Tips for Cover Letter Writing

An effective cover letter can bring you a step closer to that coveted job interview. Be sure to customise each cover letter to improve your chances.

What should a cover letter include?

An effective one-page cover letter needs to, minimally, contain the following:

1

Introductory paragraph

What position are you applying for? Where did you find the job opportunity? Your motivations

Why are you interested in this field and company? Your skills and strengths

How can you contribute to the company?

2 3

5 reasons to write that cover letter

• They are a good avenue for you to demonstrate your writing skills – unlike resumes, where you write in bullet points and short phrases. • It is an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and motivations for your application in greater detail. • Recruiters may use cover letters to gauge your level of interest in the position. Applicants who do not submit one may be seen as indifferent to the job. • Some recruiters use cover letters to infer a candidate’s personality, which can determine their fit for the role/organisation. • The cover letter is especially important for a speculative application. The letter gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself to the employer, as well as to set up follow-up steps.

Tip: Internet-proof your cover letter

• Always export your cover letter as a PDF before sending it to recruiters unless the recruiter requests a particular file type.

The PDF format lets you avoid any minor corruptions that word processor documents may experience during an online transfer (e.g. formatting errors). • If you are submitting your cover letter and resume through email, write a short email message to introduce your attachments. • You can also run an email test and send it to yourself first to check that the right documents have been attached.

Sample cover letter

123 Low Ridge Close #12-300 Singapore (210123)

11 November 2022

Human Resource Manager DRZ Capital 101 Smart Street #11-00 Smart Building Singapore 456101

Dear Sir or Madam

Applica on for Research Associate Posi on

I would like to be considered for the above posi on with your organisa on, as adver sed on the Singapore Management University job portal. I am currently pursuing a Master of Business Administra on and will be gradua ng in January 2023.

DRZ Capital is a well-established organisa on in the region and has been flourishing over the past five years. Your recent expansion plans into China has further expedited your growth. I am very excited by this role's poten al exposure to a wide spectrum of ac vi es from research, modelling and analysis to client exposure. This role also provides an opportunity to contribute to the team by thinking out of the box and genera ng contrarian ideas.

This role is complementary to my prior s nt with PS Investment Management where I was involved in the investment research and analysis of the China Real Estate Investment Trust. I worked on the detailed modelling and valua on using an in-house model, as well as conducted sensi vity and scenario analysis for the investment projec ons. Essen ally, my key strengths include: Good knowledge on various financial instruments like credit deriva ves, variance swaps, ETFs, and commodi es Competent analy cal skills on investment and risk analysis for trading desk Proficient in modelling and equity research

With these skill sets, I am confident that I will make a valuable contribu on to the team. Thank you for reviewing my a ached resume. I look forward to an opportunity to meet you for a further discussion.

Yours faithfully

Alvin Lim +65 1234 5678 alvin.lim@mba.smu.edu.sg

Encl. Résumé

Third paragraph

Showcase and substantiate how your qualifications and career plan match the job, and align your value-add proposition with the employer’s needs. Highlight relevant skills, experience and knowledge that would meet the requirements of the role. Give examples from your resume.

Final paragraph

Close by reiterating your interest in the role and your availability for an interview. Finish on a positive note, and thank the employer for their time. Use “Yours faithfully” with “Dear Sir or Madam” and “Yours sincerely” with a personal form of salutation (e.g. “Dear Mrs Cheong”). Your address

• Hiring manager’s name (if unknown, use designation) • Company name • Company address

Dear Mr or Ms XXX (if you know the name). Otherwise, “Dear Sir or Madam” or “Dear” followed by designation.

First paragraph

Open with a brief self-introduction stating your degree programme and the year of expected graduation. Be clear to indicate the purpose for writing, specifying the position you are seeking (e.g. summer internship, or full-time position) and your availability to start.

Second paragraph

Research and understand what the job entails. Demonstrate genuine enthusiasm by articulating your interest in joining the company and motivation for the role. This paragraph should always be customised.