A cover letter is a document that can be attached to an application to explain why you are suitable for a vacant position, what benefits you can give the company, and why the hiring manager should choose you.
In other words, this is a candidate’s story about themselves as a specialist that keeps the focus on the future nonetheless. If there are many candidates for the position, the cover letter can decide who will land an interview first.
In most cases, a cover letter is not obligatory for a response. But this is what it is valuable for: one can stand out among other candidates.
Sometimes, the job description explicitly states that such a letter is expected from the candidate, and there are also job boards that do not let applicants send their documents without a cover letter. To apply for a job, you need to write at least a couple of letters.
Why Write A Cover Letter For An Internal Position?
A cover letter is considered most important when a person submitting the job application is new to the company, so the document helps show their professional and personal qualifications.
However, even if you have experience and accomplishments in an employer organization, it is still a good idea to write a cover letter for internal position to send the right message.
So, if you want to land a job with new responsibilities and duties in the same company, it is worth making time to invest in your career.
Elements Of A Good Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter that can impress the talent acquisition team is not rocket science. When the time to change the position comes, make sure your letter follows these success criteria.
Length
There is no solid length established for a cover letter in an application. On the one hand, it is supposed to tell the story of the job seeker. On the other hand, it must not take more recruiter’s time than is necessary. Not to write a novel about the career, keep the document within the limit of one page. The length of between half a page and a full page should be enough to express your motivation.
Writing Style
Naturally, the requirement for a good cover letter will be to stick to the formal style. It is alright not to go too official. Yet, make sure to use the appropriate vocabulary for the occasion. Use non-ambiguous language that describes your professional qualities clearly.
Your prospective boss must not have a headache over what the letter means, so the best style to write it is to
- stick to the facts;
- use numbers and statistics to support your claims;
- create a clear picture of your future contribution to the work.
It will make hiring decisions about the position in question much easier.
Contents
The most relevant information for a quality cover letter is to mention the professional path that one has gone through. It includes
- education;
- background;
- interests;
- motivation.
Basically, one has to describe the kind of a professional they are in the context of how they arrived at that point throughout their professional growth. It is also important to add some information about your values and motivation.
Finally, state how you see your future in this career and, if possible, explain how you plan to achieve that.
Customization
Even when you are writing a cover letter for a different department in the same company, it is crucial to customize it for a specific position.
If you have a template you use to apply for different jobs, it is necessary to address and relate your motivation to a particular opening. Express your interest in this position and department, and you will get a higher chance to land a job.
Structure Of A Cover Letter
Regarding the contents of a cover letter, make sure to mention all the key points that are expected from an application. If you don’t want to miss anything important, follow this structure and complete it with your information.
- Say hello to the recruiter. If the position is internal, you probably know the name of the person that will read that. If not, generalize the address naming the whole department or team.
- Write what position you are applying for.
- Explain why you are interested in this position. This is a space to dwell on your motivation. Say a few words about why this job is optimal for you.
- Describe your relevant experience. If you have none, describe the skills and personal qualities required to succeed in this position, in your opinion. Include other information that may be of interest to the employer and convince them to choose you. Justify why your experience and competencies will allow you to work successfully. In this part of the document, you need to prove you can handle the responsibilities of the job.
- Thank the reader for their time.
- Leave a signature and provide contact details.
- If the employer mentions a portfolio in the job requirements, add its link to the cover letter.
Writing your story can be a challenge but you can always rely on monster resume writing services. However, once you complete your cover letter, you can be impressed with how much you have already achieved and how advanced of a professional you are. For that reason, take time to craft a good letter and impress your future boss with it.
