Applying for a job seems easy if you just send your resume to the company offering the job. Although it is true that the possibilities of filling the vacancy will be focused on the value of the CV, there are other elements that can be decisive in these selection processes. One of them is sending a cover letter for work.
With a cover letter, you will be able to get closer to the company in which you want to work, signaling your disposition and drawing the attention of the person in charge of selecting the personnel. But, how to write it to distinguish yourself from the rest of the candidates? Discover how to write a cover letter for a job, with the fundamental parts that it should contain, tips and examples, reading this oneHOWTO article.
What parts should a cover letter contain?
When writing a cover letter for a job, keep in mind that It can be of two types: spontaneous or self-candidacy, that is, the one that does not correspond to any specific job offer and the one that does correspond to a specific job offer. Both have a very similar structure, so they only differ in content.
How to write a cover letter correctly? Follow this structure:
- Personal information: write down the data that identifies you. You must include your first and last name, your address (street, number and floor), the postal code of your town, a mobile or contact number and an e-mail.
- Company data: indicate the specific name of the company, the department you are addressing or the job offer corresponds to, the name and surnames of the person you are addressing (as long as you know it), the address where it is located the company and the postal code of the city or town in which it is located.
- Date and location: add them next to the reference if they correspond to a specific job offer.
- Reason for the letter: briefly and concisely explain the reasons that lead you to apply for the job.
- Capabilities and qualities: describe all the qualities and capabilities that make you a worthy candidate for the job offered by the company. In this part you can also briefly mention the content of your resume.
- Closing: make a request to enter and be part of the company or, failing that, be a participant in the selection process.
- Firm.
Use this cover letter template to make sure you don’t miss any important parts, thus increasing your chances of being hired by the company. If you have doubts about the structure of your data and address, remember that it is the same as in any letter. Discover How to write the address in a letter or envelope in this other article.
Tips for writing a cover letter
When writing a cover letter for a job, you should take care of certain formal aspects. Therefore, so that you can prepare a quality letter, we give you the following tips:
- Write the letter in DIN A4 size.
- Don’t use long sentences. Try to state ideas concisely, without falling into ramblings.
- Use the same quality and format in both the resume and the letter.
- Make a short cover letter, that is, without taking up more than one page.
- Take care of the writing and review the text to avoid spelling mistakes.
- Keep a positive focus at all times.
- Don’t repeat words. Use synonyms and different expressions.
- This letter serves to sell you, that is, it must value the person who is looking for the job.
- Keep a copy of the letter in a file. If you are selected, it will help you remember what you wrote and the aspects that you highlighted.
- In many offers, language control is valued, usually English. In these cases, write and send a cover letter in English so that they can verify your command of the language.
In addition to the cover letter, recruiters will appreciate that your previous boss, superior or co-workers recommend you. In this other article we tell you how to request a letter of recommendation.
Cover letter example
You already know how to write a cover letter and the basic tips to write it, but surely you continue to have doubts. For this reason, at oneHOWTO we help you to be inspired with an example of a cover letter so that you can write your own.
Job seeker data
Daniel Delgado Serrano.
C / Labrador, nor 5, 1orB
08290 Cerdanyola del Vallès
(Barcelona)
677023984
935778129
danieldelgadoserrano@gmail.com
Company data
Mercamister
HR department
A / A Eugenia García Cortés
C / Miguel de Cervantes, 31
08014 Barcelona
Location and date
Cerdanyola del Vallès, September 21, 2017.
Presentation letter
Dear Mrs. García.
I am writing to you about the job offer published in Infojobs on September 19 in which three cashiers are requested for the Mercamister supermarket located on Miguel de Cervantes street, in the province of Barcelona (Reference C4 / D4).
I have experience in this sector because I have worked for 3 years in two supermarkets in Barcelona. My training reaches Compulsory Secondary Education and I have the necessary knowledge to perform the functions described in the offer, very similar to those I have performed in these two supermarkets (product collection, checkout control and replacement). I am proactive, I work as a team and I can travel both by public and private transport to the workplace.
I am sending you my Curriculum Vitae in order to participate in the open process of selecting personnel for said position. I remain at your disposal to clarify any questions or comments.
Waiting for the study of my application to hear your news, cordially greets you.
Daniel Delgado Serrano
We hope this example helps you learn how to write a job cover letter. If you are lucky and they give you an interview, you may want to thank them for the opportunity. Check out this other article, in which we tell you How to write a cover letter. Good luck!
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