Jobs. Some of us love our jobs, many of us are comfortable with what we do, and others of us are feeling a need to change our current place of employment. If you’re part of the last group, then here are some tips to update your cover letter so you can start working towards making a career change.

Your cover letter should help you stand out from the rest of the candidates. It’s an extension of your resume and reflects your knowledge of the position you’re applying for, your skills in this area, and the needs of the employer (i.e. highlighting your relevant experience, showing you’re familiar with the company and portraying your personality).

Overall Organization

There are usually three parts to a cover letter: greeting, body, and closing. You’ll want to mention why you’re interested in applying for the position and working for the organization, why the company should be interested in you and when and how you’re planning on following up or contacting them.

Contact Information

The first part of your cover letter should include your contact information. For example, your name, address (city, state/province, zip code), WhatsApp or phone number, and your email address. Then you’ll list the current date and provide the employer contact information. This includes the company name, address (city, state/province, zip code).

Example:

Daniela Ibarra Rodríguez

752 Tarapacá, Apartment 1020

Metropolitan Region, Santiago, Chile 8320000

+569 340 28674

DRodri@gmail.com

May 10th, 2019

Accounting and Analytics Chile

266 La Concepcion, Office 309

Providencia, Santiago, Chile 7500000

+569 368 29671

A&Acareers@gmail.com

Greeting

This is the part where you grab the employer’s attention. Make sure you address your letter to a specific person, ideally the hiring manager (which you can usually find on the company’s website or by doing a basic google search). You want to show that you’ve researched the company and made an effort to find out who will be doing the hiring process.

Rather than putting something generic or impersonal like “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam” you’ll want to write “Dear [hiring/recruiting manager name or human resource manager name].” Start off with telling the employer which position you’re applying for and how you found out about the job.

Also, make sure to include a sentence that lets the company know that you researched who they are and what they do (if you want a rock star cover letter make a reference to their mission statement or something that caught your eye about the company).

Example:

Dear Ms. María José García Hernández,

I am pleased to apply for the General Manager position at Accounting and Analytics Chile that I found on LinkedIn. In my six-year career as a general manager, I have refined my leadership and strategy and development skills, and the companies I’ve worked with have praised me on my effective management and visionary leadership skills. Accounting and Analytics Chile has shown that it is has been a reputable company in the Santiago area for the last fifteen years through their mission statement to “deliver quality financial services to clients” and their strong values and excellent accounting services, which is why I want to be a part of the team.

Body (1-3 paragraphs)

This is where you portray that you understand the position by describing how work experience and qualifications are correlated with it. Include examples of your skills and specific highlights from your resume that make you a strong candidate for the position. Get creative here and make sure that you’re not just restating what your resume already says. This is where you use specific details and creativity to portray why you’re the best person for the job and the best employee for the organization.

Example:

This position is very appealing to me because of my strong [technical, architecture, civil engineering, etc.] experience and education background, which I believe make me a highly competitive candidate. My main strengths that would be the foundation of my success in this position are:

I have successfully managed a team of 25 employees.
I persistently strive to achieve excellence.
I go above and beyond to ensure all customers have a satisfactory experience.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in [business, technology, computer programming, etc.], I have an extensive understanding of project development. I also have significant experience in overseeing operations by planning and maintaining work systems. Please see my resume for more specific information on my experience, education and skills.

Closing

This is the part where you take action and let the company know what steps you’ll take to follow-up on the application process. Make sure to include the exact date you’ll be contacting them. This section of your cover letter is extremely important because it will help you get your next interview. You want to come across as enthusiastic and confident in your closing statement, which will leave the hiring team with the impression that you’re the top candidate for the job.

Example:

Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. I believe my previous experiences and education make me an ideal candidate for [name of company/organization]. I am especially excited about the opportunity to learn more about [a specific detail about the company] and how I can play a role in contributing to that effort.

I will call you next Thursday to follow up on the application process and arrange an interview time.

Sincerely,

Daniela Ibarra Rodríguez

PLEASE NOTE: include your signature if it’s possible (sometimes with email this is not an option). Although this is more formal, it’s better to err on the side of being formal, rather than too informal.