Job SearchResume

Your Cover Letter Can Make the Difference

By October 3, 2025No Comments

Yes, you should include a cover letter with every job application. 

With the rise in AI being used by both job seekers and recruiters, you may be wondering whether a cover letter is really necessary anymore. Should you spend that valuable time writing unique cover letters for each job? Do employers actually read cover letters? Will it make any difference in your job search success? 

If you want to take control of your job search, and do everything you can to be successful in securing the job you want, then the answer is yes! 

Here’s why:

A cover letter is where you can make a great first impression, helping you stand out from the competition. It’s an opportunity to introduce yourself to a prospective employer while demonstrating your personality and communication skills, and it gives them a chance to get to know more about you. Using full sentences, you can explain how your top qualifications and skills relate to the position or company you are applying to, show your interest in the job, and why you are the right fit.

We like to think of a cover letter as what you would say to someone if you were handing them your resume in person and trying to convince them to look at it. The cover letter is the glue between the job posting and your resume.

In your Cover Letter, be sure to include:

1) Contact information for the person responsible for hiring – Try to find out the specific name, if you can’t, then use “Hiring Manager”

2) How you heard about the position – Where was it posted? Did someone refer you?

3) Why you want to work for that company – Demonstrate that you have done your research and explain your reasons for applying that focuses on what you like about the company or position

4) Highlights of 3-5 of your most important qualifications that relate to the job – Don’t just repeat everything on your resume, but highlight the most important skills, education and experience that you want to draw the employer’s attention to

5) Specific examples of how you have demonstrated your qualifications – E.g. What results did you achieve? What impact did you make?, or What value did you bring?

6) A request for an interview – Convey confidence when describing what you offer an employer and ask to meet for an interview

7) Your own words – You can use AI for ideas on how to say something or what to focus on, but make sure to edit it so that you use your own words and it sounds like you have written it yourself. An employer will know right away in an interview if you didn’t write your cover letter.

8) Clean, professional formatting – Use a one-page, business letter format, the same contact header and font as your resume, professional sign off with your first and last name

Once you have a targeted resume for a position, a well-written cover letter will complete your professional job application by showing the employer that you’re taking your job search seriously, have researched the company you’re applying to, and that you understand how you and your qualifications align with the requirements of the position. It’s worth it to take the time to write a good cover letter as it could make the difference between you getting invited to an interview or someone else, and it gives you excellent practice explaining how you’re a great candidate and why you’re interested in the job for when you do land that interview!

Want support with writing your cover letter and resume? Book a Virtual Resume & Cover Letter Appointment with us! 

You are in charge of where you go from here.

~ Ashley and Larissa

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