When applying for a job, many job seekers go online in search of cover letter samples that they can use to make their application stand out. However, it pays to be careful when looking for cover letter samples online, as some sources might not provide the kind of professional cover letter the job hunter needs.
Cover letter samples can provide inspiration for job seekers who do not know how to write their own cover letters. However, it is important to get these samples from a trustworthy source. Rather than simply searching for cover letter samples via Google, job seekers should use reputable sites to find samples that help them to draft a professional cover letter.
The career sections of well-known publications are often packed with useful information, including cover letter samples, which can help job seekers to impress potential employers. For example, The Guardian provides cover letter samples in three different styles and explains when to use each one. A standard cover letter is the right choice to accompany a resume when applying for most jobs, but a slightly different approach needs to be taken when sending a speculative letter or when applying for a job in a highly creative industry.
The key point about using cover letter samples is that they should only be used to provide inspiration for your own letter. Job hunters should never copy a sample word for word, as other applicants may have used the same template to craft their own letters. An employer who receives many identical cover letters is unlikely to be particularly impressed with any of them.
Cover letters must also be personalized to highlight the key points of a job hunter's application. For example, the cover letter can be the applicant's opportunity to summarize the qualities that make him a suitable candidate for the job. Sticking rigidly to a template can cause an applicant to miss out on the opportunity to make these key points. This is one of the biggest downsides of using a cover letter sample or template when crafting your own application.
However, cover letter samples do have some important benefits. They show applicants approximately how long their letters should be and how they should be structured. One of the biggest mistakes that applicants make when writing cover letters is to make the letter far too long and rambling, which could result in the recruiter not reading the letter in full.
Cover letter samples can be extremely helpful for job seekers who are applying for advertised roles or sending out speculative applications. When looking for cover letter samples online, it is important to only use reputable sites to ensure the quality of the sample cover letters that are found.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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