Before an employer agrees to an interview, they need to be convinced that you are a great candidate for the position. This is where your CV is an essential marketing tool as it demonstrates to an employer your skills, experience and writing ability.
- Make sure your spelling and grammar are impeccable. You should be creative, bold and humorous in your Cover Letter, but always be yourself.
- Nothing impresses an employer more than your knowledge of them or the company. Try and key in on something that will make your cover letter stand out; find some pertinent information about the company. Of course you only want to focus on the positive.
- It’s important that your CV be as strong and positive as possible. A poorly organised and haphazardly written CV demonstrates to the employer that you are not serious about yourself, and if you are not serious about yourself, you are probably not going to be an asset to the company.
- The questions that are going through the minds of employer are: Can you solve problems? What are your strengths / weaknesses? What are the benefits of hiring you over someone else? How will you fit into the company? Will you have a strong commitment to your job? How independent are you / can you be a team player? Are you a fast learner?
- Dont forget to do your homework about the company, its history, its goals, products, etc. You can apply this information and dramatically stand out with a creative cover letter! Find information about the company by reading the companys website, brochures, do a Google search, and look at competitors. Theres tons of good information out there if you look.
If you submit a boilerplate cover letter and boring CV, you find yourself at the bottom of the CV pile.
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