12 Cover Letter Tips and Sample

Tips

• Customize it.
  The employers want to see you demonstrate your knowledge of the company, show how you could benefit their team, and provide compelling reasons why you would like to work for them. Emphasize and expand on several key points related to the employer’s needs and highlight asset points, such as the ability to work flex hours, willingness to relocate, etc.
• Do your research.
  Read through the “About Us” page on the company’s website, their mission statement, and social media sites to get more information and insight into the company before you start writing. Your goal is to make the company believe that they are the one and only place you want to work. This is also good preparation for the common questions that will often be asked, such as: “What do you know about our company/organization and why do you want to work for us?”
• Personalize it.
  Whenever possible, personalize your greeting and address your cover letter to the appropriate individual(s). For some Hiring Managers, this small detail can make the difference between screening you in or out. Also, if you heard about the position from someone you know, or someone you met at an employer event or career fair, make sure to mention their name(s) in your introduction.
• Be consistent with your format and presentation.
  Write your cover letter in a business letter format. Use the same font type and size as your resume. Stick to plain paper and avoid graphics.
• Follow instructions.
  Pay attention to the application instructions, many job postings require you to quote a job number in your cover letter to be considered altogether. The posting may also indicate what preferred file format to submit your document in as well. Furthermore, there are some trend-setting companies that are challenging the more conventional cover letter formats. Should you be applying to these companies, make sure to closely read the instructions that are provided on the job posting and write your cover letter accordingly.
• Don’t duplicate your resume.
  Avoid presenting information not covered in the resume, but at the same time do not restate your resume word for word. Rather, summarize your most relevant skills and experiences as they relate to the employer’s needs.
• Be concise.
  A three to four-paragraph, one-page cover letter is perfect.
• Be aware of organization and flow.
  A disorganized and poorly written cover letter can be tiresome for an employer to read. Ensure that the content of your letter flows well and that you aren’t bouncing back between ideas. Secondly, limit the amount of “I” sentences and run-on sentences; focus on using transition words like, “additionally and furthermore” to make your writing flow more easily.
• Proofread.
  Have a second set of eyes read through your cover letter for mistakes. One grammatical error may mean that your application will not be considered. Furthermore, pay close attention to your details. If you tend to build off of previously saved cover letters, ensure that you have changed all the pertinent information before sending. Submitting a cover letter with the wrong date or employer name on the application may cause an employer to have a negative first impression.

Cover Letter Sample

Travis Booth
1385 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
613-727-4723 | bootht@gmail.com

June 28, 2021

Paolo Monroe
David’s Tea
339 Richmond Road, Unit #1
Ottawa, ON K2A 0E7

Re: Tea Guide Position, Job ID #1234

Dear Paolo Monroe,

Are you looking to add a motivated and experienced customer service professional with superior communication skills to your team? I believe that my proven enthusiastic attitude, team-oriented approach, and the ability to engage customers will make me an effective Tea Guide at David’s Tea. Your company is known for friendly and above-and-beyond customer service, quality, and variety of products. Delivering a high standard of service is important to me and I look forward to working for an organization where passion for customer experience is valued and rewarded.

With over five years of varied retail experience, I demonstrated my dedication to exceeding customer expectations by providing friendly, fast, and efficient service, helping customers find and discover the products that best match their needs and interests. One of the key strengths that I rely on is strong product knowledge. In every new position, I first make sure to gain accurate and detailed information about the products I am selling and continue keeping my knowledge up to date. When working at Millennium One Solutions as a Call Centre Representative, I demonstrated my enthusiasm and the ability to learn company service details in a short period. I was also regarded by my team as a resource person for questions about company services and pricing. With that strong product knowledge, I was successful at upselling additional features by educating customers as to the benefits they will receive.

Other personal qualities that I possess include being a flexible team player who can organize their time effectively to meet assigned goals. In my present position at Loblaws, I hold a record of consistently maintaining the largest section of the store to the store’s quality standards, while also properly and attentively directing customer questions. I am also currently studying Business Administration at Algonquin College, where I have gained sound understanding of project planning, professional communication, and marketing basics. These skills will be an asset to your team, where I can contribute to the collection and analysis of data to improve customer engagement, communicate with vendors or larger business clients, and deliver suitable customer solutions.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you in person to discuss how I can make a positive contribution to your team. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
(add signature)

Travis Booth

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