In the letter of application or cover letter, you convince the potential employer of your qualifications, experience and motivation. Emphasize how the company can benefit from you and what skills you can bring to the job.
The most important facts in brief
Short and concise
The letter should not be longer than one page. Limit yourself to those experiences that are relevant to the job.
Individual
Do not use standard letters. The letter should refer to a specific job advertisement.
Self-confident
Convince them with your knowledge and experience and emphasize your contribution to the company's success.
A clear structure is the be-all and end-all
Letterhead
The full contact details with name, home address, telephone number and e-mail address as the sender should be included in the letterhead. In addition, the full company name and address and, if possible, a specific contact person should always be given. If there is no direct contact person, this can be the HR department, the head of department or, in the case of smaller companies, the managing director. The place of residence and the date of dispatch should also be listed.
Subject
The subject of the application letter should contain the word "Application" together with the specific position and possibly refer to a job advertisement, a job fair or an interview. A little tip in passing: The word "subject" is not necessary.
Salutation
A personal salutation to a specific contact person is more suitable in a cover letter than a general "Dear Sir or Madam".
Introduction - why am I sending my application to this company?
The introduction of the cover letter should arouse interest, be short and concise and encourage you to read on. Why are you applying for this position, what particularly appealed to you, why are you interested in the company and what do you think makes it stand out?
Main body of the cover letter - skills and experience
This is where you can stand out from other applicants and show that your skills and experience make you the ideal candidate for the job. It is important to establish a link between your professional experience and the needs of the company and the advertised position. Show why your experience is valuable to the client.
Motivation - what can we achieve together
In this part of the cover letter, you express the advantages of your personality and your motivation for the job. This is where you explain how you want to contribute experience from your CV to the company.
Conclusion
At the end of the cover letter, emphasize that you are available for further information or an interview and look forward to hearing from the potential employer. Do not end with conjunctions, but with a call to action: "I would be happy to meet with you for a personal interview"
Greeting, signature and enclosures
You can end the cover letter with the classic "Kind regards". A handwritten signature is no longer necessary today, just put your name under the greeting, that's enough. This is followed by details of enclosures such as your CV, references, qualifications and work samples. Your cover letter is now ready for the application.
