Writing a customisable cover letter

There's no point in sprucing up a fill-in-the-blank-cover letter if you've already put in time and effort into making the most-perfect-resume-ever for the job of your dreams. Instead, take 30 more minutes to reflect and formulate a new one that comprises why you're a great fit for the position you're applying and the company as a whole. This extra little investment is absolutely worth it and the personal touch will show when the folks at the recruitment table are looking over it. While no two cover letters should read the same, it doesn't take a genius to make a cover letter template that's customisable and reusable. Here's how.

SALUTATION

Drop the "To whom it may concern". Seeing "Dear Mr. Karim Rahman" instead will impress your recruiter any day. Your cover letter should always address a specific person.

If the posting didn't come with a name, do your research. Look up the organisation's recruitment manager on their website. If that fails as well, search for the in-charge of the department. Or inquire with the company or someone in the organisation if possible. Remember: including a name is a sign that you're willing to put in the effort for research. Double-check then triple-check to make sure you're addressing the right person before hitting send.

OPENING 

The first sentence of your cover letter is the best place to show the recruiter your enthusiasm for working in this organisation. Start with something along the lines of:

I am excited to apply for the position of [insert title].

Once you've decided on a first line that fully expresses your intentions, head into the explanation. It should look something like this:

I am excited to apply for the position of Marketing Intern. SkyCel is a top name in the telecommunications sector by always focusing on its customers – wherever they may be. Your dedication to customer satisfaction is what I have always aspired towards in my work life. I wish to bring this commitment, along with my expertise and experience, to the brilliant work your organisation is doing.

Research is of the essence in your cover letter. If you can't think of what to focus on, read up on the company's background – awards it has won, what its mission and vision are, presence on social media, and so on to narrow down the key points that have led you to apply for this job. Highlight what relevant skills you possess that would contribute to the organisation's goals – not how the company can help but how you can help the company.

BODY

Try to restrict the body of your cover letter to two paragraphs. These should include what your most recent and relevant roles and responsibilities were and how you plan to apply them in this new position. The connection should be clear and should encompass your value proposition. Start with the following:

For the past [insert appropriate time period], I worked as a [insert position] for [insert organisation]. Here I was responsible for [insert role 1], [insert role 2], [insert role 3]. Among the many projects I worked on, [insert project name] involved [insert name of task].

It's important not to reiterate all the details from your resume here. Instead, expand on only the most pertinent experiences.

But how do you know which jobs to highlight? Unless your most recent position is not at all similar to the one you're applying to now or it was only for a short length of time, start with that. Next, go through the job posting and pick out three to four things that they require - that you can't do without if you're applying here. It could be writing ability, leadership skills, clerical experience, finance knowledge, etc. If you don't have expertise in the very same area, work with what you do have – the closest item in your resume you can find.

CLOSING

Don't fall back on the obvious here. Avoid the typical "Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you". Your closing should have the same personal touch the rest of your cover letter has.

If you're changing industries, this is where you should explain why. End with one sentence discussing your motives:

"I wish to work in telecommunications because my background in [insert profession/industry] combined with my passion for your organisation and this role, would make me qualified to take up [insert relevant role].

Stating you have a different background and experience does not put you at a disadvantage, rather it justifies and clarifies your overall application.

On the other hand, you could choose to focus further on your strong enthusiasm. This is fine as long as you are not regurgitating your opening all over again.

Remember to thank the recruitment manager for their time and sign off. So next time, don't hand in a cover letter that's straight out of the can. If you care, personalisation is the only way to go.