A cover letter is a very powerful tool in the job search process. You should pay close attention to the words that make up a cover letter - it is COVER and LETTER. It is a letter, a narrative that covers, packages you as a brand, which would sell. So make sure you market yourself well, the cover letter and your resume are the two most powerful arsenals you possess to secure that interview call! So what makes a killer cover letter? Here it is:

Keep the selection criteria in mind

A resume tells you what you achieved academically and professionally. The cover letter is your chance to go into a bit more depth about yourself. It is a pretty good strategy to explain more about yourself, especially about some of your experiences addressing some of the key selection criteria. Always keep the selection criteria in mind when writing your cover letter.

Address the letter to a person

Addressing it to an individual creates a positive and better connection. This individual can be the HR Manager whom you met at the graduate forum or maybe the Hiring Manager whom you met at a networking event.

Highlight your key achievements

If you have drafted your resume based on my STAR technique, it's now time to highlight your key "A"s in your cover letter. You may have many achievements listed in your resume, academic as well as professional. Make sure that highlight achievements that have best relevance to your selection criteria. If you have won led your team to victory in a university cricket match, make sure you package it as a leadership skill!

Follow up

We may be very busy in our application process and fail to follow up. This is a key part in the application process. It may not be relevant if you applying for a graduate program role as there are tight deadlines and timeframes. However, if you are applying directly or to a recruiter, its essential to follow up. This indicates you are keen and elevates your application from the bottom of the pile.

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