Ace that Cover Letter!

Research shows that, within the first seven seconds of meeting you, people will have a pretty solid impression of who you are. This truth applies not just to physical meetings, but to virtual ones as well. 

Considering your cover letter is the very first opportunity you'll ever have to make an impression on your potential employer, it is supremely important that you put your best foot forward when drafting it.

A very good evening to you. My name is Michael Egbuna, and it's my pleasure to take you through this surefire guide to writing a stellar cover letter that adequately compliments your qualifications and résumé, consequently setting you apart.

As you already know, there's a plethora of information pertaining to writing cover letters on the internet. On this premise, I've decided to utilize the rather limited time available for this session to highlight what I've found to be the most effective pointers for crafting riveting cover letters, especially for young professionals with limited professional experience, seeking gainful employment within the Nigerian job market.

For easy comprehension and retention, I've grouped these 21 tips for drafting a spellbinding cover letter into three categories as follows:

1. Preparation: groundwork you need to complete before putting your pen to paper
2. Format: pointers to ensure your letter is structured professionally
3. Content: ideas to aid you craft a worthy representation of your full potential 

If you're ready, let's dive in!

Preparation:

1. Clearly identify what values, beliefs and attributes constitute your personal brand. What makes you stand out from your contemporaries? What makes you you?
2. Research the firm you're applying to extensively. What are their core values, vision and mission? What's the company culture like?
3. Beyond what's provided in the advertisement, research the requirements and peculiarities of the role you will be applying for. What core competencies are critical for success in this role? Technical skills? Soft skills? What might the blindspots be?
4. Identify the components of your personal brand that align with the firm in general and your intended role specifically. Are there any of your values or personal attributes that resonate with those of the company? How do these points of convergence enhance your suitability for the role?

Format:

1. Your cover letter need not exceed one page.
2. Don’t set the font size below 12 points.
3. Set your cover letter’s margins to 1” or 1.5”. Feel free to adjust the margins as may be required in order for your letter to look properly filled out.
4. Ensure your letter has sufficient white space and isn't overly stuffed with words; a cramped cover letter is just as bad as a scanty one.
5. Your font style, sizes, and colors should match the ones you choose for your résumé, to prevent your application from looking unprofessional.
6. Ensure your addresses, salutation, subject and complimentary close are technically accurate and comply with the rules of proper business writing.

Content:

1. Endeavour to write a unique cover letter for each role you are applying for. Generic cover letters can be easily spotted by even less experienced hiring managers, and are a turn-off. 
2. If you are able to ascertain the hiring manager's name, avoid Using “To Whom It May Concern”, “Dear Sir or Madam” or “Dear Hiring Manager”, unless otherwise advised in the vacancy advertisement.
3. Resist the temptation to repeat your CV. Consider your cover letter an avenue to elaborate on the content of your résumé and highlight relevant details that might not be contained therein.
4. Use strong action verbs to describe your previous experiences, taking care to elucidate the relevant skills and competencies you developed while at these roles and ultimately show how they've enabled you meet the specific requirements of the opening you’re applying for.
5. Don't just state your accomplishments. As much as possible, endeavour to quantify them with numbers to make them more tangible.
6. If you are a recent graduate or do not have a significant amount of previous work experience, you should highlight some of your transferable skills from projects, classes, volunteer work, etc.
7. Use confident language; avoid sounding arrogant or apologetic.
8. Avoid clichés at all costs. Feel free to be creative and let your personality shine through.
9. Call the hiring manager's attention to your résumé and any other document you might be sending with your letter.
10. Don't be afraid to expressly (but politely) ask the hiring manager to contact you. Provide them with your contact information (email and phone number), and state that you look forward to an interview. 
11. Ensure you proofread your final draft a couple of times to eliminate typos and confirm you have adhered to instructions.

In summary, as I'm sure you'll see with all the sample letters available in the ebook that's about to be launched, your cover letter is essentially your sales pitch — your attempt at convincing the hiring manager that you are the best fit for the available opening, and that there could be no better candidate for the job but you.

Having this in mind as you draft your letter should guarantee that you put forth a compelling application at the end of your process.

It's been my pleasure taking you on this session, and I'm optimistic that the past few minutes have been of immense value to you.

I'm happy and available to entertain any questions you might have, or provide clarification where it might be required.

Also, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn via https://www.linkedin.com/in/Egbuna

Thank you and good luck!