Cover letter and CV writing tips.

Job Hunting can be challenging and depressing, especially when you receive a myriad of rejection emails from each application; some organizations are not even gracious enough to send the rejection. They keep you waiting and checking your E-mail for what will never come. I know how difficult it can be, so I have compiled these tips for job hunters, undergraduates, and fresh graduates just stepping into the labor market. The wrong CV and Cover Letter might be the only thing standing between you and your dream job.

Photo by cottonbro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-ipad-with-black-case-5989925/

Cover Letter

According to Zety, “A cover letter is a document attached to a job application designed to introduce the candidate in a more personal way. It should complement the information from a resume or CV, expanding on the skills and achievements and highlighting a selection of the most relevant accomplishments.”

Your cover letter complements your CV; it makes you stand out from other candidates and is an extension of your profile. It is an opportunity to pitch yourself to your future employer and convince them that you are the right person for the Job.

Some time ago, I replied to a tweet saying my cover letter game was perfect, which is an exaggeration because learning is a continuous process. But I was shocked when I woke up to over 40 message requests from people asking me to send my cover letter to their Emails. I realized how many people struggled with this part of the application process, and if you struggle with it too, these five steps will help you.

1. Always attach a cover letter to your application.
2. Your Cover letter should be organized and error-free.
3. Highlight job roles similar to the position you are applying for.
4. Attract your potential employer with each paragraph.
5. Make use of free and paid tools on the internet.

Always attach a cover letter to your application

When applying for a job that needs you to submit an email, you should always include a cover letter. After reading this post, it is a sin to send an email with just your resume attached or put the phrase “attached is my CV” and send the email that way. Even if the company or group does not request one, you should include one in your email. It will set you apart from other candidates and show your willingness to go the extra mile. Unless you are applying through LinkedIn or another job site that does not allow for anything more than your CV, you should provide a cover letter.

Your Cover letter should be organized and error-free.

Your cover letter should be visually appealing; you wouldn’t want to read this post if it was disorganized and not divided into clear sections. The same holds for your cover letter; you are certainly not the only individual applying for that position. Your future employer will probably have hundreds of applications to read, and it will be easy to dismiss yours if it isn’t visually appealing. Also, make sure your cover letter is error-free by proofreading it.

Highlight job roles similar to the position you are applying for.

Your cover letter cannot be generic. You can’t use a one size fits all approach when applying for a job, primarily if you work across multiple sectors. When applying for the role of Graphic designer, don’t go writing about your career in sales. Make sure to link your previous knowledge to the position you are applying for. You can talk about courses you have done or give examples of things you have done in your last job role related to the one you are applying for.

For example, suppose you were in sales and wanted to apply for a position as a graphic designer. You might share examples of how you collaborated with the design team to increase sales in your prior post. Discuss the creative ideas you presented to the design team and the courses you took to develop your graphic design skills using samples from your portfolio. Even if you have never held a position in graphic design, this shows you are creative and have the required skills.

Attract your potential employer with each paragraph.

Each Paragraph in your cover letter should hold the attention of the reader. A cover letter should not be too long. Never more than a page and maybe three paragraphs. Don’t repeat unnecessary information that can be found easily in the CV.

Your CV does not give you room to explain a job gap or career break, but your cover letter allows you to add that creatively. If the company requests a candidate that is organized and diligent in the job description, make sure to use that exact word in your letter and, if possible, explain how you have been diligent and organized in your previous role.

Remember, this is only to enhance your CV. The first paragraph, which serves as the introduction, should immediately capture the reader’s attention and show your passion and excitement. Make sure your writing conveys your enthusiasm for the job without using phrases like passionate and enthusiastic. The last paragraph should show your confidence, use a closing statement such as “Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to working with you.”

Let them see you are the perfect person for the job, and it won’t be wise for them to let you go. Include some technical terms that demonstrate your expertise in your field.

Make use of free and paid tools on the internet.

There are many free and paid tools on the internet that can give you an excellent template to work with, so you can add one or two and tweak them as you please. These templates will provide you with a professional touch you need. Some examples of sites you can use for your CV and cover letter include Zety and Resume Genius.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Your C. V is a document highlighting your educational background, skills, work experience, e.t.c, to a potential employer. Here are some tips you should have in mind when writing your CV.

1. It is not one size fits all.
2. Your name should be boldly written.
3. Your CV should not contain irrelevant details.
4. It should be neatly organized into sections with action verbs.
5. Add quantifiable results to your CV.
6. Include Keywords in the Job Description

It is not one size fits all.

Just as your cover letter cannot be generic, your CV also cannot be generic. You need to create a new CV for each sector you apply for. You can’t use the same CV you used to apply for the role of a teacher to apply for the role of a social media manager. The job roles or experience you have listed should always be similar to the ones you are applying for.

Your name should be boldly written.

Your name should be boldly written on top of your CV. It should be the first thing that attracts whoever reads it. Below is an example of how your name should look on your CV

An example of a CV from Resume 101

Your CV should not contain irrelevant details.

Your CV should not include irrelevant information such as your religion, gender, age, date of birth, and nationality unless specifically requested by your employer. It may lessen your chances. Your complete home address should also not be included on your CV. Putting such material out there is risky. All you need is your city and state, and if you’re applying internationally, your country and state. For instance: Ikoyi, Lagos, or Lagos, Nigeria.

It should be neatly organized into sections.

Your CV should be neatly arranged into different clear sections. Avoid using curly fonts that make your CV appear amateurish. You do not have to use any bright colors. A black and white CV with excellent content will outperform a bright and colorful CV. It should include your:

• Name
• Job role
• Address
• Contacts such as your phone number and email. Note that your email should be professional and include your name and surname, not sexylicious369@gmail.com.
• Personal profile: A short description of you and your skills
• Hard skills such as Microsoft Office, Machine learning, and soft skills such as leadership, organization, and time management.
• Educational background: Educational background should include University name, Course of study, GPA (optional)
• Job experience
• References: These people can be contacted to attest to your credibility, so if you put this section, make sure they are trustworthy.

Make sure to export your CV in pdf format.

A well-sectioned CV from Zety

Add quantifiable results to your CV.

Make sure your CV portrays you as a professional, even if you do not believe you are. There is always a way to arrange your CV and make minor details appear significant. For example, in a video by, Paddyjobsman on TikTok instead of saying, “I trained people in the company,” make it appear substantial by adding quantitative results and saying, “I managed employee recruits over a 12-month period and offered continuous guidance, advice, and, mentorship on duties and best practices.”

In the work experience area of your CV, instead of saying I wrote articles, include the number of articles you wrote for the company and illustrate quantifiable results with relevant action words such as coordinated, executed, arranged, increased, headed, and so on.

Include Keywords in the Job Description

This is a crucial component of your CV; ensure that you include keywords from the job description in your CV; this is where your hard and soft abilities will shine. Hard skills are acquired skills that assist you in obtaining a job, while soft skills help you keep them. Because of the lack of keywords, some CVs never make it past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Consider this job description example.

Example of a Job description

It would only be wise to include keywords such as HTML, HTML5, CSS, C#, and so on into your CV before applying, and in the soft skills section, make sure to add Teamwork and verbal communication. It’s always a good idea to look at different Job descriptions in the industry you are interested in so you can see the relevant skills and acquire them.

Note: As a creative or a person in the tech industry, for example, a content writer, graphic designer, UIUX designer, or web developer, you must include your portfolio or Github repository in your application. Even if you have never had clients, you can complete a few projects and keep them in your portfolio. Potential clients can see your work and determine your qualifications this way.

I hope you found this article helpful and enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. See you at the top.