The biggest mistake job applicants make is not sending a cover letter. Cover Letters are a way to pique the recruiter’s interest. It gives recruiters a glimpse into who you are past your resume and shows you are willing to go the extra mile to get the job. If composed appropriately, it will tremendously boost your application. Here is a guide curated to assist you to make the perfect cover letter!

Where Are You Applying?

To fabricate the perfect cover letter, one must ensure it is tailored to the company and the specific job. With just a bit of research, you can uncover the skillsets they demand allowing you to emphasise them in your cover letter. This will put you ahead of the competition. They will realise you have what it takes to be a valued member of their team.

Start your research by checking out the company from their website. Websites tell you what the company wants people to think of them. Official social media accounts hold the same purpose. The main part of the research comes is when you research on the employees. Going through their employees’ social media can discover their work culture and the behaviour they expect from future employees.

You may also initiate a conversation with the hiring manager, or other employees of the company. Find them on LinkedIn, or simply E-Mail them. Asking a legitimate question about the job will demonstrate your eagerness to join their team. This will put a good impression on their staff members.

Have You Done This Before?

Sharing your work-from-home job experience can bring attention to your cover letter. Recruiters will highlight it and may ask you to expand on it during your interview. Focusing on experience will show you are familiar with the remote work jargons, cultures, and other requirements.

If you have no prior experience working from home, perhaps elucidating on any time you were forced to work-from-home due to sickness or other reasons can boost your application. If still not applicable, explain why remote work interests you can be a makeshift selling point.

What Will You Bring to the Table?

Briefly mention your skill-set in the cover letter. Try focusing on skills that are needed for remote jobs. Express how you have honed them and how you plan on implementing the skills in your job. On reading the cover letter, employers will realise you are fit for a remote job. Furthermore, this depicts that you are aware of the demands of a remote job, and know how to manage them.

Share how you believe you can add to the team. By stating this, you do the initial thinking for them. Talk about how your skills have helped bring value to previous companies. This will also help add weight to your application.

Skills such as time management, organisation, communication, are extremely vital skills to possess as a remote job worker. Mentioning these skills can set you apart from the rest. Be sure not to give away your entire list of skills in your cover letter. This will make your cover letter too long and your resume empty. This could eliminate you from the candidate list.

What Have You Planned?

Interviewers expect their candidates to be responsible and good strategists. Hinting at your plans in the cover letter can reflect these qualities. Explaining how the important decisions being made now will benefit you in the future is a good strategy. This will let your employer know that you have thought through your decisions and choices.

You can use this opportunity to express what you expect to gain in this work experience as well. Your manager will get an idea of how to organise your tasks. This will be advantageous for both parties.

Are You Professional?

While many guides will encourage you to be your fun-loving quirky self, we advise you to do the contrary. Cover letters are official documents used to sell your position in the company. Recruiters want to know the benefits of hiring you. Sticking to a formal tone will sell your professionalism. Humour is certainly a selling point when making conversation. It is best to utilise this skill in interviews when they expect to learn about you on a more personal level.

Cover letters are tricky riddles and should be treated as such. Following this guide, you can make most of the cover letters. Although many companies today do not ask for them, we advise attaching one, even if optional. Try curating different cover letters for each application. You may have a general template to work on but ensure to have space for changes. This allows you to optimise them to the job specifications. This will heighten your chances of getting your dream remote job!

Growremotely is the best place to start looking for remote jobs. With a huge demand in remote jobs, cover letters could help you outshine other applicants and you get your dream job.