In this lesson, you conducted research on the company you want to work for and wrote
an effective cover letter that outlined why you are the best person for the job. You discussed
in your letter how you could help the business with its challenges and build on its successes.
Most employers will read your cover letter before they look at your resume, so it is
an important first impression. This is especially true for jobs that require writing skills
because employers want to make sure you can write well.
Taking notes first about the company in Google Docs allowed you to keep your information organized.
Using an existing template to create your
cover letter meant that the letter already had the layout and formatting set up for you.
To build your cover letter, you:
Looked for any articles written about the company and searched for its website and professional
networking pages,
Took notes about the company’s mission statement and how you could help them solve their challenges
and build on their successes,
Added your contact information,
Addressed your letter directly to the hiring manager or owner,
Began your letter with why you are excited to apply for the job and why you want to work
for the company,
Discussed how your past accomplishments could help the company with its challenges,
And finished your letter mentioning your enthusiasm for the job one last time.
Now that you have practiced how to take notes in a document, conduct an online search and
create a cover letter, you can write more letters to apply for other roles you may be
interested in. When you apply for different jobs, it’s
a good idea to rewrite the cover letter according to the exact role and company you plan to
apply for. Creating a cover letter for each new job can reinforce your knowledge and ability
to communicate your skills and experience. But regardless of the job you want, use the
cover letter to allow your accomplishments to shine and tell a potential employer what
great things you can bring to their company.