With growing online job portals and possibility of one-click job application coming true, the essence of cover letters seems dwindling. However, in major online portals, a blank text box is placed with the question, "Explain why you feel yourself as the suitable candidate", where candidates use the space to write their form of a cover letter. Here are few things explaining the true essence of why you should never send your resume without a cover letter:
JOB OBJECTIVE
Employers ask for cover letters, or application letters, or even motivational letters to ascertain the job objective of the candidate. Your job objective is different than your career objective mentioned in your resume. While your career objective is a short statement outlining your career orientation, job objective explains your true interest and intention of applying for the particular job. Your intention of applying to a job might be your personal growth, or climbing the corporate ladder, or just earning money. But a potential recruiter will not buy your objective of just 'earning money' or a vague, bogus statement. Make sure your job objective is not the same for every job you apply. Focusing excessively only on yourself is not a good idea, either. Make sure your job objective does not only talk about you, but also talks about how you can add value to the organization you're applying for.
DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF
One of the grave mistakes most candidates make is applying to multiple jobs with the same cover letter – only the address and job position changed. This will make the recruiter feel that it has not been tailored to fit their requirements. A cover letter tailored and customized in accordance with both the job position and company is able to distinguish itself matching the recruiters' needs. Furthermore, using too many words can be soporific and providing non-relevant information hinders the recruiters from reading the most essential information. Recruiters will not entertain reading anything that is not relevant to them, and also do not want to waste their precious time searching for information that is not readily available.
Your cover letter should be language-tailored, too. For example, if your cover letter is addressed to the head of the IT department, do not hesitate to use some technical terms. But if it is addressed to the Human Resources, Administration, or Finance department, refrain from using any technical terms which the reader would not be familiar with. Today's era is all about proving your worth, being different and thereby, creating your own personal brand.
EXPLAIN WHY YOU'RE THE RIGHT FIT
The significant essence of a cover letter is to comprehend why the potential candidate believes him/herself to be the right fit for the organization. By correlating your knowledge, skills and experiences with the recruiters' needs, you can demonstrate you are the right fit for both the position and the company. Your resources before creating this match could be the job vacancy advertisement, job description (if available), information about the company, your resume and career portfolio, reference letters and performance reviews. These reference letters and performance reviews act as supporting evidences to the match you've created to let the recruiters know you aren't bluffing around. Moreover, articulating actual data in your achievements will let the recruiters know you're talking sense than throwing generalities.
Remember, you do not get a second chance to create the first impression.
The author is management consultant at Jobs Dynamics Pvt Ltd, an organization driven towards providing the widest range of job solutions to people looking for work in Nepal. He can be reached at rprayas@gmail.com.
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