasing software
exploitation from 10-20% to 30-60%, successfully increasing automated reactivation.

In addition to having hands-on experience implementing and testing engagement strategies, I’m also
proficient in health data analysis. Beyond my empirical studies at McGill University and the London
School of Economics, I am currently pursuing an online University Diploma in Healthcare Databases
Design. And my work as a statistical advisor to a team of doctors conducting the largest-to-date study on
post-operatory results of intervertebral disc arthroplasty has readied me to contribute work to your
ongoing clinical trial.

31
 Last but certainly not least, I want you to know that I have a personal vested interest in your technology,
having had an experience with a traditional physiotherapy program after a skiing knee injury. I believe
that the technology you are creating adds tremendous value to the individual, to his employer, and to his
healthcare insurance by reducing the recurrence of surgery. And I wish I had access to it when I was
recovering from my injury.

In closing, I am thrilled at the possibility of contributing to the patient-centric digitization of clinical

pathway delivery, and would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the value that I can bring
to the Engagement Team. Beyond contributing a pair of fresh eyes, I can leverage my unique perspective
and work closely with your Product Team to achieve patient adoption and continued engagement.
Having prior startup experience, I enjoy being challenged and continually learning new skills (including
SQL and Ruby/Rails). I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Warmest regards,
Mirona Agachi

To give you an idea of how different two cover letters can be, even when applying to two similar roles
but at widely different companies, I wrote another cover letter, to Amazon this time, to (fictionally) join
their company as a UX Scientist:

Dear Appropriate Person,

User experience can make or break a product. I have understood this the hard way, while co-founding
and building two businesses. Focusing on user adoption and continued engagement with our product, I
A/B tested UX strategies, conducted rigorous customer analysis and developed design driven solutions.
It is now with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of UX Scientist, where I hope
to apply the same growth mindset.

32
 As you will see in my resume, I co-founded Winederful in China - a B2C e-commerce that imports and
sells wine, and in the process contributes to changing the way local consumers experience drinking wine.
We led qualitative research to determine our target market, getting 500+ participants to complete a
survey about their drinking habits and motivations. We also analysed industry practices, which led us to
look for alternative UX patterns that provided a pleasant, luxurious, almost dreamy experience. In
particular, we found luxury travel agencies to provide the online user experience we wanted for our
customers and I closely worked with a team of designers to replicate the digital experience we
envisioned on our e-commerce platform. We introduced search by type of occasion, as well as by
personality, and tailored each step to customer expectations. The result is arguably the most user-centric
wine platform on the Chinese market.

Upon my return to Europe, I started freelancing as a small-structure consultant in Patient Experience in

the healthcare sector. I implemented personalized solutions, borrowing from UX practices, to increase
patient acquisition, retention and reactivation. I analysed and observed patient behaviour in order to
better cater my clients’ services to their patients’ needs and expectations. I even directly engaged with
their patients, testing different tactics and always striving to get them the best quality of service.

These different experiences have developed my passion for user experience, while diversifying my
skillset and testing my flexibility. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the value that
I can bring to your UX Team. And in truth, having recently devoured “The Everything Store” by Brad
Stone, I am thrilled at the possibility of being involved in user research at the most customer-centric
company in the world.

I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Warmest regards,
Mirona Agachi

33
 And what if I now decided to apply to a very different role, such as a financial role for example? Given my
very diverse background, I could pull it off by writing my experience from a relevant perspective, even if
the role I’m targeting has nothing in common with User Experience (UX) Design. Note how different the
next sample is from the previous ones (and so would be the resume for this different application!):

Dear CEO,

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of Financial Analyst at ABC
Health Company. Having co-founded two businesses, one of them in healthcare, I acquired three years of
experience in startup business analysis and financial reporting. I also recently obtained an online
certification in Accounting, so please allow me to further explain how this experience has taught me a
versatile skill set that I would love to apply while becoming a valuable asset to your Business
Development Team.

Coming from a family of medical professionals, I was immersed in the healthcare industry from a young
age. I was fascinated by its inefficiencies, which led me to study Comparative Health Policy. My first
experience as an administrator at a private clinic in 2011 introduced me to the business aspects of
healthcare. I quickly took on an array of responsibilities on my own initiative, analysing business activity
and setting delivery objectives to ensure profitability. In addition to optimizing workflows and halving
non medical working time for doctors, I also discovered a discrepancy in the billing process while
computing monthly overhead and revenue. I promptly investigated it on my own when the Accounting
Department Head wouldn’t acknowledge the error. I persisted by producing a detailed dysfunction
report that I sent to Management, which in the end saved the department a 17% loss in revenue. After
the summer, I was kept on as a consultant, and my recommendations helped double the department’s
revenue in six months.

34
 Doctors in the clinic took notice and started coming to me for business development advice, which led
me to start freelancing as a small-structure consultant in healthcare. I worked alongside five medical
private practices, implementing data-driven solutions to improve productivity through patient
acquisition, retention and reactivation. I observed a pressing need for more workflow efficiency and
improved business practices. For example, my clients did not track their KPIs nor knew the state of their
finances. In setting appropriate targets with them, I had to establish their financial statements and
conduct a full analysis of their activity. As a result, I identified areas of opportunity, such as pricing
restructuring and/or cost reduction opportunities. I generated a monthly report to help them understand
where they stood and to identify trends over time. This data-driven and hands-on approach helped
quadruple the revenue of one of my clients in the first year.

At the same time, I co-founded a B2C wine e-commerce in China. My role in the company included
business analysis and financial modelling. During the six months that I spent in Shenzhen, I structured the
company’s assets, liabilities and equity. I also projected its costs and revenue, and then reported budget
variance as operations progressed. Upon securing a $200,000 capital investment in Shanghai to launch
our online platform, I evaluated new target numbers for sales and revenue and designed a sophisticated
pricing model. Based on the quantity of wine bottles per shipment, it calculated optimal pricing so that
we could reach our profit target, while still offering below-market rates to our customers. I also
optimized our shipping, finding a way to consolidate our merchandise (originating from different
locations across Europe) for transport, leading to an 18% cost reduction.

I am now thrilled at the possibility of joining a larger infrastructure where I can bring my growth mindset
and natural inclination towards problem solving. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and
discuss the value that I can bring ABC. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from
you.

Warmest regards,
Mirona Agachi
35
 Step 4:
avoid these 23 sinful sentences

‘i’m the most qualified candidate’

‘I’m applying for [position that doesn’t exist]

‘Ahoy, there’

‘I’m a visionary leader.’

‘This job is beneath me’

‘I work well independently and as part of a team.’

 1. ‘Dear Sirs’, ‘Dear sir or madam’, ‘To whom it may concern’, or ‘Ahoy, there.’ Just go with ‘Dear
hiring manager’ if you don’t know the name of your recipient.

2. ‘My name is…’ This makes you sound like a 10-year old. The hiring manager knows your name by
now.

3. ‘Please let me know if you’d like me to send you my resume.’ Uumf. You’re wasting precious time.
Just send your resume with the letter. If it's a tactic to get an answer, then you are better off sending a
follow up after you've sent your application - its a much smarter way of receiving an answer. And if you’re
tired of sending out applications but not knowing if they read your resume, install a plugin that tracks
document downloads or link clicks in the emails you send. For example, if you’re using Chrome, you can
stalk your email delivery with Streak (which will let you know when someone has opened your email for
free).

4. ‘I am just wondering if you are still offering this position?’ Assume they do and submit your
application.

5. ‘I’m applying for [position that doesn’t exist]’, or ‘I’m interested in working at [wrong company]’
Forgetting to customize things like the name of the job, company and hiring manager is a shockingly
common sin amongst applicants. A surprisingly high number of candidates send cover letters addressed
to the wrong person, naming the wrong company or expressing interest in a position that doesn't even
exist at the place they're applying, because they send out their applications in batches and forget to
customize the details of the letter.

6. ‘I’m the best candidate/perfect fit for this position,’ ‘I'm uniquely qualified to do this job,’ or
‘You won’t find a more qualified candidate than me.’ Well, how do you know you are the best
candidate when you don’t know how you compare to other applicants? People who start their letter this
way are seldom the best candidate for the job. Sorry.

37
 7. ‘I meet the requirements for the role.’ This says you’re an adequate candidate, like 100 others, most
likely. Instead, focus on what makes you an exceptional fit for the job.

8. ‘I'm a hard-working, detail-oriented, proactive self-starter with great communication skills.’ Wow,
that’s a serious mouthful. Eek. Don’t just proclaim attributes. If you want to convince the recruiter that
you are these things, describe accomplishments that prove that you’re indeed hard-working,
detail-oriented, a proactive self-starter, and have great communication skills.

9. ‘I’m a visionary leader.’ Yes, people really self-proclaim themselves to be visionary leaders. Not just
leaders - visionary as well. Don’t be one of them... Now, if you inspired a 2000+ people rally around the
topic of durable energy and single-handedly organised the masses to march on the capitol and demand
sanctions against environmental sinners, talk about it in your cover letter but don’t auto-proclaim yourself
a visionary leader - it will be obvious you are one. You can also be a more humble, modest leader who
led small teams to new heights.

10. ‘I work well independently and as part of a team.’ If this is really the biggest achievement you
want to tell your recruiter, you may have to rethink your skillset. This is expected and doesn’t set you
apart from other applicants.

11. ‘It’s difficult to capture what I have to offer and who I am in a cover letter, so I hope you’ll give
me an interview.’ This basically says that you’re too good for the hiring process the employer has
chosen, and shows you’re not willing to submit to the ‘rules of the hiring game’ like every other
applicant. Plus, you’re basically asking for special treatment on the basis that you can’t figure out how to
write a compelling cover letter. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not that special - if other
applicants can successfully convey their skillset in their resume and cover letter, so can you. We have faith
in you, and so should you!

12. ‘I want to find employment in a fast-paced organisation with great opportunities for
advancement.’ You don’t say, really? So does every other candidate! Besides, your reader doesn’t care
what you want, first and foremost they care about what they want and how you could meet their needs.
38
 13. ‘As you will see from my resume, I am overqualified for this position, but I am willing to take
any job and work my way up.’ This particular blend of arrogance and desperation will not get your foot
in the door...

14. ‘I’m seeking a salary of X amount.’ Nope. Not the place to discuss your salary (unless they ask you
to include it in the job description, and even then, it’s best to say something along the lines of ‘I’m more
interested in joining a company in a role that’s a good fit for my strengths. And I’m confident that you’re
offering a salary that values my skillset and experience competitively for the role.’)

15. ‘Salary is negotiable,’ or ‘I’m willing to work for below the salary you’re offering.’ Just don’t go
there. You don’t want them to hire you because you’re the cheapest commodity on the job market. You
want them to hire you because you’re a good fit and you’ll do the best job - which also means they’ll
actually value you. Besides, the company allocates a budget for the position, and many hiring managers
won’t care about finding someone ‘cheaper,’ they’ll care about finding someone competent.

16. ‘I’ll call your office next week to schedule an interview.’ This is way too arrogant, presuming they
actually want to interview you. What you can do though, is politely follow up with them by email after a
week, reiterating your interest in the position and giving them a new reason to be interested in meeting
you (like describing your proficiency in another skill required in the job description that you may not have
addressed in your previous cover letter).

17. ‘I know how to penetrate an organisation.’ Too aggressive. Choose your wording wisely.
‘Integrate’ or ‘onboard’ are much more appropriate words.

18. ‘I’ve attached my college transcripts, a list of references, a writing sample, and my last
performance review.’ If this is not asked of you in the job description, don’t send materials that are not
wanted. Wait for later stages in the hiring process.

19. ‘It was a bright and beautiful day.’ Unless you’re applying for a storytelling position, there’s no
need for storytelling on your cover letter. Just be straightforward when describing your experience.
39
 20. ‘Proficient in Word’ or ‘Proficient in Twitter.’ Not only are these a given today, but is there really
nothing more exciting about you than the fact that you can use tools that everyone else can? Use your
cover letter strategically to highlight impressive and highly relevant skills.

21. ‘I’m a great office party dancer.’ While humor can be a desired personality trait in any employee,
you don’t know your reader - yet. So you don’t know how they’ll interpret such statements. Jokes often
don’t translate well in writing - especially in formal correspondence. Yet, more and more candidates try
to include something witty about themselves to make themselves seem more personable. Remember
that you don’t know the person reading your cover letter and you should stay formal to demonstrate
you’re taking the process seriously.

22. ‘My wonderful girlfriend introduced me to your product.’ This is not the place to profess your
love for your partner. As a rule of thumb, avoid oversharing personal information, including your
childhood sob stories and other instances of oversharing personal details.

23. ‘I left my last job because...’ There’s nothing good or professional that EVER follows this statement.
Besides, you don’t have to explain such things in your cover letter. For all that your reader knows, you
just had a temporary work contract or the company downsized. This will be a topic for your interview.

40
 Step 5:
get inspired by 5 more
real cover letters
 Here’s an anonymyzed letter that was written by a graduating Stanford student seeking an internship in
financial consulting:

Dear Mr Welsch,

I am currently in my penultimate year at Stanford University reading Economics and Finance, and believe
I have the strengths to succeed in the summer internship advertised by Anonymised Company (AC) at
the University’s Career Event of 2 February 2017.

I aspire to work for AC as a consultant to help develop innovative business strategies and workflows
tailored to the requirements of each client. I discovered an interest in the mergers and acquisitions sector
during my experiences in Central Asia, while witnessing the process of due diligence and negotiations
involved in the merger of XY and ZW.

In addition to my deep understanding of processes in the mergers and acquisition sector, I’ve
demonstrated my ability to generate business advice when completing research projects similar to those
that I would undertake as an intern. Using Excel and Statplus, I interpreted public markets and
proprietary accounts data, and communicated the results in reports. I explained Land Securities’ sale of
its subsidiary Trillium to Telereal, and identified the impact of reforms affecting their tax status. These
projects form the part of my course that I enjoyed the most and they are also where I obtained my
highest grades.

AC also attracted my attention with its distinctive collaborative atmosphere that rewards initiative. As the
President of the Stanford Model United Nations Society, I encouraged my team to exceed prior
achievements with the same philosophy. One month ago, we organised a simulation of a UN conference
that brought together 670 international students. The 30% increase in attendance compared to the
previous session proved my team’s ability to understand attendee desires, and successfully organize and
manage a large thematic gathering.

42
 In this sense, working at AC fits perfectly with my skills, ambition and values. Enclosed is a copy of my
resume. I am available for an interview at your convenience, and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours respectfully,
Alex Maiers

Here’s an anonymised example from someone transitioning into finance and submitting a spontaneous
application to an investment fund:

Dear Mr. Smith,

Please find attached several long and short investment theses. Through my personal verifiable account
with [Online brokerage], I personally invested in some of these companies, otherwise I would not
recommend them to you either. I specialize in energy, healthcare and consumers. After studying
international relations at the London School of Economics, I pursued a research masters in economics at
Beijing University, focusing on energy markets.

During my studies I started working part time at Pictet in alternative investments research, and later on
interned at Morgan Stanley in healthcare M&A. In 2012, I set up a wine and spirits distribution company
in China. We now hired an ex HSBC private wealth management banker as CEO, with a team and offices
in Shenzhen and Guangzhou. This first entrepreneurial experience taught me how a business really works
from corporate finance to its market position.

Hence I started studying companies and industries in depth, and investing. I perform my own due
diligence and build operational, valuation, and sometimes merger models. I also combine my data
mining skills, my passion for statistics and the 8 languages I speak at different levels in helping me look
through investment opportunities in the countries I am familiar with. I could only ever pursue a career
that is intellectually challenging, and where I get to learn from my colleagues and partners. Investing is
one of the few such careers I know of. But perhaps uniquely, investing also provides ample means for
validation, correction, and self-improvement.
43
 I believe XYZ Capital would be the perfect place for me to pursue my passion for investing. With XYZ’s
global interest, exposure to Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, and distressed and value driven
strategies, I could contribute immediately. I consider Asia to be the most exciting economic region over
the next couple of decades. The demographic, cultural, economic, and sometimes political changes
happening here will transform the face of the planet, and it would be very exciting to be a student of
these changes at XYZ Capital working for you, Mr. Smith.

Last but not least, I believe my capacity to learn and challenge myself gives me the tools needed to learn
from you and become a successful investor. I am applying for a volunteer position at the beginning
because, with a singular background, I think I should prove myself before you decide to invest more in
me. You would not invest in an asset without thoroughly understanding it, and one should not do so with
an analyst either.

Thank you very much for your time Mr. Smith. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Jack Leisst

Notice how this applicant went the extra mile with ‘Please find attached here several long and short
investment theses?’ He literally prepared an investment thesis to give a sample of the work he would be
doing if the hiring manager decided to take him on. These are the kind of initiatives that make
candidates stand out and spark interest in the case of spontaneous applications.

Now, moving on to an anonymized cover letter written by a graduating student to a college recruiter at
McKinsey to ask for an interview for a business analyst position:

44
 Dear [Name of Campus Recruiter],

I am a senior at ABC University majoring in economics with a concentration in management. McKinsey’s

approach to consulting picked my interest after speaking with [current employee, title]. I find McKinsey’s
unique ability to form diverse teams to be an unique asset in tackling all the problems a client may have.
I am impressed by the amount of attention and dedication that McKinsey puts into working with its
clients, not only by devising effective strategies to address the clients’ problems, but also by often
implementing the recommendations on-site. This is why it is with great enthusiasm that I submit this
request for an invitation to interview for a Business Analyst position with McKinsey.

In the past three years, I have been involved in strategy consulting and government affairs for policy
think tank XYZ. This has led me to work on a strategy consulting project in association with a BCG
5-member team. We evaluated the implementation challenges of the new environmental [new law] for a
[major automobile company]. Through my management of recruitment and interviews with 52 experts, I
obtained primary research and analyzed it on national and regional levels to recommend and help
implement improvements in the client’s implementation plan. I learned how to work in a
deadline-oriented environment, held responsibility for large segments of a team project, and enhanced
my quantitative skills through analysis of primary and secondary research data. In addition, I conducted
independent research to form recommendations on how to best prepare for future environmental laws
and minimize the costs of compliance, and I presented these key considerations to the client.

I also lobbied Senators at [government] as part of the think tank’s [project]. Lobbying has taught me
negotiation skills, the need for contingency plans, and the ability to make quick yet innovative decisions.
In fact, I was appointed [Project] Leader a year ago due to my success in securing votes for [law project].
This promotion allowed me to participate in the think tank’s annual meetings and contribute to its public
policy objectives report.

45
 Through my experience with BCG and XYZ, along with my modeling work at ABC, I used my
management skills to negotiate and consult with others, analytically design a successful plan, and
execute my ideas. I am confident that I can bring my strong, diverse business background to become an
asset to the current needs of your team and longer term the future ventures of McKinsey. I welcome the
opportunity to speak with you about my qualifications and ways in which I can contribute to your
projects. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,
John Doe

Here’s a sample from a student looking for an internship or for a summer job:

Dear Appropriate Person,

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of [position] for [company]. I came
across the role description on [website name], and was delighted to find that my academic
accomplishments exceed all of the requirements you listed. As a junior Economics student at the
University of New York, I currently hold a 3.9 GPA and have been on the Dean’s List every semester. I
believe my ability to apply [relevant academic concepts] and my [relevant diverse
background/skillset/experience] will make me an asset to your [team/project].

While pursuing my degree in Economics, I have strategically focused my coursework to acquire skills in
data analysis, international markets, financial modelling and market research. Using this knowledge, I
designed a [specific financial model] for a local NGO that yielded the [highest output on investment
based on a budget].

46
 In addition to being well-versed in financial and business modelling, I’m also a skilled communicator. I
wrote a report to explain my findings to the NGO’s director, and my proposed changes were so well
received that I got invited to doing the same for three other local non-profits. Plus, as the President of
NYU’s Modeled United Nations society, I led a 23-people team to successfully organise NYU’s 2017 MUN
Conference. Our efforts were so effective that we increased participation by 33% compared to 2017.
Then, at the conference, I lobbied an agenda to abandon the American Dollar for Bitcoin to 300+
international students. I even conquered the strongest opposition to Bitcoin and together, we created a
new stock market that traded in cryptocurrencies.

Last but not least, I have been enthusiastically following your company’s [newsletter] for three years now,
hoping to learn as many of your insights as I could from a distance. In particular, your article on [topic]
motivated me to conduct further research and I wrote a term paper [explain research and findings].

In closing, I am thrilled at the possibility of being involved in [company’s industry]. And I would love the
opportunity to meet with you and discuss the value that I can bring [company and its project]. I
appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,
Mike Sanders

And finally, an example that’s been anonymised by Askamanager and which is a little more out there:

Dear Hiring Manager:

The minute I saw this position posted on Indeed, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity. I could see that
this was the perfect fit for my experience and qualifications, and that I’m exactly what you need. I’m
quite sure you hear this kind of hyperbole all the time, so please [allow me to] tell you a bit about why it’s
true in this case.

47
 I’ve been following Stark Investments’ progress with interest for several months now, ever since I noticed
a large number of postings for the hotels you’d bought in Westeros. A bit of research - particularly a look
into the case studies posted on the Stark website and reading up on financial articles about the sale of
the four Westeros hotels - provided further information. Specifically, that Stark has frequently bought up
hotels that are struggling and turns them around. And along with physical improvements to the hotel,
that’ll mean ‘cleaning house’: freshening up the staff as well as the building.

So here’s the crux of it: you need someone new who isn’t wedded to doing everything the way it’s been
done before. Someone who’s committed to high standards and is willing to adjust, change, or
completely redo current procedures to find the best way of doing things, and who lives and breathes
top-notch customer service. And since all of that is my bread and butter, I’m really excited about this
opportunity. Every place I’ve worked, my favorite part of the job [has been] looking at how things are
done and trying to figure out ways to do it better. From finding the best place to store supplies for easy
access to generating new and better forms, I absolutely love finding the most efficient way to do
something. Needless to say, I’m eager to get my hands into a juicy project like this and get things
running smoothly.

Of course, efficiency isn’t the only thing you’ll need, and the most efficient restaurant in the world won’t
succeed without solid customer service. I adore working with people, and I have a binder full of
compliments to testify to it. To me, customers aren’t irritations to be overcome; they’re the ‘fun’ part of
my job. I’ve even held a leadership position before in a restaurant, so while this would be my first
management position within a hotel, I already have a sense of how I’d like to handle issues, what I’ll do
under pressure, and what the difficulties in supervising a position like this are.

I’m really thrilled about this opportunity, and I’d love to talk more about it with you. I can be reached at
[phone number]. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Dany Targaryen
This cover letter is reproduced from askamanager.com, linked here.
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 Step 6:
ADDRESS YOUR LIMITATIONs
HEAD ON
 When you lack a crucial requirement like ‘3+ years of experience in the role’ or ‘Master’s Degree in XYZ’,
but you still think you can do the job and should be considered, don’t sweep your shortcoming under the
rug and hope for the best. It will be noticed.

As a rule of thumb, if you're afraid that a potential employer might be put off by something on your CV,
the strategy is to get in front of it and take control of the narrative. If you don't say anything about it, the
recruiter can make up their own mind. And when hiring managers have unanswered questions about
your candidacy, it’s sometimes easier for them to just move to a different applicant. But if you address
these possible concerns head-on, you have a chance to 'explain' yourself - spin the situation in your
favour and get invited to interview.

Indeed, a lot of the time, job postings will have requirements that you may not meet, but that doesn’t
mean you’re not right for the job. Acknowledge that you don’t have that requirement but devote the rest
of your cover letter to explaining why you have the motivation and skills to succeed anyway. By admitting
your inadequacies, you show that you’re self-aware enough to know your areas for improvement. And
that you’re confident enough to be open about them. And furthermore that you’re interested in being
hired for what you actually bring to the table, not what you pretend to bring.

In our opinion, the best way of doing this is towards the end of your cover letter, before your concluding
sentence(s). After you’ve successfully conveyed your relevant experience, enthusiasm and interest in the
role and company, and given proof of why you’re a qualified candidate for the job:

1) Acknowledge you don’t have one of the requirements.

2) Explain what you’re doing to make up for it.

3) Reiterate that your other competencies make you a valuable candidate for the job.

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 IF YOU HAVE LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE

Even when you have little (or even no) formal work experience, you can still demonstrate that you can do
things. Do you have any special abilities or knowledge that you could build upon if hired? For example,
did you work on a project in university that was in the same industry as the firm you're applying with
now? Did you volunteer at a company in the same industry over the summer? Do you have experience
with a specific software that will be used extensively in the position? Did you complete coursework that
required you to apply relevant concepts?

At this stage in your career, it might not be direct job experience, and that’s okay. Most likely, you’re
applying for an entry-level position so they’re not expecting you to have much experience. However,
they are expecting you to know why you’re likely to excel at the job they’re offering. What are you good
at?

As long as you put forward the evidence from your background - your volunteering, extracurriculars or
education - which demonstrates you could do well in the role, you are putting forward a good
application. Just make sure to compellingly tie your background to what you would be doing on the job,
just like you would if you had more formal work experience.

If you’re struggling to figure out what you’re good at, ask your friends! It often helps to put into evidence
your strongest traits. Better yet, tell a good friend why you’d excel at this job. See what skills, interests,
perspectives, talents you come up with.

And if you really can’t think of anything, maybe it’s time to pick up some volunteering and get involved
more!

51
 So for this situation, you don’t necessarily need to write a paragraph justifying your limitation, because
hiring managers understand you may not have much formal experience. However, if the job requires 1
year of experience and you don’t have it, you may want to conclude your letter with something along the
lines of:

While I have no formal work experience in this role, I believe that my volunteering experience and
[proven track record emphasized in previous paragraphs] make me ready to contribute to your [team].
My flexibility and growth mindset make me a fast learner, which give me confidence in my ability to
successfully become your [role]. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, discuss the
value that I can bring [company], and address any concerns you may have about my candidacy.

If you lack a requirement listed in the job posting

Sometimes, we read a job offer that seems perfect for us…. that is, until we read ‘3+ years experience’
or ‘Master’s Degree’ under the list of requirements. While discouraging at first, there might still be a way
around it!

First, you want to make sure that the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) the company is using (if they’re
using one) won’t screen you out automatically. Second, you want to convince the hiring manager that
you can do the job despite this limitation.

So let’s say you want to apply for a position at Google that you’re perfect for, except for the Master’s
Degree they’re asking you to have. Their ATS is set up to scan all applications for that Master’s, so if you
don’t have it (in other words, the software doesn’t find the words ‘Master’ + ‘XYZ’ in your application),
you’ll get rejected automatically. However, if you talk about ‘Master XYZ’ in your application, the
software won’t know if it’s to say that you have it or not, it will just know that it’s there, so your resume
might get advanced to the next round where a human will review it. That’s where your compelling cover
letter will be crucial in advancing you to the next stage of the selection process.
52
 However, given the competition level at companies like Google, odds are someone just like you will
apply, except they’ll also have the Master’s Degree. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! But try
smart. Do you know anyone who works there? Could you get a referral? If you don’t know anyone, why
not cold contact the hiring manager or the team manager on Linkedin?

The employer wants that Master’s Degree because they think it’s a guarantee you will know certain
concepts and be operational in some areas. But that doesn’t mean you can’t convince them with other
guarantees! Showing them you’re scrappy, passionate and incredibly committed can speak much louder
than having earned any degree. So if you don’t have a master’s degree in a certain field, explain that you
obtained an equivalent online certification or that you started an online degree which you can complete
by the time they hire you ;)

Here’s an example of what you could write for this situation:

While I don’t have the required [Master’s Degree], I believe that my experience in [Master’s degree field]
acquired while [mention job or project that you described in the rest of the cover letter to prove your
competency] demonstrate not only my understanding of [field concept] but also my ability to successfully
apply it [to achieve results]. What’s more, I have enrolled in [online course] to further my understanding
of [field]. I am to receive a [diploma/certification] in one month upon successful completion, which will
further demonstrate my literacy in [field].

Another common situation is when they ask for a minimum of X years of experience and you have less.
For this one, it’s a little more difficult to trick ATS software because they can calculate for how long
you’ve worked. If you’re lucky, this won’t happen and a hiring manager will get to read your cover letter,
where you wrote something along the lines of:

While I only have 1 year of formal work experience in this role, I believe that my [proven track record
emphasized in previous paragraphs] make me ready to contribute to your [team]. My hybrid skillset and
flexibility make me a fast learner, which will guarantee my fast grasp of this role. I would greatly
appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, discuss the value that I can bring [company], and address
53 any concerns you may have about my shorter formal experience.
 If you worked across multiple roles and industries

Good news! A hybrid skillset is increasingly seen as an asset by hiring managers. Gone are the days of
singular expertise; businesses covet skill diversity now. In particular, versatility across multiple areas of
business is proving to be a coveted leadership trait. The greater the exposure to various job functions,
the better leaders can navigate the ever-changing world of business, climb the career ladder, and take
the helm of their ships.

However, at first sight, your resume may paint a picture of an unfocused background and diluted
expertise. Some recruiters might even think that you just don’t know what you want. But that doesn’t
mean you can’t make a very strong application. Beyond tapping into your transferable skills on your
resume (if you don’t know what these are, read ‘Step 5: Compose your skillset strategically’ in our ‘10
Steps to Give Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook), take control of the narrative to portray your
versatility as an asset, rather than a potential weakness.

Be confident about your decisions and reflect on how they were best for you. How does it make you a
stronger applicant? A fresh perspective? Flexibility in fast-paced environments? A multidisciplinary
approach to solving challenges? If you own your choices, you can clearly articulate the benefits of your
diverse experience - which might actually impress the recruiter!

Here’s an example of what you could write:

Being new to your [industry] will help me approach the role with a fresh pair of eyes. In particular, my
experience in [other industry] has endowed me with an efficiency-driven mindset, which I could apply to
improve your processes and streamline your workflows. In addition, my hybrid skillset makes me a
flexible employee, with a proven growth mindset, that I believe can make me an asset to your
[team/project].

54
 Don’t forget that this is a concluding paragraph, so make sure you have substantiated any skills you claim
here, in the rest of your cover letter. Don’t say you have a hybrid skillset, are flexible or have a proven
growth mindset if there’s nothing else in your cover letter to prove that you do! If you’re not sure how to
demonstrate these skills, review ‘Step 5: Compose your skillset strategically’ of our ‘10 Steps to Give
Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook, where we teach you how to convincingly prove your
transferable soft skills.

If you’re a job hopper

Job hopping is perceived as a problem by employers because it poses a question of whether you’re
reliable or not. So your challenge is to justify why they should give you a chance, given that you’ve had
so many jobs (let’s say you’ve switched jobs every 6 months for example). When you lack job consistency,
your best bet is to make yourself attractive enough to entice the hiring manager to forgive you for your
job-hopping past, and to provide some guarantees that you’re committed to them in the long-term and
won’t repeat your colorful past. For example, what makes you ready now to start and commit to a career
with their company, given that clearly you were not ready before?

Besides, you can lighten up! If presented right, there are ways in which job hopping can even make your
career stronger:

• Job hopping leads to a more diverse experience. And having a hybrid skillset is increasingly seen as an
asset by hiring managers. In particular, versatility across multiple areas of business is even proving to be a
coveted leadership trait.
• Job hopping means you might make more money. Use the job offer as an opportunity to negotiate
with your prospective employer. Ask for more!
• Job hopping keeps you sharp. Switching jobs means you’re constantly learning new skills and adapting
to new environments. Flexibility is just as important as versatility in today’s job market!
55
 So when you explain your job hopping, don’t make excuses for it. Instead, explain its bright side. Be
confident about your decisions and reflect on how they were best for you. Ultimately, if you’re confident
about your choices and can clearly articulate the benefits of your diverse experience, this is sure to
impress the recruiter and shed the best light possible on your past job hopping.

Here’s an example of what you could write:

As you may have seen in my resume, I have had three jobs in the past 16 months. While I would have
preferred to commit to one company and focus on growing my career with them, this diverse experience
has endowed me with a flexible growth mindset that make me a very fast learner. I am confident that this
hybrid skillset will allow me to become an asset to your [team] very fast. And I believe [company] is the
right place for me to grow my career over the years, while becoming indispensable to your [operations]. I
would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, discuss the value that I can bring [company],
and address any concerns you may have about my candidacy.

If you have a considerable employment gap

Did you really not do anything at all during your employment gap? Did you get involved in your
community or pursued any projects? Any volunteering or self-directed work can demonstrate valuable
soft skills, which are relevant to any employer, even if they’re not directly related to their current
opening.

Beyond this, be smart in your job search! It will be easier for you to get a foot in the door if you are
referred by a connection who vouches for you. If you're not sure what to write, check out our
‘Networking 101’ guide, which covers situations like what to say when you reconnect with a connection
you've lost touch with (like college friends for example, who could help you find an opportunity), and
how to enquire about open positions.
56
 In any case, here’s what you could write in your cover letter:

As you may have seen in my resume, I have taken a break from employment for two years. [Quickly
mention why you haven’t sought employment in 2 years if you think it could be relevant, but don’t
overshare or relate a sob story.] Nevertheless, I have kept my skills current through my involvement with
[project/company…]. I am now available to commit to a team again and am enthusiastic for the
opportunity to do so at your company. I believe [company] is the right place for me to grow my career
over the years, while becoming indispensable to your [operations]. I would greatly appreciate the
opportunity to meet with you, discuss the value that I can bring to [company], and address any concerns
you may have about my candidacy.

57
 Step 7:
use appropriate salutations
 You’re reaching the end of your cover letter and would like to spice up your salutation. To save you the
time of deciding what’s appropriate, we’ve compiled a list of salutations and sentences that you can use -
both to start and finish your letter.

Opening salutations

Try to address the letter to a specific individual, if you can. While most companies won’t have a specific
person who receives your application, if you have a name, make sure you use the correct spelling.
Otherwise, they may think you are not very detail-oriented and will read your letter with a negative bias.

Use their first name only if you've been personally introduced and have already referred to that person
by first name in conversation:
• Dear Lisa,

Otherwise, use the person's surname preceded by Mr. or Ms:

• Dear Ms. Agachi,

If you don’t have a name, use:

• Dear hiring manager,
• Dear Hiring Manager,

59
 Opening sentences

• I’d love to be considered for your [position].

• I hope you’ll consider me for your [position].
• I was excited to see your job posting for [position].
• It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of [position].
• I am applying for the [position] role advertised on [source].
• I am writing you at the suggestion of Michael Phelps, who told me you may be looking for a [position].

Closing sentences

• Thank you very much for your time Mr. Smith. I look forward to hearing from you.
• Enclosed is a copy of my resume. I am available for an interview at your convenience, and look forward
to hearing from you.
• I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
• I’m really thrilled about this opportunity, and I’d love talking more about it with you. I can be reached
at [phone number]. I look forward to hearing from you.

60
 Closing salutations

• Sincerely,
• Best regards,
• Respectfully,
• Most sincerely,
• Kind regards,
• Many thanks,

Then finish with your handwritten signature and full name. And you’re (almost) done!

61
 Step 8:
choose a simple format
 A cover letter is really just a letter, so don’t overthink its format. A neatly formatted, professional-looking
and easy to read letter is all you need. What really matters is what you write in it.

This said, here are a few simple formatting rules that will enhance the readability for your letter.

1. Use the same fonts you used in your resume

Remember how we told you in ‘Step 1: Become the most professional applicant’ of our ‘10 Steps to Give
Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook to keep a consistent styling? That also applies to your cover
letter. Just use the same fonts and sizes as on your resume.

2. Write in a black font on a white background

Yup, it’s as simple as that. There’s a reason, beyond cost-effectiveness, why books are written in black, on
white pages. Black letters on a white background provide a very high contrast, making it very easy to
read.

3. Add line breaks between your paragraphs

One empty line between paragraphs is enough to signal that you’re (slightly) changing topics, and to
aerate your letter.

4. Align your text to the left

The alignment must allow the eye to flow from one line to the next. An alignment to the left (rather than
to the center) will guarantee a clear and easy-to-follow flow.
63
 5. Don’t justify your text

We always advise against justifying your text. This one may seem hard to accept for the alignment and
symmetry aficionados out there. But trust us, it really improves readability.

To dive deeper, let’s say you have a six-line paragraph. Did you know that ideally:
• your first line should be shorter than the second one,
• the third and fourth should be the longest,
• the fifth should be a little shorter than the third and fourth,
• while the last line should be the shortest of the paragraph?

Like so:
---------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
--------------------

A shorter first line makes the reader more receptive to reading a longer line next, while a very short last
line gives the impression that the text will be quick to read. It motivates the reader to finish the long line,
because they know a short one follows.

This description of the ideal layout is really a cherry on the cake type of rule. If you simply don’t justify
your text, you are already a winner in our eyes. You can go further per our advice here, but it’s really a
personal choice to do so.
64
 6. Indent your paragraphs

This also makes your letter look more professional. Indenting your paragraphs just means that you add a
‘tab’ at the beginning of each paragraph.

Like so:
--------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
--------------------

7. Add a signature

This one is not a must, but we personally really like the professional and formal look that it gives to a
cover letter.
• So sign on a white paper,
• scan it (if you don’t have a scanner, a phone app like Scannable or CamScanner do the trick),
• open the scanned document and take a screenshot of only your signature, which will create a small
photo file on your computer, with only your signature on a white background, and
• add this ‘picture’ below your name at the end of your letter.

Like so:

65
 8. Include your contact information and your recipient

At the top of your cover letter, include your contact information and your recipient’s, like you would on
any official letter. Your details go at the very top to the right, and the recipient’s go right under yours,
and to the left. Like so:

Full Name
Phone number
Email
Link to Linkedin profile

Recipient full name

Title
Company

9. Add a subject line

Make the subject of your letter clear with a subject line. Underline it or bolden it (not both).

For example: Subject: Candidacy for Financial Analyst position advertised on your website

10. Don’t submit a cover letter that’s longer than a page

Hiring managers often disagree over what length a cover letter should be. Most prefer ‘about a page,’
while others might prefer something shorter (because the latter don’t usually place much emphasis on
your cover letter for their decision). However, they almost all agree that it shouldn’t be longer than a
page.
66
 If you’ve been paying attention in our ‘10 Steps to Give Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook,
you’ll remember that hiring managers are looking for people with effective communication skills, no
matter what industry they work in. Do you think that a 1000-word cover letter will convince them that
you can be concise and to the point when collaborating with colleagues on projects? Definitely not.

In any case, a certain length is not what makes a cover letter effective. It’s what it says that matters. The
perfect length for a cover letter is the amount of characters it takes you to explain why you’re a great fit
for the job (assuming you’ve edited and removed the fluff and filler words). The perfect length is the
number of words that it takes you to tell a story in which you demonstrated exceptional results,
convincing the hiring manager that you can do the same at their company. One page is almost always
about right.

Beyond these rules, it really doesn’t matter. We promise you no one will care if you have a letterhead, or
a watermark, or whatever other whim you’re thinking of adding. No one cares that much. So put the
effort into the content of your letter instead, because that’s what really matters.

67
 Step 9:
send your application
in a neat (email) package
 Similar to ‘Step 10: Send your resume like a pro’ in our ‘10 Steps to Give Your Resume The Ultimate
Upgrade’ eBook, we emphasize the need to triple check how you send your application: what to write in
the message, when to send it, how you send it, who to send it to, etc.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to candidacies made through application software, but if you find yourself
in the situation where you can apply by email, you can either put your cover letter in the body of your
email, include it in the same document as your resume, or attach it separately.

People who hire may have individual preferences and these might be stated in the job description, so
pay attention. But if nothing specific is outlined, follow your own preference.

Our personal preference is to include it in the body of your email if you feel you have a particularly
strong cover letter, and adding it in the same pdf file after your resume if you feel they should read
your resume first.

But in any case, don’t both attach it and include it in the body of the email. And if you attach it, then in
the body of the email, just write something simple like:

Dear hiring manager,

I would like to apply for the [position], advertised on [insert where you found it]. Please find attached my
application, including my resume and cover letter.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Full Name

69
 or

Dear hiring manager,

I am keen to apply for the [position], advertised on [insert where you found it]. Please find attached my
application, including my resume and cover letter.

It would be a sincere pleasure to hear back from you soon to discuss this exciting opportunity and
answer any questions you may have about how I can be an asset to [company].

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Full Name

Voilà! Good luck, and see you in our next guide ;) At this stage, we recommend you read our article ‘How
I harassed my way into the job of my dreams: proven templates to submit, track and follow-up on your
applications’ to download our additional tips for your application email and word-for-word templates for
following up when you don’t hear back!

70
 BONUS:
COVER LETTER WORKSHEET
 Include your contact information and
1 your recipient

2 Add a subject line

3 Open with a salutation
Say what position you’re applying for
4 and give the reader a compelling
reason to read on. Make your pitch!

Explain what makes you a valuable

5 candidate: prove that you have the
core skills the recruiter is looking for

Address any shortcomings you may

6 have and outline your personal
interest in the role/company

Conclude your letter and thank the

7 reader for their time
Close your letter with a salutation and
8 your full name
9 Add your signature
72
 The cover letter template

Dear X,

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of [position] for [company]. As a
[position title] with [length] years’ experience, I believe my diverse skills and qualifications will make me a
valuable asset to [company/team].

As you will see from the attached resume, I’ve [detail most relevant achievement].

In addition to being [attributes proven by above-written achievement], I’m also [new attribute]. [Prove
new attribute that is highly relevant to the employer.]

Last but not least, [outline personal interest in targeted company/product, demonstrating knowledge of
their product and mission.]

In closing, [restate your enthusiasm for the job, highlight your potential added value and make yourself
available to discuss your application further]. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing
from you.

Warmest regards,
Full Name

73
 Paragraph 1. The opening sentence

Say what position you’re applying for and give the reader a compelling reason to read on. Make
your pitch!

Have you started with an appropriate salutation?

Dear [name of recruiter], or
Dear Hiring Manager,

What position are you applying for, at what company?

Complete one of the following sentences:

• I’d love to be considered for your [position].
• I hope you’ll consider me for your [position].
• I was excited to see your job posting for [position].
• It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application for the position of [position].

How did you find out about the opening?

Complete one of the following sentences:

• I am applying for the [position] advertised on [source].
• I am writing you at the suggestion of [your contact], who told me you may be looking for a new
[position].
74
 What makes you a valuable candidate? What’s your pitch?

If you’re not sure how to write a pitch, refer back to ‘Step 8: Grab a hiring manager’s attention with a
strong executive summary’ of our ‘10 Steps to Give Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook. And
read our cover letter examples above. Your aim here is to give the recruiter a compelling reason to read
on.

75
 Paragraph 2-3. The body of your letter

Explain what makes you a valuable candidate: prove that you have the core skills the recruiter is
looking for.

What does the company you’re applying with do? What is their product?

Who are their customers?

What would be your role in the company? What would you do on a daily basis?

76
 What are the skills listed as required in the job description? What’s the profile of their ideal
candidate?
Write down the exact sentences from the job posting.
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
By the way, are you covering these in your resume? It’s not too late to give your resume the ultimate
upgrade with our 10 steps! Give our ‘10 Steps to Give Your Resume The Ultimate Upgrade’ eBook a read
if you haven’t already.

What keywords are used in the job description? Have you identified some recurring company
jargon?
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
77
 What are the 2 most important requirements in the job description?
These can be skills in the list of requirements that are also repeated in the role summary, for example.
The makeup the core of the role you’re targeting.

REQUIREMENT 1: ____________________________________________________________________________
How is this described in the job listing?
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________

REQUIREMENT 2: ____________________________________________________________________________
How is this described in the job listing?
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Can you find current employee profiles in a similar role (or at a competing company in the same
industry)? What skills do their list on their Linkedin profiles?
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Do these match the 2 requirements you identified above?

78 If not, reiterate.
 How do you meet these 2 requirements? What experiences have you had in the past where you
met these requirements - showing that you can do so again for the hiring manager?
Explain more in depth what makes you a valuable candidate. What do you have to offer (in terms of
experience, achievements and personality) that would make you a great fit for the role?

REQUIREMENT 1: ____________________________________________________________________________
Job title or informat experience: ________________________________________________________________

Situation: _____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
What situation was your previous employer facing and needed your input? This should be a challenge
you think the employer you’re applying to also has.

Task: _________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
What was your task in the situation?

Action: _______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
What actions did you actually perform? This should be something outstanding, which can really set you
apart.

Result: _______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
What was the direct result of your outstanding action for the employer? Ideally, this should be something
79 that the recruiter will want you to replicate/emulate for their company.
 REQUIREMENT 2: ____________________________________________________________________________
Job title or informat experience: ________________________________________________________________

Situation: _____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Task: _________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Action: _______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Result: _______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

TIP 1: Don’t forget to use the appropriate role and industry-specific keywords that you identified
above!

TIP 2: It helps to ask yourself what you did better than an average employee would have done? In
what way did you go out of your way to get results for your previous employer or project?

TIP 3: Still having a hard time figuring out your added value? Imagine you’re talking to a friend about
this job opening… What makes you excited about it? And what makes you a great fit?

80
 Paragraph 4. The pre-closing statement

Outline your personal interest in the role/company.

What is your personal interest in the company you’re applying with? What is special about their
product?

What is their mission and how does that excite you?

81
 Paragraph 5: The optional paragraph

Address any ‘shortcomings’ you may have.

Is there any requirement from the job listing that you’re missing?
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________

How can you turn this apparent shortcoming into an advantage?

What are you doing to make up for it?

Not sure how to write this in your cover letter? Check out the word-for-word templates for explaining:
• if you have little to no experience
• if you lack a requirement listed in the job description
• if you worked across multiple roles and industries
• if you’re a job hopper
• if you have a considerable employment gap
82
 Paragraph 6. The closing statement

Conclude your letter and thank the reader for their time.

Restate your enthusiasm for the job, highlight your potential added value and make yourself
available to discuss your application further.

Always thank the reader for their time and consideration:

Thank you very much for your time Mr. Smith. I look forward to hearing from you.
Enclosed is a copy of my resume. I am available for an interview at your convenience, and look forward
to hearing from you.
I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
I’m really thrilled about this opportunity, and I’d love to talk more about it with you. I can be reached
at [phone number]. I look forward to hearing from you.

Use an appropriate closing salutation:

Sincerely,
Best regards,
Respectfully,
Most sincerely,
Kind regards,
Many thanks,
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 SEND YOUR COVER LETTER

If you’re not applying through a platform, include it in the body of your email if you feel you have a
particularly strong cover letter, or add it in the same pdf file after your resume if you feel they should
read your resume first.

Don’t both attach it and include it in the body of the email. And if you attach it, then in the body of the
email, just write something simple like:

Dear hiring manager,

I am keen to apply for the [position], advertised on [insert where you found it]. Please find attached my
application, including my resume and cover letter.

It would be a sincere pleasure to hear back from you soon to discuss this exciting opportunity and
answer any questions you may have about how I can be an asset to [company].

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Full Name

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