{"id":59546,"date":"2021-02-25T10:11:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T14:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/?p=59546"},"modified":"2025-04-16T13:03:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:03:10","slug":"how-to-write-a-cover-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job (+ Formatting Tips)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A cover letter is an opportunity to wow your interviewer with the story of you. It goes into the juicy bits of your professional history that the resume doesn\u2019t cover. For job applicants, it\u2019s essential to learn how to write a cover letter that gets your foot in the door and lands you that coveted interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Nod your head if your first cover letter was a one-liner that said something like: ” Attached please find my resume as requested.” Embarrassing and inadequate, but let’s face it, the cover letter was an anomaly when it first became popular in the late nineties (yes, that long ago!).<\/p>\n

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Here’s the thing, cover letters have been around for more than fifty years. Facepalm!<\/p>\n

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Back in the day, a job seeker simply had to know a guy who knew a guy to land a job. But modern job seekers need to do more and the cover letter seems to be the it-thing in the recruitment realm. Your one-liner isn’t going to cut it, Buttercup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Do you want to land a<\/em> job or do you want to land the<\/em> job? Here’s how to write a cover letter that will make you memorable and allow your application to stick out above the rest \u2014 e<\/span>ven the ones who hired a professional resume writer.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why your cover letter matters\u00a0<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A resume is a factual collection of your achievements, experience, and education. This should be your highlight reel and only the sauciest, juiciest bits of your professional history should be on it. It forms the backbone of your job application.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Your cover letter is that document that gives your resume a personality. It paints the picture of who you are and the value you will add to the team. As Ramit would say, it answers the interviewer\u2019s question, \u201cWhat kind of person is this?\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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It tells the story of you<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sell yourself, but don\u2019t sell yourself short\u00a0<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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There\u2019s advice on how to write a cover letter, and then there\u2019s advice that will\u00a0land you the dream job.<\/a> Which rocks your world? If it\u2019s the latter, get a pen and start writing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Before you even think to approach a company for an interview on a job posting, you need to know what the job requires and how you\u2019re going to help your potential new boss meet their objectives in that role. You need to get them giddy with excitement and eager to get you in for an interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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How do you do this? Ramit’s Briefcase Technique, where you point out\u00a0areas in their business that they can improve<\/a>\u00a0upon and show them that you can solve these issues through your unique skills and experience. Then explain how \u201cLast year I helped a company just like yours double their sales revenue by streamlining their supply chain using a method I developed while doing my MBA.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How to write a cover letter that sizzles\u00a0<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sure, you can try adding an airbrushed photo of yourself on a good hair day, but unless you\u2019re applying for America\u2019s Next Top Model, this might not work out in your favor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Instead, clean formatting, tidy writing, and a good layout will probably do more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re hoping that printing your cover letter on a sheet of 50 g\/m2\u00a0Shikibu Gampi paper would get you some special treatment, don\u2019t bother.\u00a0Ramit reminds us<\/a>\u00a0that the hiring manager doesn\u2019t give a shit. You need to stop fussing about the small stuff and focus on the things that will matter to the hiring manager.<\/p>\n

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Rather focus all that energy on writing a succinct, inspiring cover letter that will guarantee an interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Obviously, you can do a quick search and find thousands of cover letter templates in two seconds, but it\u2019s not the template that\u2019s going to get you the job. It\u2019s the content. Writing an effective cover letter is your opportunity to blow their damn socks off.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Formulate your big story \u00a0<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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It\u2019s possible to write both too much and too little. While it will touch on things already on your resume, your cover letter needs to contain delicious morsels that aren\u2019t on your resume. Definitely include the following three juicy morsels in a captivating way that shows who you are and what you bring to the table.<\/p>\n

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1. Work experience<\/h3>\n

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While it might feel like your history as an administrator in a bank might seem worth mentioning, if you\u2019re applying for a job as a marketing exec, rather leave that for the extended resume. Be sure to mention how your current job title ties in with the application. The work history you mention on the cover letter should have a direct bearing on the position you\u2019re applying for. <\/p>\n

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For instance: \u201cIn 2008 I was a marketing associate for XYZ fundraising project for a non-profit, and the event netted enough funds to cover the project for three years, as opposed to the regular one year. I held the role for two years and went on to ABC Agency, where I headed the marketing division for the following projects (and then list them). These roles helped me shape these skills (pick the relevant ones) which will add value to your advertised role of (the job posted).\u201d<\/p>\n

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Now, it\u2019s easy to get carried away here and toot your horn. Be humble and to the point. Avoid saying that you\u2019re the best person for the job because you have a strong marketing background. Focus on what you did and the results it achieved. That will allow the hiring manager to decide whether you\u2019re the best person for the job. <\/p>\n

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Three stories that tie into this role are a good number to stick to. It adds credibility and doesn\u2019t make your cover letter clunky. <\/p>\n

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2. Education<\/h3>\n

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If you\u2019re struggling to decide whether to discuss education or experience first, go with the one that is the most impressive and can boost your credibility early on. When it comes to education, it\u2019s not enough to just state the degree. It\u2019s important to highlight the aspects of the degree that will add value to the role you\u2019re applying for. <\/p>\n

3. Something fun or different <\/h3>\n

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If you\u2019re applying to a role that drips with seriousness, like the FBI or CIA or institutions where humor or spontaneity is considered a vice, then skip this step. For the rest, it helps to show that you have a sense of humor and won\u2019t just be another cog in the machine. If you\u2019re an avid mountaineer or you host improv comedy twice a month, it\u2019s worth mentioning. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The world wants you to be vanilla...<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u2026but you don\u2019t have to take the same path as everyone else. How would it look if you designed a Rich Life on your own terms? Take our quiz and find out: <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Your cover letter format (the technical stuff)<\/h2>

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