Want to improve your odds of getting hired? Get your cover letter right

It's now easier than ever to apply for a job: almost all new job vacancies can be found online, and applying takes only a few clicks. While this has made things easier for both employers and jobseekers, it has significantly raised the competition level, and having a strong CV is no longer your only asset. Your cover letter should help boost your application to the top of the selection list.

In the digital recruitment age, the cover letter may sound old school, but it remains the only personalised aspect of the pre-interview process: it's where a recruiter can 'hear' the real you, which might improve your chances of proceeding to the next stage. So, how can you prepare your cover letter in a way that will make you stand out from the crowd?

Familiarise yourself with the company and its values

Before you begin drafting your cover letter, find out as much as you can about the role, as well as the organisation you are applying to. Employers certainly want to see that you are suitable for the job, but they also need to know that you are a good cultural fit. Make sure this is reflected in your cover letter by showing how your particular assets and personality align with the company's philosophy and ethos.

Keep it simple and to-the-point

Your cover letter is where you express your motivation for applying and show your suitability for the role by focusing on how your profile relates to the job description and requested qualifications. This guideline should help you stick to the relevant information only. Avoid using too many buzzwords or recruitment-speak, as this will make your cover letter one in a sea of many that follow the same formula. Keep to three or four paragraphs of text: this length should be enough to get your key points across.

One size doesn't fit all

In the case that you are applying for multiple roles, it might be tempting to create a generalised template that will save you time. However, ensure you tailor your content to the specific position you are targeting. Bonus points for finding out who the hiring manager is and addressing them personally.

Should you enlist the help of AI?

There's no denying it. AI has infiltrated many aspects of our lives, and it's no use pretending that it has no role in recruitment , too. In the case of cover letter writing, AI can be either a good or a bad move, depending on how you choose to use it:

Don't:

• Feed your CV into an AI writing tool asking it to write the cover letter for you; you will end up with a text that either has nothing of your personality in it, or worse, reads like countless others. A fully AI-generated cover letter will be strikingly obvious to your potential employer, who will most likely pass on your application.

Do:

• Use AI tools to help you better understand the job description and glean the parts that are relevant to your application.
• Use AI to help you organise your thoughts/notes into a structure.

Looking for more information on drafting a unique cover letter? Read our article on how to stand out from the crowd with these unconventional cover letter ideas .

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