verall a good cover letter should say that “I am applying for this position because…” and “this is what makes me the best candidate for this position…”. But in order to say it right, you need to add these 5 sections in your cover letter:
- Salutation - This should be addressed to the hiring manager. If you don’t know the hiring manager and are applying at a very large company, use a salutation like “Dear [xyz] team” instead.
- An introductory paragraph - Make sure to leave a good first impression here. Introduce yourself and briefly explain that you would like to apply for the position. Make it easier for the hiring manager to scan, this paragraph should be of maximum 2-3 lines.
- Body paragraph(s) - This is where you help them understand why you are the perfect fit for the role. This is where your relevant experience, skills and achievements would shine.
- Vision paragraph - Add how you feel you can add value to the organisation and if possible share how your vision aligns with the company’s vision.
- Formal closing - Use this to prompt next steps for your job application. And add a sign-off.
Optionally, you can also include these two to your cover letter:
- Postscript - If you have something of value that adds value to your cover letter, consider adding it by adding a “PS: …” at the end of your cover letter.
- A portfolio paragraph - If you have a portfolio to share, consider adding a short paragraph of 1-2 lines with links to your portfolio added in it.
