How to Write Effective Cover Letters

If an employer requests a resume, they usually want a cover letter, too. Do not let go of this opportunity to showcase your skills and enthusiasm — it can make a big difference to the success of your job application!

Aconvincing cover letter should always accompany your resume when you apply for a graduate job. It is an extra opportunity to highlight your most relevant skills to recruiters and demonstrate your motivation and enthusiasm for the job. Here is our four-step guide to effectively sell your skills through your cover letter!

Step #1: Get your opening right

Answer the question “Why you?” Then, answer the question “Why them?”

After your salutations, inform the recruiter which job, internship or scheme you are applying for, where you saw it advertised and why you are applying. If the position has a reference number, it is always good to include that for their easy reference.

Always address your cover letter to a named contact. Give the organisation a call to find out who you should address your job application to if a name is not given on the job advertisement or their website. Ensure you correctly address the person’s title, e.g. Mr, Miss, or even Dr. Some recruiters may feel quite strongly about how they are addressed.

Step #2:

The first paragraph or two should be about you. Convince the employer why you are well-suited to the role by referring directly to the job description and concentrating on how you have the skills, abilities and/ or knowledge to excel in the role you are gunning for.

Mix evidence of specific skills and knowledge related to the job with anecdotes from your personal experience. At the graduate level, it is still fine to refer to work experience that is not directly related to the profession you are applying to, as long as you can show how that experience or skill can be transferred to the prospective job.

Use examples from your experiences doing parttime jobs, extracurricular activities and academic work to demonstrate how you developed and practised skills such as communication, teamwork, time management and commercial awareness.

Avoid copying statements word-for-word from your resume. Think about how you can rephrase the information or expand on specific skills and achievements that match the needs of the role.

Step #3:

The next paragraph or so should explain why you are interested in both the job and the organisation.

What is it about the employer and/or the job that made you apply? This is your opportunity to customise your cover letter so that the recruiter knows your interest in the position, instead of blasting out cookiecutter resumes and cover letters to a dozen different companies.

Re-read the job ad and make sure you have done some background research into the organisation. This will help you tell the recruiter why you want to work for their company and why you are interested in this particular role.

If you prefer, you could even switch steps #3 with #2 around and write about why you are applying to the employer first. As long as you answer both the questions of “Why you?” and “Why them?” in your cover letter, the exact order does not matter.

Provide specific reasons when discussing your motivations for applying, such as the training they provide. Avoid turgid statements that could be said about pretty much any employer, such as “because you are a prestigious company”.

Step #4: Have a clear ending

Your closing paragraph should be strong, clear and short. Reaffirm your suitability for the role and your enthusiasm about working for the employer. State that you look forward to hearing from them and will be happy to provide any further information they need.

Do not forget to sign your letter as if you are sending it through the mail or delivering it in person! Likewise, remember to type out your name if you are sending your cover letter by email. A cover letter should not be longer than one page.

Brush up on modern trends when it comes to writing business letters. For letters addressed to a named contact, finish with “Yours sincerely”. If you are addressing an unnamed contact, end with “Yours faithfully”.

GOOD SAMPLE

Carol Sum 17 Brooke Road Singapore 421564

Jonathan Han Recruitment Manager HR Department AX Bank 38 Marina Boulevard Singapore 018598 17 JANUARY 2021

Dear Mr. Han

1

I am applying for a position in your graduate management programme, as advertised on 2 AX Bank’s website. I will graduate in April 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics (Hons) from SIM-University of London and a projected CGPA of 3.5. I was encouraged to apply 3 after speaking to Ms Tan, your Recruitment Executive, at a talk given at my university. My interest in business analytics was greatly increased during my second-year internship with MNF Company, a local SME that specialises in bespoke analytics. The stint was an eye-opener that exposed me to the variants of analytics theories and models used in the industry, such 4 as investment analytics and enterprise optimisation. I further developed my expertise by attending various lecture series and panel talks organised by the university, such as those given by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Doug Laney in the “Big Data, Game Theory, and Business 5 Analytics Today” lecture series. My part-time role as a customer service officer at FeynM Co. has also equipped me with good PR, communication and negotiation skills. As a project support in several investment projects, I was given the opportunity to liaise directly with customers and to assist in understanding their needs. Most memorable was my involvement in preparing a service and product recommendation report for a notable client after researching their portfolio. The skills I picked up and refined over the course of my part-time job will certainly lend themselves to the position in question. 6

I am also deeply involved in the Economics Society, where I work closely with a team of eight people to organise and execute promotional campaigns for our society’s events. My position as treasurer in the society also allowed me to develop and showcase my numerical abilities and understanding of business, especially in terms of financial planning and resource management. I am sincerely excited to work for AX Bank because of your commitment to socially responsible investments, which I myself strongly believe in. I believe I will also benefit greatly from the rotational approach of your graduate management trainee programme as well as the overseas placements it offers. Attached is my resume for your consideration. I am sure that you will find me to be an asset to your company. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely Carol Sum

1

Make some calls to find out who you can direct your letter to. If you are unable to find a name, then use a specific job title instead (e.g. “To the Recruitment Manager”).

2

Introduce yourself clearly in the first paragraph. Be sure to state the exact position that you are applying for.

3

It is alright to name-drop if you have had prior contact with the company’s representatives as this shows continuous interest. But be sure to get their business card!

4

Always mention specifics when promoting your skills and experiences. In this case, Carol gave some examples of analytics theories to show that she knows her stuff.

5

Use jargon and names of industrial figures sparingly, unless they are extremely wellknown.

6

Carol is selectively vague here since she may have to protect the confidentiality of these projects, but she boosts her credibility with details about her role. It would, however, be more effective if she could link it to the skills that she had listed before.

BAD SAMPLE

Carol Sum 17 Brooke Road Singapore 421564

Jonathan Han Recruitment Manager HR Department AX Bank 38 Marina Boulevard Singapore 018598 17 JANUARY 2021

To Whom It May Concern

1

I am applying for a position in your graduate management programme, as advertised on AX Bank’s website. I will graduate in April 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics (Hons) from SIM-University of London and a projected CGPA of 3.5. I was encouraged to apply 2 after speaking to one of your representatives at a talk given at my university. My interest in business analytics was greatly increased during my second-year internship with MNF Company, a local SME that specialises in bespoke analytics. The stint was an eye-opener 3 that exposed me to the variants of analytics theories and models used in the industry. I further developed my expertise by attending various lecture series and panel talks organised by the university, such as those given by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Doug Laney in the “Big Data, Game Theory, and Business Analytics Today” lecture series. My part-time role as a customer service officer at FeynM Co. has also equipped me with good PR, communication, and negotiation skills. As a project support in several investment projects, I was given the opportunity to liaise directly with customers and to assist in understanding their needs. Most memorable was my involvement in preparing a report for MC Company after researching their portfolio. 4

I am also deeply involved in the Economics Society, where I work closely with a team of eight people to organise and execute promotional campaigns for our society’s events. My position as treasurer in the society also allowed me to develop and showcase my numerical abilities and understanding of business, especially in terms of financial planning and resource management. I am sincerely excited to work for AX Bank because of your commitment to socially responsible investments, which I myself strongly believe in. I believe I will also benefit greatly from the rotational approach of your graduate management trainee programme as well as the overseas placements it offers. Attached is my resume for your consideration. I’m sure that you’ll find me to be a committed, 5 driven individual who can become an asset to your company. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely Carol Sum

1

If you are unable to find out who you can direct your letter to, use “To the Recruitment Manager”. “To Whom It May Concern” is rather awkward and does not state your purpose clearly.

2

It is better to name-drop if you have had prior contact with the company’s representatives as this shows continuous interest.

3

Always mention specifics when promoting your skills and experiences. Carol could have given some examples of analytics theories here to show that she knows her stuff.

4

Protect the confidentiality of past clients and projects by not mentioning their names. Instead, Carol should have focused more on her credibility in the role she played in the project by offering details. It will also be more effective if she could link it to the skills that she had listed before.

5

Cover letters should be treated as a formal business correspondence. Avoid contractions at all times, and get someone to proofread your letter for errors. Also, try to omit clichés such as “committed, driven individual”.

Common blunders

• Using your cover letter to flatter recruiters and hardsell yourself; • Writing only one generic cover letter for multipurpose use. Each job posting has its own unique requirements, and you have to show that you have the relevant skills and experience; • Including cliché or umbrella statements; • Not mentioning your motivations or reasons behind pursuing the position you are applying for; • Leaving out past quantifiable results you have from past projects or internships; and • Talking about what the company can do for you, and not how you can value-add and contribute to the company.