Lourdes Karen L. Casile

Video: How to write a powerful cover letter Utrecht University https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq6aGl1QBRs After your CV, your cover letter is the next most important document in your application. Employers will often look at your CV first and only if their interest them will they look at your letter. This video will teach you how to write a good letter. There are three important things you must remember about cover letters: 1. The core of your letter is a personal pitch of why you want the job and why they should give it to you. You will use the best parts of this pitch everywhere: in the profile section of your CV, on your LinkedIn profile, and job interviews, and in video applications. To write a good letter you start by creating a good pitch to clarify what motivates you and what your best qualities are. 2. A cover letter isn't about you. It's about the match between you, the organization, and the position. You should constantly be emphasizing facts that support that match. 3. Your cover letter should supplement your CV not repeat it. Although your letter will be based on the information contained in your CV, it should focus more on your motivation and how well you match the organization in the position. How do you write a good cover letter? You start by analyzing the job opening and the organization. What does the job entail? What competencies are required? What do I know about the organization? Next you take this information and you use it to answer the following two questions: 1. What motivates me to apply for this position? 2. Why am I the best person for the job? As soon as you have your answers you can start writing. Here is an example cover letter by Lisa Henson. We'll be going through this letter and discussing what information to present in each section. Beyond the formal requirements, cover letters often have four sections: 1. The opening is an opportunity to grab the reader's attention straight away by starting off with an anecdote or personal experience. Why are you so excited about this position in this specific organization? Introduce yourself and hint at your qualities and motivations. 2. The second section explains your motivation which you can discuss on various levels. You can explain why you're attracted to the industry, the organization, and the position. 3. The next section is about your suitability. What arguments and examples can you put forward to convince the reader that you're a good fit? Support your arguments with experience you've gained from your studies, jobs and extracurriculars. And when you tell them what you did be sure to include the results of your actions. 4. The conclusion is where you briefly summarize your motivation and what you have to offer as a suitable candidate. An original way to close is to refer back to an earlier section of your letter. All right then those are the broad strokes of writing a cover letter. If you'd like additional information, you can find it below. This example was created with the Dutch labor market in mind. If you're applying abroad be sure to check the rules and guidelines applicable in that country.