How to Write aHow to Write aCover Letter?Cover Letter?

Good Practices & Common Mistakes Good Practices & Common Mistakes

Svetlin Svetlin NakovNakov

Telerik AcademyTelerik Academyacademy.telerik.com

Technical Technical TrainerTrainerwww.nakov.com

Secrets of Secrets of Successful Cover Successful Cover

LetterLetter

Good design / Good design / layoutlayout

Use your own Use your own words!words!

Be Be uniqueunique

Point what you Point what you want nextwant next

Write what the Write what the employer wants!employer wants!

Explain you have Explain you have the skills!the skills!

Demonstrate Demonstrate motivation!motivation!

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Why We Need a Cover Letter?Why We Need a Cover Letter?

Template-Based Cover LettersTemplate-Based Cover Letters

How to Write a Good Cover Letter?How to Write a Good Cover Letter?

Lying in the Cover Letter?Lying in the Cover Letter?

Don’t Make Mistakes!Don’t Make Mistakes!

Good and Bad CoverGood and Bad CoverLetters – Live ExamplesLetters – Live Examples

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Why Do We Why Do We Need a Cover Need a Cover

Letter?Letter?

What is the Cover What is the Cover Letter?Letter?

The The covercover letterletter (CL) is a way of: (CL) is a way of:

Introducing yourself to a potential employerIntroducing yourself to a potential employer

Explaining why you are suitable for the Explaining why you are suitable for the positionposition

Employers look for individualized and Employers look for individualized and thoughtfully written cover lettersthoughtfully written cover letters

You put time writing CL You put time writing CL you are serious you are serious

This is a method of screening out applicants This is a method of screening out applicants whowho

Are not sufficiently interested in their positionAre not sufficiently interested in their position

Who lack necessary basic skillsWho lack necessary basic skills5

What is the Cover What is the Cover Letter? (2)Letter? (2)

Cover letters can be:Cover letters can be:

The application letter or The application letter or invited invited

cover lettercover letter

Responds to a known job openingResponds to a known job opening

The prospecting letter or The prospecting letter or uninvited uninvited

cover letter cover letter

Inquires about possible positionsInquires about possible positions

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Why We Need a Cover Why We Need a Cover Letter?Letter?

The cover letter is the best way The cover letter is the best way to to show how motivated you areshow how motivated you are Also known as Also known as letter of motivationletter of motivation Why you want to start a career in Why you want to start a career in

thisthisparticular company?particular company?

Why at exactly this position?Why at exactly this position? Why in this sphere?Why in this sphere? Why you have the skills?Why you have the skills? Etc.Etc.

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Companies RequestingCompanies RequestingCover LettersCover Letters

Some people think thatSome people think thatnobody reads the cover lettersnobody reads the cover letters Consider them a meaningless Consider them a meaningless

requirementrequirement Such people believe that strong CV and Such people believe that strong CV and

rich experience is enoughrich experience is enough In some companies this could be true, but In some companies this could be true, but

in the best employers this is great mistakein the best employers this is great mistake

If a cover letter is requestedIf a cover letter is requested Be sure Be sure it will be readit will be read

At least at a glanceAt least at a glance8

What We Gain from Cover What We Gain from Cover Letter?Letter?

In the most prestigious and well-In the most prestigious and well-structured companies structured companies the cover the cover letter is very important letter is very important The human resources (HR) team at The human resources (HR) team at

the company the company definitely reads itdefinitely reads it If the cover letter is impressiveIf the cover letter is impressive

You will be immediately contactedYou will be immediately contactedand invited to an interviewand invited to an interview

Even if your experience is not greatEven if your experience is not great

Impressive cover letter Impressive cover letter opens opens doorsdoors!! 9

Cover Letters: Cover Letters: RememberRemember

It is always worth to send a well-It is always worth to send a well-prepared and impressive cover prepared and impressive cover letterletter Unique, especially written for Unique, especially written for

exactly this company exactly this company and and exactly exactly this job positionthis job position

Never "reuse" your cover letters!Never "reuse" your cover letters! A great cover letter for certain A great cover letter for certain

company and job position is bad for company and job position is bad for another company / positionanother company / position

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Cover Letters: BewareCover Letters: Beware

If you apply for a If you apply for a second time second time in in given companygiven company

Be sure to Be sure to rewrite your cover letterrewrite your cover letter

Most good companies will disregard Most good companies will disregard your application when you reuse the your application when you reuse the cover lettercover letter

The same cover letter means that The same cover letter means that

Your motivation has not changedYour motivation has not changed

Your qualification is not changedYour qualification is not changed

They should reject you againThey should reject you again 11

Recruiters Will Recruiters Will Research You!Research You!

Be sure that the HR professionals Be sure that the HR professionals will try to find all the information will try to find all the information about you they canabout you they can They will search in Google about They will search in Google about

youyou They will try to find your Facebook They will try to find your Facebook

profileprofile They will try to find information They will try to find information

about you from current employeesabout you from current employees

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The HR Will Research The HR Will Research You (2)You (2)

The The HR professionals never forget HR professionals never forget if you had ever sent a bad job if you had ever sent a bad job applicationapplication

They will find you, be sure!They will find you, be sure!

That’s why you should always That’s why you should always carefully prepare your job carefully prepare your job application before sending itapplication before sending it

Think a bit how to proceed the nextThink a bit how to proceed the next time when you apply for a job time when you apply for a job

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Template-Based Template-Based Cover LettersCover Letters

Template-Based Cover Template-Based Cover LettersLetters

The best way to guarantee a The best way to guarantee a failurefailure when applying for a job is when applying for a job is To use a To use a template-based cover template-based cover

latterlatter Once we received a really "nice" Once we received a really "nice"

cover letter:cover letter:

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““Dear …, I would like to apply for Dear …, I would like to apply for Your Your CompanyCompany because I am skillful and highly because I am skillful and highly enthusiastic candidate. I want to grow in enthusiastic candidate. I want to grow in Your Company, to improve my knowledge and Your Company, to improve my knowledge and skills. Your company is the best and I want skills. Your company is the best and I want to be part of it. I am hard worker and I am to be part of it. I am hard worker and I am sure I will help your business to grow.”sure I will help your business to grow.”

Template-Based Cover Template-Based Cover Letters (2)Letters (2)

When using a template for cover letters When using a template for cover letters You say nothing about why you want You say nothing about why you want

exactly this position in exactly this position in exactly this exactly this companycompany

How your experience in the pastHow your experience in the pastwill help you do will help you do exactly this jobexactly this job

Why you really match the requirements Why you really match the requirements from the job offerfrom the job offer

Phrases like “Phrases like “Your CompanyYour Company” are always ” are always evilevil! !

Once we received a cover letter starting Once we received a cover letter starting with “with “Dear …Dear …” (with dots left from the ” (with dots left from the template)template) 16

How to Write aHow to Write aGood Cover Letter?Good Cover Letter?

A Good Cover LetterA Good Cover Letter A A good cover lettergood cover letter::

Shows that you apply Shows that you apply exactlyexactlyfor this companyfor this company, not some other, not some other You are interested in this particularYou are interested in this particular

company and company and this particular positionthis particular position

Not just looking for some jobNot just looking for some job

Shows you have a Shows you have a clear idea of the clear idea of the positionposition What your future responsibilities will be, What your future responsibilities will be,

etc.etc.

Your skills match the requirementsYour skills match the requirements You have You have great motivation great motivation for this jobfor this job 18

What is a Good Cover What is a Good Cover Letter?Letter?

Good cover letter writers Good cover letter writers first carefully first carefully readread About About the companythe company About the About the offered position offered position

The detailed job descriptionThe detailed job description

The requirements stated in the job offerThe requirements stated in the job offer

HintHint: write 1-2 sentences for each : write 1-2 sentences for each requirementrequirement Not directly following the job descriptionNot directly following the job description Not exactly in the order as in the job offerNot exactly in the order as in the job offer Not exactly with the same words and Not exactly with the same words and

phrasesphrases 19

Example Job Offer Example Job Offer RequirementRequirement

You could write for example:You could write for example:

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examine and analyze the technical documentation of examine and analyze the technical documentation of competitorscompetitors

In my previous job I had to read a lot of technical In my previous job I had to read a lot of technical documentation and thus I believe that I will be able to documentation and thus I believe that I will be able to find, read and analyze various types of articles, find, read and analyze various types of articles, documents, manuals, etc.documents, manuals, etc. Don’t use exactly this sentence in Don’t use exactly this sentence in

your CLyour CL Say it with your words, matching Say it with your words, matching

your experienceyour experience If you don’t have similarIf you don’t have similar

experience, say for example:experience, say for example:

Use your own wordsUse your own words

I like to read blogs and articles and I know that technical I like to read blogs and articles and I know that technical documentation is different but it should also be documentation is different but it should also be interesting and challenging.interesting and challenging.

Example Job Offer Example Job Offer Requirement (2)Requirement (2)

It is a It is a bad idea bad idea to write:to write:

How you How you proveprove this? this? What are your arguments? What are your arguments? If you are not good in somethingIf you are not good in something

Just skip writing about itJust skip writing about it You can’t say you are good at You can’t say you are good at

something without any argumentssomething without any arguments How you know you are good in thisHow you know you are good in this

Just describe itJust describe it21

I am very good in examining and analyzing the technical I am very good in examining and analyzing the technical documentation of competitors.documentation of competitors.

Matching the Matching the RequirementsRequirements

You could write something like:You could write something like:

The above could never be used as a The above could never be used as a templatetemplate It depends on your past experience, It depends on your past experience,

interests, skills, personal character interests, skills, personal character qualities, etc.qualities, etc.

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excellent communication skillsexcellent communication skills

I believe I have a sense of communication because I believe I have a sense of communication because I had organized a small technical seminar at I had organized a small technical seminar at school and at the university where I needed to school and at the university where I needed to contact the speakers, arrange the seminar venue, contact the speakers, arrange the seminar venue, invite the attendees, attract sponsors, etc.invite the attendees, attract sponsors, etc.

Given the following requirement:Given the following requirement:

Bad IdeasBad Ideas Example of a bad way to directly Example of a bad way to directly

match the requirements:match the requirements:

Similar nonsense claim is:Similar nonsense claim is:

Saying something without Saying something without argumentsarguments is always a bad idea is always a bad idea Either argument well your Either argument well your

statement or just don’t talk about itstatement or just don’t talk about it

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I have excellent communication I have excellent communication skills.skills.

I am 18 years old and I have very rich experience I am 18 years old and I have very rich experience in professional project management in large teams.in professional project management in large teams.

Who to Address in theWho to Address in theCover Letter?Cover Letter?

This is a common questionThis is a common question It is best if you can It is best if you can research research whowho

will be reading your cover letterwill be reading your cover letter That way you can address him That way you can address him

directlydirectly It is riskyIt is risky

You can misspell the name, e.g.You can misspell the name, e.g.

If you don't know the exact personIf you don't know the exact person Write 'Write 'Mr./Mrs.Mr./Mrs.', '', 'HR ManagerHR Manager', etc.', etc.

Something more commonSomething more common

Dear Svetlin Nikolov and Training staff,Dear Svetlin Nikolov and Training staff,

Lying in Lying in thethe

Cover Cover Letter?Letter?Do You Really Do You Really

Need to Do It?Need to Do It?

Lying in Cover LetterLying in Cover Letter

Never lieNever lie!! Example:Example:

If you lie in your CV or cover letterIf you lie in your CV or cover letter You will be caught You will be caught at the interviewat the interview

and you will get firedand you will get fired Write in the cover letter somethingWrite in the cover letter something

Matching the requested Matching the requested requirements requirements

Supported by true, Supported by true, valid argumentsvalid arguments 26

I have 10 years of experience with Silverlight.I have 10 years of experience with Silverlight.

Validate Your Validate Your ArgumentsArguments

You could prove that you matchYou could prove that you matchcertain requirements either certain requirements either By showing By showing similar experiencesimilar experience By saying you have By saying you have read about this read about this in the in the

pastpast By sharing that you have a friend who By sharing that you have a friend who

always talks to you about this and have always talks to you about this and have show it to youshow it to you

You explain you want to learn this, you had You explain you want to learn this, you had read an article and watched a video tutorialread an article and watched a video tutorial

Always use valid arguments Always use valid arguments and never lieand never lie If you say you are …, find supporting If you say you are …, find supporting

argumentsarguments27

Validate Your Validate Your Arguments (2)Arguments (2)

Another example:Another example:

How you prove this? How you prove this? You could say that You could say that

or better explain thator better explain that

Use valid arguments based on past Use valid arguments based on past experience experience Not only work experience, but generalNot only work experience, but general

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I am a hard-workerI am a hard-worker

… … at the university I always had high grades at the university I always had high grades because I always have come very well prepared for because I always have come very well prepared for the exams …the exams …

… … when an important work is waiting, I cannot sleep when an important work is waiting, I cannot sleep until I get it done …until I get it done …

Don’t Make Don’t Make Mistakes!Mistakes!Spelling, Punctuation and Formatting Spelling, Punctuation and Formatting

MistakesMistakes

Avoid MistakesAvoid Mistakes

When writing your CV and cover When writing your CV and cover letter, use a letter, use a spell checkerspell checker

Don’t make spelling mistakes, Don’t make spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, etc. punctuation mistakes, etc. MS WordMS Word / / Google DocsGoogle Docs / / OpenOfficeOpenOffice

have very good spell checkershave very good spell checkers Just use them!Just use them!

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Formatting MistakesFormatting Mistakes FormatFormat your CV and cover letter well your CV and cover letter well

At this point you can use templatesAt this point you can use templates Just type "Just type "sample cover lettersample cover letter""

in in GoogleGoogle and you will find examples and you will find examples

Be sure to use only the styles, layout and Be sure to use only the styles, layout and formatting from the best examples you formatting from the best examples you find find

Never use the text inside Never use the text inside

Some employers use an automated Some employers use an automated softwaresoftwareto check for template-based cover lettersto check for template-based cover letters Be sure to write it entirely Be sure to write it entirely in your wordsin your words 31

Good and BadGood and BadCover LettersCover Letters

Live DemoLive Demo

HomeworkHomework

1.1. Find in Internet a job opening related to Find in Internet a job opening related to you skills and interestsyou skills and interests

2.2. Research the employer and offered Research the employer and offered positionposition

3.3. Following our guidelines write a cover Following our guidelines write a cover letter for applying for this job positionletter for applying for this job position

4.4. Carefully prepare and send a job Carefully prepare and send a job applicationapplication

Just for training, to gain experienceJust for training, to gain experience

You could always cancel an eventual You could always cancel an eventual interview invitationinterview invitation

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How to Write a Cover How to Write a Cover Letter?Letter?

Questions?Questions?

Thank You!Thank You!