Your resume is essential for a job application. But it is not the only document you need to impress a hiring manager. The next step is to create a compelling cover letter to grab that job opportunity.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the importance of cover letters. And you’ll also find all information on how to start a cover letter to impress hiring managers and potential employers.
Importance of a well-crafted cover letter in the UK job application process
A cover letter serves as a personal introduction during a job application. In the UK job market, it plays an integral part. It allows presenting your skills and experiences in the best light. And it can instantly grab the hiring manager’s attention.
Before you start looking for a sample cover letter, it is essential to highlight why this document plays such a massive role in the job application process.
A successful cover letter can:
- Provide an outstanding first impression;
- Signify your suitability for the company culture;
- Dwell on the skills and experiences mentioned briefly on the resume;
- Present your motivation and dedication to the industry or the company;
- Build relationships with potential employers;
- Explain a mutual connection or reference when applicable.
It is crucial to note that an effective cover letter should not be a reiteration of what is already stated in the resume. It should build on that. You can showcase a relevant accomplishment to get the recruiter’s attention and stand out from the competition. Or it can align with the company’s mission statement.
When You Do Not Need to Submit a Cover Letter?
There are some cases when applications are not required to supply a cover letter. For example, it is stated so in the job description. Or when you are applying through an online form and it doesn’t support this format.
But in all other cases, it is better to have a good cover letter ready. It might serve as a belief statement and present why you are passionate about this job posting. You can impress employers with relevant experience and a track record of successful campaigns you’ve managed. It is another opportunity to convey to hiring managers that you are the best fit for a position.
In a tough job market, using all the available opportunities only makes sense. Other candidates may have the same education, skills, and experience. But your cover letter introduction can serve as proof of your unique approach and vision.
How a strong cover letter opening sets the tone for the rest of the cover letter
A significant part of success is the cover letter introduction. It is not a secret that hiring managers spend several minutes when reviewing applications. How you start a cover letter might make or break the deal. Generic cover letters do no good to applicants.
A hiring manager might see generic lines and skip to another candidate immediately. That’s why the cover letter opening has to be incredibly strong. Often, applicants have only several seconds to impress hiring managers with cover letter openings.
Cover Letter Template Structure
Indeed, the cover letter opening is critical. But it is also important to make sure the following parts are as effective. If you have trouble writing a cover letter intro, a good idea might be to start with the main body and proceed to the opening paragraph afterward.
In such a case, you’ll have a clear understanding of what you need to state first for this specific job opportunity.
Whether you are aiming at an account executive role or a digital marketing manager position, the structure of a cover letter is the same:
- Salutation;
- Cover letter introduction with the statement of the purpose of your writing. You need to mention what position you are applying to, mutual contact if applicable, and where you’ve seen the job advert (the latter is optional);
- Second paragraph that presents your skills and experiences in connection to the job description. You can highlight the most impressive accomplishment from a previous job. Also, here applicants can dwell on how their strengths can contribute to the company’s growth and/or the company’s goals;
- The third paragraph is the place for your impactful belief statement. You can write why you are interested in the job and this company. You need to present why you are suitable for the role. And it is appropriate to showcase your passion for the mission statement or the industry. For instance, you believe in a sustainable future, or you are all about promoting greener workplaces.
- The closing paragraph rounds things up and restates your interest in the position. It is appropriate to ask for an interview and name the dates suitable.
- Contact details.
In this guide, we’ll focus on the cover letter opening, as it is a crucial factor in a successful application. It has to attract the hiring manager’s attention immediately and make them read the whole document.
Overview of the critical elements to include in the cover letter introduction
What does a cover letter introduction consist of? Let’s dive into the details with examples of how to craft a winning cover letter opening.
Address the Recipient
It is always best to start a cover letter directly addressing the person who is going to be reading it. So before you get to the writing, research the name of the company’s hiring manager. Of course, there is an option to say “Dear hiring manager,” but it should be a last resort.
Personal salutations in the cover letter openings show dedication and effort. Applicants can find the hiring manager’s name under the job posting or company website. Also, you can look it up on LinkedIn.
So the best examples of cover letter opening are:
Dear Mr. Jones
Dear Felicity Brown
Dear Mrs.Lincoln
If you absolutely cannot find the hiring manager’s name, you can start your document with
Dear hiring manager
Dear Sir/Madam
Dear hiring department
Dear Company ABC team
Dear Marketing Department Director
Showcase Enthusiasm
After addressing the hiring manager or other company representatives, you need to state the cover letter’s goal. The opening paragraph should be enthusiastic yet formal. It is sometimes appropriate to use a funny opening line, but it is a risky path. It depends on the company’s culture, team, and position.
If you are not 100% sure, keeping it formal and appropriate is better. Here is an example of a cover letter opening paragraph:
My name is Elizabeth Quinn, and I would like to apply for an open position in your Marketing Department. I was excited to learn that you are looking for a specialist, and I believe I am a good match. I am a social media manager with more than six years of experience. I’ve worked got Company XYZ and Company ABC.
Here is another example of an opening paragraph to start a cover letter:
I was thrilled to learn about this opportunity through my former colleague, Aaron Bright. We worked together at Company XYZ as part of the digital marketing team. In my previous social media manager position, I increased organic traffic to the company’s brand site by 25% in 2 months. I also improved the social media ROI of the project by 35% in three months. I believe that my experience and skills would be a great addition to your team.
Highlight Your Qualifications
The next part of your cover letter intro should present your qualification. It is crucial not to go overboard here. You do not have to mention every complex data analysis project you’ve worked on for the last ten years.
It is a common mistake when it comes to a generic cover letter. A person might be tempted to restate all the qualifications and skills from the resume. Some even might deep dive into all their experiences, including two summer internships five years ago. However, it would be best if you avoided any fluff or irrelevancy in your cover letter. If your writer’s workshop has no value for the position you are applying to, do not waste time and space on it.
But the opening paragraph has to be short. Also, it must focus on the most crucial qualifications for the job title you are applying to. Here is how you can start a cover letter in terms of qualifications.
As a graphic designer with five years of experience in mobile RPG gaming, I was thrilled when my former colleague told me about this opening at XYZ Company. I’ve been working on character development for the A project by my previous employer. And I’ve been a massive fan of your B game for a couple of years. So seeing this opening in your team was a dream come true.
You can also start a cover letter like this:
My name is Brian O’Connor, and I am applying for the account executive role. I’ve been a senior accountant specialist at Company ABC for the last three years. Overall, I have over seven years of experience in accounting and finance.
Share an Accomplishment
To start your cover letter effectively, write down the most impressive accomplishments you can choose from. The same principle applies as in the previous section – be laconic yet strategic with what you mention.
If you are applying for a journalist job, your Fortune magazine featured articles are a good match. Or if your team achieved triple-digit revenue growth in half a year. Think of what will make the most sense for the position and what would impress a hiring manager.
In this part of the opening paragraph of your cover letter, it is essential to be factual and precise. Avoid buzzwords and abstract statements without proof.
Here is an accomplishment cover letter intro example:
I believe in a more sustainable future in the fashion industry, and I’ve been following the company’s growth with excitement. In my previous job, I managed fabric supply from sustainable sources. With a new approach to finding vendors, I was able to reduce production costs and increase ROI while uncovering greener opportunities. Our department has been reducing costs by 13% every four months in the last two years.
Tips on How to Start Your Cover Letter
The opening lines of your cover letter could be the most crucial ones. Unfortunately, there is no ultimate recipe, and every case is unique. However, several tips will help you grab a recruiter’s attention and immediately establish a more personal connection.
Research the Company
The rule of thumb is to craft a cover letter for every company you apply to separately. Before you get to typing, research the potential employer. Go through the company’s brand and mission statement. Consider the company culture and how it is represented online and in the market positioning.
Also, find out who you can address in the opening line. All of that is helpful for your belief statement, along with the choice of the most impressive accomplishment. Look into the real business value that lies beneath the job title.
Tailor Your Opening
Based on the research, make sure your opening lines align with the position, description, and expectations. Creative roles and agencies are often more creative approaches. On the contrary, more traditional industries like Banking and Finance appreciate a more formal tone.
Be Clear and Concise
The precision with words is one of the signs of successful employees. Try to make your opening sentence concise and strict to the point. Do not overcomplicate your wording. And avoid getting into unnecessary details. The whole cover letter should be one page at maximum.
Ensure you have enough time to edit the document before sending it out. Vague and abstract sentences might show your lack of effort and unclarity when it comes to motivation. Also, comprehensiveness shows that you care about the recruiter’s time.
Use a Professional Tone
A cover letter is often your only option to make a first impression. It means that it has to showcase your professionalism.
Avoid jargon and informal language. Use formal English and ensure you come off polite. Whether you talk about renewable energy or a social media manager position, it is essential to use a proper style and format.
Proofread Carefully
Take your time proofreading the cover letter. It is a good idea to use applications that check grammar and spelling. However, you need to reread and evaluate the document manually too.
It is crucial to see whether the flow is logical and your wording is precise. It would be good to get feedback on your cover letter, especially if it is your first time writing it. Ask a friend or relative to read it and give you feedback.
Is your statement clear? Is the tone just right? Is there anything else you might add? It might be challenging at first, but proficiency in written communication will be handy in any work environment. So consider it a practice before you land the job of your dreams.
In Summary
A cover letter opening plays a considerable role in the job application. It is the first impression of a potential employer. Considering that hiring managers deal with many applications, making your opening strong is vital.
Make sure you follow these tips and craft a winning paragraph that will immediately grab attention and make you stand out from the competition.
