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How important is a cover letter for your CV?
When a recruiter reads through the many CV’s they receive for a new position, they will often only find just a handful of cover letters attached with those applications. Many job seekers today are still making the mistake of omitting this extremely important addition to the CV, and it can make an impact on whether or not they get through to the interview stage.
An employer is always looking for that little extra something that not only adds value, but shows initiative and creativity.
If you’re currently sat on the fence as to whether or not you should write a cover letter, here’s why it can be important…
It will make a great first impression
When an employer receives a CV with an attached covering letter, it makes a great first impression. It shows that an effort has been made above and beyond what was expected.
As so many CV’s are usually lacking a cover letter, most employers happy to see one and will instantly take note of not only what your covering letter has to say, but also what the CV goes on to show.
It’s important to recognise however that not all cover letters are valued by employers, and sometimes they are not even read. But does that mean to say you shouldn’t write one? No, it certainly doesn’t.
One thing we can say for certain is that employers will not down-vote your overall application if there is a cover letter present. They would have no reason too if it was written professionally, with courtesy, and addressed the right key points.
Of course, if a cover letter was written badly and contained errors, it would decrease your chances of getting an interview. This would go without saying, and this would also apply to your CV.
It shows you’ve done your research
A covering letter that has been tailored to the role is a great way of getting one foot in the door. Not only does it show that you’ve done your research, it also helps show the employer how you are the right person for the job.
Research the company’s website and also their social media pages. This will put you in a far better position to write both your cover letter and CV or résumé. Within your cover letter you can align your goals for the future with the company’s. You can also consider adding a sentence or two that clearly shows you are commercially aware and have great industry knowledge.
Even just the one sentence within your cover letter and CV can grab the hiring manager’s attention. Whilst most job seekers write a generic CV and don’t bother with a cover letter, you can instantly see how far ahead your application would be.
If we’ve managed to convince you on the merits of writing a cover letter, our help doesn’t just stop there. We have a few fantastic articles to share with you on the same topic. Please click on any of the articles below to find out more:
Do I really need to write a cover letter for my CV in 2019?
Top tips on how to write the perfect cover letter for your CV
