One of the biggest mistakes most job seekers commit nowadays is that they concentrate a lot on developing the perfect application form and CV, but do not think so much about their cover letter. They fail to realize that the cover letter is a key part of their sales pitch for the job, and they risk a lot when they write one in a hurry.

Recruiters often read the cover letter first before they see anything else, so it is important to concentrate on it in order to create a good first impression and stand out from the competition. Given below are five great tips that can help you write effective cover letters for job applications.

Keep the letter short

Recruiters may get hundreds of applications for a particular job opening, so make sure that you keep the letter short for their benefit. At the same time, you should make sure that the key points you want to convey are put forth. Use bullet points and/or short paragraphs for easier reading, and limit the length to a single page.

Highlight key points most relevant to the position

The key points here include your skills, strength, and experience that are most relevant to the job opening. State the reasons why you are the perfect candidate for the job. If you are responding to a job advertisement, then mention three main requirements mentioned in the ad and show how well you match them. You can refer to points that are already written in the resume, but make sure they are not copied as is.

Customize the letter for each job application

Most job seekers already know how important it is to customize their CV for each position for which they apply. This rule applies to cover letters as well. If you have been sending the same standard cover letter for every job application, then you need to stop this practice right away. After all, the cover letter is meant to make you stand out, and you cannot do that without a unique cover letter.  You can look at examples of job specific cover letters online at sites like resumeindex.com for ideas on how to customize your own cover letter.

If you customize the cover letter to include some information about the company, it will also show that you have done some research on it. Write a little about their services, products, or opportunities, or issues in the industry where they function.

Keep the cover letter targeted

You should take some time to make sure the cover letter you send is targeted to the person who has the authority to hire you. Do not make any mistakes in the name, address, or job title of the person. Another good tip is to write your cover letter so that it focuses on the contributions you can provide to the company rather than the job itself. If you have a speculative application, remember not to send it by email since recruiters tend to delete or ignore them completely.

Do not forget a call to action

No sales pitch is complete with a call to action. When you are responding to a job advert, the call to action is obviously to shortlist you for the interview. However, if you are sending a speculative application, then the call to action is to set an interview. In this case, you should call them and make a mention in your cover letter of your intention to call as well.