{"id":345,"date":"2022-03-23T12:25:06","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T12:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/?p=345"},"modified":"2023-06-26T14:34:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T14:34:43","slug":"what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get the job you want, you need to stand out among lots of other applicants. While your resume is the first step in making a good impression, a well-written cover letter can actually help you seal the deal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"builder-button\">  \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-cover-letter\" class=\"builder-banner__a\">Create your cover letter<\/a>\n    <\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img width=\"768\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"What is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter.png 768w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter-50x34.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e5ee087c0d7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #2c1e39;color:#2c1e39\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #2c1e39;color:#2c1e39\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e5ee087c0d7\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#What_is_a_cover_letter\" >What is a cover letter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Do_you_need_both_a_cover_letter_and_a_resume\" >Do you need both a cover letter and a resume?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#How_do_I_write_a_cover_letter_for_my_resume\" >How do I write a cover letter for my resume?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Header\" >Header<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Main_body\" >Main body<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Call_to_action\" >Call to action<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Tips_for_writing_an_effective_cover_letter\" >Tips for writing an effective cover letter<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Cover_letter_sample\" >Cover letter sample<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Should_I_put_my_cover_letter_or_resume_first\" >Should I put my cover letter or resume first?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Letter_of_interest_vs_cover_letter\" >Letter of interest vs. cover letter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Modern_cover_letter_formats_%E2%80%94_a_video_letter\" >Modern cover letter formats \u2014 a video letter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/#Summing_things_up\" >Summing things up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_cover_letter\"><\/span>What is a cover letter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cover letter is a document that you submit together with your resume when applying for a job. It\u2019s basically a condensed professional introduction that aims to \u201csell\u201d you as the best candidate for the job.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, a cover letter gives you a chance to introduce yourself to the hiring manager and explain why you believe you would do great in this position and benefit the company.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cover letter should complement your resume \u2014 but not repeat the same information. The main purpose of a cover letter is to highlight your most important and relevant skills and add a personal touch to the application.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"builder-banner-top\">\n        <div class=\"builder-banner-top__title\">\n            You'll Never Find a Good Job\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"builder-banner-top__text\">\n            It\u2019s a job hunter\u2019s common fear, but we can help boost your chances!\n        <\/div>    \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-cover-letter\" class=\"builder-banner-top__a\">Click to build your cover letter<\/a>\n    <\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_you_need_both_a_cover_letter_and_a_resume\"><\/span>Do you need both a cover letter and a resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, a job application should include both a resume and cover letter \u2014 unless there are specific instructions that say otherwise in the job description. While hiring managers may not have the time to read through all the cover letters they receive, they will definitely read the cover letters of their selected candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, if the hiring manager is on the fence when choosing between two candidates, the cover letters may actually tip the scale in someone\u2019s favor.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_write_a_cover_letter_for_my_resume\"><\/span>How do I write a cover letter for my resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cover letter should be centered around your best professional qualities, achievements and experience. Only the information that you believe will make you stand out among other candidates should make it into your cover letter. How long should a cover letter be? A cover letter shouldn&#8217;t be more than one page \u2014 typically, 250 to 400 words long.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most cover letters will have the following parts: a header, a greeting, an opener\/introduction, the main body and a call to action.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s look at these in a bit more detail.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Header\"><\/span>Header<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the easiest section of your cover letter. Here, you should include the following information:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your full name and relevant professional credentials.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your location: city, state or country (optional).<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The way in which you prefer to be contacted: phone or email.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A link to your professional networks or online portfolio (optional).<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The purpose of this section is to get the HR manager \u201chooked\u201d on reading the rest of your application. Focus on your most standout features as a professional and explain why <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you believe that you are the perfect candidate for the position.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Main_body\"><\/span>Main body<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the main body of your cover letter, add more supporting arguments for why you are the best choice for the job. Mention that you are well aware of all the responsibilities that come with the position and that you are fully equipped to handle them. Support this claim with specific facts and examples: these can be your accomplishments in previous workplaces, a particular set of skills, certification, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Call_to_action\"><\/span>Call to action<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">End your cover letter with a call to action \u2014 what would you like to happen next? You can mention when you will be available to start the new job (if selected) and ask for feedback on your application. It\u2019s always a good idea to thank the HR manager for their time at the end of your cover letter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_for_writing_an_effective_cover_letter\"><\/span>Tips for writing an effective cover letter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few simple rules to follow when composing your cover letter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Personalize your letter<\/strong>. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a one-fit-all cover letter and sending it unchanged to different companies is a very bad idea. The main purpose of your cover letter is to convince the hiring manager that you are the perfect candidate for this specific job. If your cover letter is too general and doesn\u2019t mention any specific information, it simply defies its own purpose. Plus, it\u2019s very easy for the HR manager to spot a generic cover letter. This is why it is very important to customize your cover letter to the job you are applying for.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Explain why you want the job<\/strong><\/span>. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cover letter offers you a unique opportunity to be more personal and tell the hiring manager why you are passionate about the job \u2014 something you can\u2019t really do in a resume. Your motivation and enthusiasm about working for the company can be a very convincing factor for the HR manager to prioritize you over other applicants.<\/span><\/li><li><strong>Keep it short<\/strong>. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short cover letters tend to be more effective than long ones. This is often the case because hiring managers have a very limited time to spend on your application. Thus, a concise cover letter highlighting your most prominent professional achievements is the best way to go.<\/span><\/li><li><strong>Do your research<\/strong>. As we\u2019ve mentioned right at the beginning, personalizing your cover letter is one of the keys to its success. To customize your letter, do some research on the company you are applying for, learn about its culture, mission, values and more. This can help make your application more \u201crelatable\u201d to the person reading it and make you a good fit for the company in their eyes.<\/li><li><strong>Fill your cover letter with facts and statistics<\/strong>. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid generalities in your letter. As it\u2019s best to keep your cover letter short, use this space carefully. Include the information that would cause the most impact: numbers, professional achievements, awards, certificates and more.<\/span><\/li><li><strong>Fill the gaps in your resume<\/strong>. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there are things in your resume that you feel need explaining, the cover letter can be a great place to do that. For instance, if you\u2019ve spent some time out of official employment, you can mention in your cover letter that, for instance, you worked freelance during that time.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cover_letter_sample\"><\/span>Cover letter sample<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Group-16-min-232x300.png\" alt=\"cover letter example\" class=\"wp-image-395\" width=\"800\" height=\"1034\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Group-16-min-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Group-16-min-39x50.png 39w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Group-16-min-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Group-16-min-938x1214.png 938w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Group-16-min.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #e88768;\">how to write a cover letter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_put_my_cover_letter_or_resume_first\"><\/span>Should I put my cover letter or resume first?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most employers will start by reading your resume \u2014 or, at least, by scanning through it. This will give them an idea about whether you have the needed qualifications for work in the role you&#8217;re applying for \u2014 and this is especially true in technical fields that you require a specific set of hard skills.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While HR professionals will generally read the resume first, if they are interested in the candidate, they will definitely go on to read the cover letter. And, if there is a choice to be made between several candidates with similar qualifications, a cover letter may actually play a decisive role in the final choice.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-resume\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #e88768;\">how to write a resume<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Letter_of_interest_vs_cover_letter\"><\/span>Letter of interest vs. cover letter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term cover letters is often used interchangeably with letters of interest. However, there is a difference.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A letter of interest indicates your desire to work for a specific company \u2014 but it doesn\u2019t have to be sent to an open job offer. There may actually be no vacancies in the company you are sending the letter to at the time \u2014 but you want your candidacy to be considered if a position opens up. A cover letter, on the other hand, generally accompanies your CV in response to a specific job offer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about cover letters and letters of interest in our post: <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/letter-of-interest-vs-cover-letter\/\"><span style=\"color: #e88768;\">Letter of Interest vs. Cover Letter: Difference, Tips and Examples<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Modern_cover_letter_formats_%E2%80%94_a_video_letter\"><\/span>Modern cover letter formats \u2014 a video letter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While standard cover letters are sent out as documents, there are also new cover letter formats emerging that can make your application even more personal. A video cover letter is one of such formats.&nbsp; The primary aim of the video cover letter is the same as of a standard cover letter \u2014 to introduce yourself and make your case as the best choice for the job. The video format makes the letter much more personal and gives your potential employer a chance to get to know you even better.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summing_things_up\"><\/span>Summing things up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most job applications these days need to include both a resume and a cover letter.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself and make your application stand out.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your cover letter should be brief, memorable and highlight your most relevant skills and experience.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use as much specific information as possible: include numbers, professional accomplishments, relevant certification, examples from your previous work, etc.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customize your cover letter for any new company and position you are applying for.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make your cover letter more personal, consider using a video format.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We hope that you have found some useful tips for composing your cover letter in today\u2019s post. Happy job hunting!<\/span><\/p>\n    <div class=\"builder-banner\">\n        <div class=\"builder-banner__title\">\n            Build your perfect resume in&nbsp;a&nbsp;snap\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"builder-banner__text\">\n            Use templates created by HR pros to make your resume and cover letter catch the recruiter's eye.\n        <\/div>    \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-cover-letter\" class=\"builder-banner__a\">Create your cover letter<\/a>\n    <\/div><div style='text-align:left' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To get the job you want, you need to stand out among lots of other applicants. While your resume is the first step in making [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2709,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"number_of_votes":1,"sum_votes":1,"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6359,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345\/revisions\/6359"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}