If you’ve ever ventured into the job market, you know very well that there are some steps to be taken. Before the dreaded interview and the other stages of the selection process, you need to impress recruiters with your talents and skills. In this sense, the resume is the most familiar piece of information to candidates.

But it’s not the only one. There is a trump card called a cover letter. It will greatly contribute to increasing your chances and giving visibility to what you want to share with the future company. So, there’s nothing better than writing an efficient text for this purpose, right?

Stay with us and learn a little more about the best practices involving the cover letter!

What is a cover letter?

The cover letter is a complement to your resume, in which you provide some information about yourself. The idea is to arouse the recruiter’s interest beyond the information contained in the other document. Therefore, it is more personal and gives you space to include your qualities and skills.

There are several varieties of cover letters, including:

• spontaneous application;
• response to advertisement;
• letter in email;
• letter to recruitment companies.

What makes the difference is the type of approach you will take. Otherwise, the text will be similar in all of them, explaining the reasons why it is an advantage to hire you as an employee of the company.

Many people may even confuse this approach with a letter of recommendation . However, the latter is not written by you, although it also speaks of your talents. In this case, the intention is for an influential professional in the market to recommend your services, as if it were a guarantee that hiring you is a good deal.

How important is it to present a good letter?

Your cover letter is likely your initial impression for a firm that is seeking staff. By finding the right information, you increase your chances of demonstrating your worth and moving further in the employee selection process for job positions you are interested in.

Especially when you have a resume with no experience , this is an excellent opportunity to show why you should be hired. Since it is a more open-ended text, you can talk a lot about your strengths –– for example, that you are constantly updating yourself and are prepared to face changes in the job market .

How to write an accurate cover letter?

Now, let’s get to the most important part: writing the cover letter. As we’ve seen, it will be the first impression you make on the recruiter, before they see your resume. So, follow the recommendations below!

Be careful with the format

Just like your resume, you need to focus on concise and direct information – no long text or rambling, okay? Ideally, your cover letter should be written in 3 paragraphs and no longer than one page. After all, the person should be interested in reading it, and not be put off by the size of the document!

As tempting as it may be to fill the page with different fonts, be careful not to make the letter too exaggerated. As for colors and symbols, it is best to avoid them. Opt for a more traditional format, which does not take the focus away from what really matters: your text — unless the company is very cool and might find some innovation in this regard interesting. It is also best not to increase the font size –– 11 or 12 is sufficient and recommended.

Get the language right

You may have noticed that our language is quite changeable, depending on the situation. When talking to friends, you don’t need to worry about strictly following the rules of grammar, but this becomes essential when talking to a teacher, a renowned professional in the market, and so on.

The cover letter is written by logic of formality. But that doesn’t mean you must refer to complicated words from the dictionary just for the sake of showing off, right? Instead, keep it straightforward and plain. Don’t use abbreviations, colloquialisms, spoken words, etc. If you’re unsure if a word was properly used, it’s better to rephrase the sentence.

Present yourself effectively

The number one rule for cover letters is: avoid generic texts that don’t add value to your resume. Without going on too long, talk about what you’ve learned that has contributed to your professional performance and how you can help the company grow, among other qualities.

It’s also not a good idea to copy templates that already exist on the internet. Is it easier? Yes! Does it save you time? Of course! But be aware that it may not have the desired effect, since the real intention is to create a unique profile for yourself. Imagine if another candidate uses the same text: both of you will lose credibility, don’t you agree?

If you are applying for different types of jobs , write a cover letter for each one. This way, you will have a better chance of being successful and getting the attention of that specific company.

Don’t forget to review

Once you’ve written your text, it’s time to send it to digital platforms for employment , right? Wrong! The review stage is essential for creating an efficient cover letter. After all, what will they think if they find several typos and spelling errors in your text? At the very least, it means you’re not taking care of important tasks.

So, here’s a foolproof tip: wait a day between writing and proofreading. This way, you won’t read the document with “eyes wide open” and you’ll avoid any mistakes going unnoticed. It’s also worth using free tools on the internet and even asking a friend to help you spot potential mistakes.

Now that you know how to write an effective cover letter, it’s time to list your main skills and be honest when writing. Whether you’re looking to relocate to the job market or get your first job, this could be the difference you need to stand out among candidates in a selection process.