What is a Cover Letter? with Proper Definition and Brief Explanation

A cover letter is a short document that is sent to an employer along with your resume. When it comes to job hunting, it has become an absolute necessity. Not sending a cover letter along with your resume is considered a sign of laziness. Therefore, knowing what a good cover letter is made of can be of great help to job seekers.

It maybe a separate letter written on paper and sent along with a resume. In an email, it can be a separate attachment or it can also be written in the body of the email. A cover letter essentially introduces a candidate to an employer. It allows the individual to promote himself, his skills, experience, and expertise to an employer, thereby giving him the impression that the employer is more likely to remember. It covers in a few words what the resume cannot express. While providing a parallel between personal credentials and job function requirements, a cover letter can also provide a backdrop against which the resume is closely scrutinized.

Types

There are three types of cover letters in the world today:

i) Application letter – This letter accompanies a resume in response to a job offer that has been announced.
ii) Prospective letter – This letter inquires about the possible opening in a specific company.
iii) Network letter – This letter seek help in your job search while requesting information at the same time.

A good cover letter

A good cover letter can also show the employer that the candidate has done their research. This shows the person’s enthusiasm for having gone the extra mile and delving into the background of the company, the nature of the job role, etc. It is important to show familiarity with the background of the company, as well as the challenges it may face. A cover letter can also be an opportunity for a candidate to show that they are worthy of the role.

A cover letter essentially complements a resume. It does not duplicate its content. The purpose of it is to interpret and add a personal touch to the more data-driven resume. You must convince the employer of your interest in the advertised position and why the applicant is the best possible person for the job. For this, things can be added that cannot be included in the resume. This may be the way current / past job roles can be applied to the position being applied, the experience in handling similar abilities, and the way the problem solving skills used can be utilized. in the roles of previous positions.

However, a cover letter should be concise and compact enough to generate interest in the resume. You must enhance and convey personal value to the reader, which will convince him of the applicant’s enthusiasm and ensure that the skills and experience the candidate possesses are, in fact, ideal for the job position applied for.