Jobs & Careers How To Write An Attention Grabbing Cover Letter (+Samples)

Writing a cover letter is an important part of any job search. It’s your chance to tell the hiring manager why you’re qualified for the position, but also why you want to work at their company specifically.

In this article, we'll look at how to write an attention-grabbing cover letter that will impress potential employers and get you noticed (and hopefully hired). I will also include some samples that you can customize to fit your job application.

How to write an application​

When applying for a job, you will typically be expected to provide three things:

• A resume, which outlines your skills and experience.
• A cover letter tailored to the specific job opening. It should include why you are interested in that particular company and position. In some cases (e.g., if you have no relevant experience), it's okay to focus more on what makes you a good fit rather than listing off every single skill you have under the sun.
• A sample of writing from your portfolio that demonstrates your style and ability—this can be an article from LinkedIn Pulse or Medium, or even an infographic about yourself!

How to write a cover letter​

• Introduce yourself and the job you're applying for
• Explain why you're the right fit for this position
• Highlight your relevant experience and skills
• Discuss your availability and enthusiasm

Cover letter format​

Your cover letter should be concise and well-written. Follow these steps and you'll be sure to cover all the bases:

• Use a professional tone throughout. Avoid slang or casual language, even if it's just in a sentence or two at the beginning of your letter. You want your reader to see that you're taking this opportunity seriously, not wasting their time.
• Use their job description as a guide for what information they are looking for in candidates' resumes and cover letters. This could range from mentioning specific skills needed (like programming languages) to describing projects similar to those done by candidates working there now—and anything in between! Do research on the company before writing anything else so that it reflects these details as much as possible while still keeping things brief enough that they don't take up too much space on paper (which would make reading more difficult).
• Be concise! The last thing anyone wants is an essay-sized document when applying for jobs because it takes longer to read. able

Use the job description as your guide.​

Using the job description as your guide, you can also highlight your strengths and why you're a good fit for the role. Since you've already done this research, it should be very easy for you to identify some of these qualities that make you a great candidate.

Research the company.​

Researching the company is an important part of your cover letter. Use this research to demonstrate how well you understand the business, and how your skills and experience can benefit them. You should include information about:

• The company’s mission statement or values
• Their reputation in the industry
• Your knowledge of what they do, who their competitors are and which industries they operate in
• Current news articles that mention them or their products, or which have been written by their employees

Use a professional tone.​

When you write a cover letter, you want to use formal language that's appropriate for the job. In other words, don't start your letter with "Hey there." Instead, use a salutation like "Dear Ms. Smith" or "Dear Sir." And don't sign off by saying something like "Sincerely," or even worse, "Your friend." Here are some examples:

• Dear Ms. Smith: Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the Assistant Accountant position at Acme Corp! I'm excited about the chance to work within your team and am confident that my experience will make me an asset as we work together toward achieving our mutual goals in this exciting new venture.*
• Dear Sir/Madam: Thank you for reaching out regarding my interest in becoming part of your team! As an experienced salesperson with over ten years' experience selling products and services in various industries worldwide (including medical devices), I believe that my knowledge of market trends combined with my passion for customer satisfaction will allow me to contribute immediately upon joining your organization.*

Avoid repeating your resume.​

The cover letter should not repeat your resume. It should not repeat the job description, title, or company name.

A hiring manager who has read your resume will not be reading your cover letter for a second time. Therefore, you do not need to mention that you have five years' experience in content writing in your cover letter again and again.

Just be clear about this fact once at the beginning of the document and move on to other things that are important for this particular job opening.

Similarly, a hiring manager will already know who referred you and why they think highly of you - so do not include these details as well!

Be concise and keep it short​

• Be concise and keep it short. The cover letter is your opportunity to explain why you are the best person for the job and how you will be able to add value to their organization. It should be written in a clear and concise writing style, keeping focus on the most important information that supports your application.
• Use specific examples of how you've achieved success in previous positions or projects. For example: "In my current role as an account manager at ABC Company, I was responsible for managing our largest client by ensuring all services were provided on time and with excellence." Avoid generalizations such as: "I am great!" Instead, write about specific accomplishments using numbers (for example, 2x sales growth) or percentages (10% decrease). If possible provide tangible results such as revenue generated or customers served/retained/acquired per month/quarter/year etc., but if this isn't available then qualitative measures like number of new clients acquired per quarter or overall customer satisfaction rating would work well too!
• Keep paragraphs short - no more than 3-4 sentences each so it's easy for hiring managers to quickly scan through your writing instead of having trouble reading too much text at once! If possible, use bullet points instead of paragraphs if there is only 1-2 statements within each point; otherwise just make sure they're spaced out evenly across all pages so everything looks neat & tidy when printed out later down the road when someone needs something printed off quickly!

A cover letter should be specific, concise and straight to the point!​

Your cover letter should be a clear and concise introduction that highlights your key skills and experience.

When writing a cover letter, it's important to keep it short and sweet! Get straight to the point with the main points of why you're applying for the job.

Use bullet points to make sure all your relevant information is included in one place, rather than rambling on about every little thing you may have done in your career.

Keep sentences simple and clear-don't use too many complicated words or phrases that might confuse readers who aren't familiar with them!

Also remember: don't mention salary expectations until after an interview has been scheduled! If requested by an employer, include a copy of this letter along with your resume when applying for jobs online or through email portals such as Indeed & LinkedIn.

Sample Cover Letters​

Here is a sample cover letter for the Camp Site Driver job advertised on Brightermonday.

Company name: Summit Africa
Company description: high-end camp in the Mara
Applicant's relevant experience and skills:

• Fluent in English and Kiswahili.
• Able to drive on a 4 x 4 terrain.
• Demonstrate safe driving practices.
• Able to follow verbal directions, read maps, follow GPS.
• Able to report any problems to management.
• Reliable and punctual with dedicated professionalism to job and duties.

Here are some sample cover letters based on the job description above. You can edit it to fit your specific job application.
Sample 1:
Dear Mr. [name],

I was excited to see the position opening for a Camp Site Driver at Summit Africa. I believe I'm a perfect fit for the job, because I have all the skills and experience listed in your job description.

I grew up in Kenya and spent many years working as a safari driver in the Mara region. After college in America, I returned home and worked as a driver for several years before moving to New York City and getting my master's degree in public health. While in school, I also worked as an intern at [company name].

My time working as a driver was invaluable preparation for this position. I am able to drive on a 4 x 4 terrain and demonstrate safe driving practices. I am also able to follow verbal directions, read maps, follow GPS, report any problems to management, be reliable and punctual with dedicated professionalism to job and duties.

I would love to learn more about Summit Africa and how you think my background could help support your company's mission! Please contact me via email or phone at [phone number] so we can discuss this.

Regards,
[name]

Sample 2:
Dear Mr. [name],

My name is [name], and I am writing to express my interest in the Camp Site Driver position at Summit Africa.

I am a native English speaker with years of experience driving on a 4 x 4 terrain, and I have worked as a driver for several high-end safari camps in the Mara region. I am able to follow verbal directions, read maps, follow GPS, and report any problems to management. I am reliable and punctual with dedicated professionalism to job and duties.

I believe that my experience as a driver will be an asset to Summit Africa because:
1) I have extensive experience driving on a 4 x 4 terrain;
2) I can follow verbal directions;
3) I can read maps;
4) I can follow GPS;
5) I can report any problems to management.

I would like to meet with you personally or speak over the phone at your earliest convenience so we can discuss how my skills might be of use at your camp site this season. Please contact me at 555-555-5555 or via email [email address] so we can schedule our meeting time.

Yours Sincerely,
[NAME]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. What should be the length of a cover letter when applying for a job in Kenya?
A cover letter for a job application in Kenya should be no longer than one page.
2. Are handwritten letters still accepted in Kenya?
Yes, handwritten letters are still accepted in Kenya.
3. Should I attach my resume to my cover letter when applying for a job in Kenya?
Yes, you should attach your resume to your cover letter when applying for a job in Kenya or anywhere else. Remember to read the specific job requirements.
4. What are some things I can include in my cover letter that will make me stand out from other candidates?
Some things you can include in your cover letter that will make you stand out from other candidates include:

• Your experience and qualifications
• Why are you interested in the position?
• Your impressive achievements or experiences

5. How do I go about addressing the hiring manager in my cover letter?
Address the hiring manager in your cover letter by their name (if you know it) or as "Dear Hiring Manager."

Conclusion​

Moving forward, you should now be able to write a cover letter that is concise and straight to the point.

You shouldn’t repeat anything from your resume, but rather use it as a guide for what information about yourself is important enough for an employer to know.

Finally, if you were looking for more tips on how to create a cover letter from scratch, check out our comprehensive guide in pdf format, uploaded in the resources section here.

Comment below with a link or job description for the job you are applying for. I will create a FREE sample cover letter for you.

 

[Centrine Kazila]

What do you think is the best way to format a Kenyan-style cover letter?

 

[Elizabeth Karanja]

What do you think is the best way to format a Kenyan-style cover letter?

Given that the Kenyan job market is highly competitive, it is important to take every opportunity to make your application stand out. One way to do this is to format your cover letter in a way that is both professional and culturally-sensitive. When formatting a Kenyan-style cover letter, be sure to include the following information:

• The date of your application.
• The name and contact information of the person you are writing to
• A brief introduction of yourself
• A description of your qualifications and why you believe you are a good fit for the position.
• A polite close

By following these simple guidelines, you can be sure that your cover letter will make a positive impression on potential employers.