cover letter for career break

Site Search
Candidate Portal Login
Meet the Team
Testimonials
Investor Relations
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Work at Airswift
Talent Acquisition
Global Employment Outsourcing
Global Mobility
Workforce & HR Consulting
RPO & Managed Services
Infrastructure
Oil & Gas
Process, Mining & Manufacturing
Renewable Energy
Case Studies
Country Hiring Guides

How to explain a career break in your cover letter

June 14, 2021

Source: iStock/Brothers91

There are several valid reasons why you may need to take a break from your career for months or even years at a time.

Perhaps you need to care for a child or family member, or perhaps you took a break to travel, volunteer for a worthy cause, or work on a personal project.

Some of the most common reasons for a CV gap include:

Time taken off due to illness
Caring for a relative
Made redundant from a previous role
Looking for a job
Childcare responsibilities
Going back into education

Whatever the case may be, it can still feel a little awkward explaining your career break to prospective employers once you return to the job market.

With that in mind, here are some tips that can help you explain your career break in your cover letter.

Focus on what you can offer

First of all, you don't want your cover letter to sound like a defence of why you had to take some time away from work.

Very few employers are going to worry much about your career break unless they think you're not ready to return to work, or there is some underlying factor that will affect your work with them.

Otherwise, your recruiter just wants to know why you would be the right person for the job.

With that in mind, focus on the positives you can offer your prospective employer

Instead of addressing your career gap immediately, talk about your accomplishments in previous roles. For example:

Did you help to increase revenues for your former company?
Did you help to finish a major project on time and within budget?
Did you receive any specific recognition for your work?

Think about what you can share that will demonstrate your competence, industriousness, and expertise to the recruiter.

After all, the main reason you're writing the cover letter in the first place is to make yourself look as attractive to the company as possible.

Don't try to hide your career break

Even though your qualifications and value to the prospective employer should make up the bulk of your cover letter, you still need to explain your absence from the workforce at some point.

Never give in to the temptation to hide your career gap, or gloss over it.

Granted, there may be a small possibility that the recruiter overlooks the gap; but if the recruiter finds out at a later stage of the hiring process, it could become an issue. In this situation, as in all others, honesty is the best policy.

At the same time, it's a good idea to mention why you think this role is the right fit for you coming back into the workforce.

Perhaps you could reiterate your previous experience in similar roles, or how you've kept your skills sharp during your absence.

Source: Shutterstock/GP Pixstock

Don't give out unnecessary details

When it's time for you to explain your career break in the cover letter, keep the explanation brief and concise.

Remember, you don't have to go in-depth as to why you left your previous job.

For example, let's say that you decided to leave work to care for your elderly parents. The recruiter doesn’t need to know the details about how you came to make the decision, as it is very personal to you.

Instead, you could briefly state something such as: In [insert year], I took some time away from work to care for my parents. It's simple, to the point, and tells the recruiter all they need to know about the situation.

Looking for your next job?

At Airswift, we are committed to helping employees in the energy, process and infrastructure industries find the right job.

If you'd like to explore current openings in your field, sign up to our jobs board today.

This post was written by: Mariana Santos, Delivery Center Manager – Global Recruitment & Training

Looking for your next role?

You may also be interested in…

Five commitments your company can make towards combating climate change

Mastering job offer negotiations: The ultimate guide to handling counter offers

How to create a career development plan

Counteracting counter offers: A proactive approach to securing top talent

10 Tips for using social media in your job search

GETI 2023 webinar: A comparative analysis of renewables and oil and gas

Should energy companies prioritise tech and AI over training and development?

Why are energy professionals looking for a career change?

What can Oil & Gas companies do to retain talent during the energy transition?

Women in energy: gender equality boosting the energy transition

Cover Letter Template for Career Break

There is a range of different reasons why professionals might take up a career break. It could be to take care of an ailing family member, personal health issues, taking a break from work for mental health, relocation to a new city, taking care of infants and young kids, and many others. Whatever the reason be, getting back into the workforce is a daunting experience. Especially if you are getting into the professional world after a break of multiple years, the technologies and the processes would have evolved and that diminishes your chances to be employed at par with your last position and salary.

In this article, we will help you understand how to write a perfect cover letter or CV after a career break and how to build your resume . Let’s get started with the structure of the cover letter or CV.

Opening statement/ paragraph
Explain the gap
How can you contribute to the organization?
Reiterate/Summarize your interest in the role
Closing statement/ paragraph

Play it safe when you are writing the opening statement for your cover letter. Start with a brief explanation of the position you are applying for and how did you find your vacancy. Keep it relevant and to the point and make sure it is short and not a prolonged paragraph.

Below is an example of an opening statement:

“I wish to apply for the role of data science executive featured on iimjobs.com. I have enclosed a CV for your consideration.”

At this stage do not consider anything about your career gap. Here, you mention all your skills and list down all the achievements that you have had in your previous stints. List out your academic and vocational qualifications, relevant certifications, that will help you showcase your suitability for the role. This section will essentially prove that despite your career break, you still possess the skills, qualities, and mindset to pursue the role.

Pro Tip: Always try to quantify your achievements with the results that you achieved. For example, a 30% increase in revenue.

In the third paragraph, take the opportunity to explain your career gap as briefly as possible. But in your quest to make it short and crisp do not limit your explanation and ensure it is thorough. Also, define why is it the right role for you to return to the workforce. When it comes to career gaps, recruiters fear that candidates would not be ready to return to work. Alleviate such fears for the recruiters in this section and explain your worth.

Example:

“In March 2016, I gave birth to my daughter and took some time off work to give her all the care she needed. Now, she has started to go to school full-time and I am ready to restart my career and determined to take up new professional challenges.”

Also Read: Six ways to make your CV stand out from the crowd

Once the career gap is addressed and explained, you need to tell the recruiter how you will be a valuable addition to their organisation. You can do this by listing out all that you have done to improve your skills and broaden your knowledge base. This will include certifications, specialised courses, volunteer work, relevant projects you have worked on, letter of recommendation (if you have any).

You can easily overcome your career gap by reinforcing your credentials and present yourself boldly with confidence and facts.

“During my career break, I kept a track of how data science is improving and growing as a professional field and signed up for a data science certification course with great learning . I am now a certified data science practitioner and have proved my skills in the capstone project I did as a part of my curriculum. I have attached a brief about my project on “credit card fraud detection” with this cover letter.”

Here you would summarise your interest in the role and organisation and how you would be the right fit.

I am confident that I can bring the required level of expertise to the role and help the organisation in building well-functioning data science models and solutions. I am available to start immediately and see myself grow along with the organisation for the long term.

Thank the employer for their time and consideration while closing the letter an sign off with an appropriate salutation such as “Yours sincerely”, or “Yours faithfully”.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you for an interview and take my application further.

Yours sincerely,

Always remember that taking time off your career to take care of a personal commitment is nothing to be ashamed of. Life happens and it is not a reflection of your work. As times are changing, many employers are becoming increasingly considerate and understanding when it comes to gaps in employment history.

Therefore, never be tempted to hide your career gap as you will risk your entire application if the recruiter comes to know otherwise. Focus on the positives and assure the employer that you are ready to return to work and possess all the required knowledge and skills for the role under consideration.

Also Read: Most Common Interview Questions and Free Resume Builder

Top Free Courses

Career Objective for Resume for Freshers (with Examples)

My biggest professional challenge was the latest technology shift regarding the various Cloud implementations

Top 20 reasons for job change with sample answers

El Impacto del Aprendizaje Automático en el Mercado Laboral LATAM

25 Highest Paying Jobs in the World

Top Free Resume Templates to Download

2024 Virtual Return to Work Conference, May 14-16

Cover letters and references after a career break.

Describing your career gap to potential employers

By Vivian Steir Rabin

Vivian Steir Rabin is the co-founder of iRelaunch and the co-author of Back on the Career Track (affiliate link). She is a relauncher, having relaunched her career in executive search after a 7 year career break. Vivian left iRelaunch in late 2014 in order to focus full time on VSR Advisors , a retained executive search firm focused on commercial real estate and financial services for which she serves as Managing Director and Principal.

“I’ve been out of the workforce for several years,” a reader e-mailed me. "Should I address the gap on my resume in a cover letter? What about salary requirements? And what do I do about the fact that all my references are from 10+ years ago, besides the PTA president. (I’ve already told my 12-year-old that I’m not going to use her, even though she’s teaching me power point!)"

Here’s how I responded:

If you haven’t explained the gap on your resume, then by all means explain it in a cover letter. In fact, even if you have a line on your resume about your career break, address the issue in your cover letter as well. Do it briefly and unapologetically. (See the sample below.) Do not go on and on about why you stayed home.

The key is to address the gap (so prospective employers don’t think you were in jail or conjure up other unseemly excuses for your absence from the workforce) and make it clear that you’re ready to return to work now. Employers are less concerned about the gap per se and more concerned about whether you’re logistically and psychologically ready to work and whether you have the skills, despite your absence, to perform on the job.

Your goal, in your cover letter, is to reassure them, briefly, that you are ready, willing and able to return to work.

D o not mention salary requirements at all in a cover letter, nor during the first few interviews. Wait until the employer brings it up.

As far as references go, you do not need to mention them in the cover letter or resume. But you should try to line up 2-3 references, even if they’re from years ago. (One of the three could be from your recent volunteer work, like the PTA president). Email or call your old bosses, tell them you’re seeking to return to the workforce, and ask them if they’re willing to serve as a reference. Assure them that you’ll only give their name and phone number to those who are seriously interested in hiring you. Thank them profusely. Although you haven’t spoken in years, if you did good work, they should be willing to vouch for you. And, who knows, maybe they’ll even have a job lead!

Sample Relauncher Cover Letter:

I am very interested in the A opportunity at Company B, and believe my skills and experience make me a strong candidate. As you can see from the attached resume, I spent X years doing very similar work as a Y at Z Company. In addition, I developed C skills in my D years at E Company. Although I have focused on my family for the last G years and have not worked for pay, I have kept up with developments in the field by reading Most Important Trade Magazines 1 and 2 and attending H conferences. I’ve also updated my computer skills so I’m ready to hit the ground running. Finally, my involvement with I Volunteer Organization has honed my organizational and interpersonal skills.

I am very eager to return to the workforce and believe my pent-up enthusiasm for work, combined with my relevant educational and professional credentials, will help me contribute meaningfully to the organization.

I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my potential fit for this position by phone or in person at your convenience.

Sincerely, Jane Realdough

Check out our resource center for more free sample cover letters and relauncher resume downloads!

Visit resource center, don't relaunch alone.

Join our growing relauncher communities on Facebook and LinkedIn . For more great guidance on your relaunch and updates on when return to work programs are accepting applications, events for relaunchers and more, be sure to sign up for our Return to Work Report and follow us on social media to stay informed!

linkedin-in

Kristin Calhoun's Relaunch Success Story

Diversifying the Relauncher Talent Pool

Chelsea Sanders's Relaunch Success Story

The Best Career Break Cover Letter Tips

So, you are ready to get back out there and give it your best shot. You already have your resume all done and written, and it looks good. There is only one little bump on your road to success – there is an employment gap in your resume.

If that gap is a month long, or even two , employers won’t look into it too much. You can probably make it work even with a 6-month resume gap. However, if your gap is longer, you will need to address it.

Why is the resume gap such a big deal? You are the same person before and after it, aren’t you?

The truth is – some are and some aren’t. There are people who are not able to hold down a job due to many reasons. Some of them are justified and some of them aren’t.

The recruiters are afraid that they will invest the company’s time, money and resources in the wrong person.

It is up to you to explain that you are a real professional who is ready to get back in the saddle. Sometimes, this is easier said than done.

Here are some of the issues people worry about when it comes to writing their cover letter:

Is my cover letter just a copy of my CV?
Is my work still relevant after all this time?
Should I say what I was doing all this time?

Answers to these questions are actually some of the main rules and guidelines for writing a cover letter, so let’s start with them.

Main Rules for Career Break Cover Letter

There are many specific rules for writing a cover letter, but let’s start with some general principles and work our way down to the specifics.

No. Your cover letter is not simply your resume in a longer, differently structured form. The recruiters have already seen your CV. They don’t need to learn the facts from it all over again. Your cover letter is another chance to prove that you are the perfect candidate. Use it to explain why you are the perfect fit and what you love about the job. Also, use it to address your employment gap.
Keep it short . Your cover letter should never exceed one A4 page. Even that is a stretch. Keep it short, informative and to the point.
Make it original . Recruiters will get hundreds of cover letters. If yours is generic and doesn’t respond to the job posting they created, it will fail. Recruiters can spot generic letters from a mile away.
Include professional contact details . Don’t use email addresses that belong to a member of your family, or the emails that are funny. If possible, create a special, professional email address just for job applications.
Mind how you start and finish your cover letter . Start it by addressing the employer or recruiter by their name (if you can discover it) and finish it with ‘Yours sincerely’.

Three Main Elements of a Career Break Cover Letter

It is time to get a bit more specific and to deal with the elements that are a part of every well-written cover letter. You need an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Simple, right? Well, yes and no.

There are a lot of details in these three elements and there is a lot to be said about each of them. Let’s start with the introduction and list some tips on how to write it well.

Cover Letter Introduction

Keep the introduction brief, clear and to the point. Explain who you are and what is it that you do. Emphasize your career and not on your break.

This is also the moment when you should mention the position you are applying for. Make it all as short as an elevator pitch.

After you have introduced yourself, it is time to address the break. Give it a sentence or even just a half of it .

Simply state that you are “enthusiastic to get back to work after a 4-year parental break.” Mention why this position is just perfect for you to return to work.

The last part of this section should be dedicated to listing the activities you had during your break. Maybe you did some training, attended some refresher courses, or volunteered.

Perhaps you took the time to take a course for online work . Anything that shows you used your time to keep your old skills fresh or to gain some new ones is useful.

Cover Letter Body

This part of your cover letter is all about listing your achievements, accomplishments, skills, and explaining why you are the best fit for the job.

Your letter should make you shine, so go through these useful tips before you type a work of it.

Start by analyzing the job advert . Take a look at the top 4-6 requirements for the position. Then go through your work history and skills list and make a match.

The point is to provide evidence from your work history that you have what it takes to fulfill the role.

Remember, you only need to list those skills that are mentioned in the job advert or those that are closely related to them. Don’t go on listing everything you can do.

You are creating too much text in which the relevant skills for the job will simply drown and become invisible.

When listing your skills, keep in mind that there are those phrases that were used so much, they lost every meaning.

Words like “team player”, “detail oriented”, and similar, only take up precious space without adding anything to your cover letter.

Also, it is time to answer one of those three questions from the beginning – i t is absolutely OK to list former skills , roles, and abilities that you had before your break.

They are yours, after all! These skills aren’t gone. They just need a bit of brushing up and you are good to go.

Additionally, don’t be afraid of gaining new skills. Your ability to learn is also intact. Just because you took some time off, it doesn’t mean that this ability has disappeared.

It may seem to you that those skills and achievements stayed in the past because you cannot remember them all, either. In that case, dig through your old performance reviews or similar reports.

You can also call some old colleagues, as well. That can give you a better idea about what you have to offer.

Cover Letter Conclusion

This is the part where you sum it all up. Research the company website and social media profiles and learn about the specifics.

Then include those details, so that it shows you have done your research. Use them as the reason you want to join the company.

Once you establish that you are interested in working with this company, point out, one more time, why they should pick you for the job position they are offering. Sum up why you can benefit the company.

At last, finish your cover letter with a polite greeting. One of the good choices is “Yours sincerely”. Sign your full name and that’s it! You are done!

These are some general and some more specific tips for each section of the career break cover letter.

As you can see, this letter should only mention the fact you had a career break. A brief explanation is all it takes. You should not dwell on that fact.

While you have probably been busy during your time off work, it is always a good idea to, at least, take a course so that you can prove you have been busy and proactive.

Luckily for you the choice of online courses today is great , especially if you are trying to start an online career. It is definitely worth looking into.

Katrina McKinnon

I'm Katrina McKinnon, the author behind Small Revolution . With two decades of hands-on experience in online work, running eCommerce stores, web agency and job boards, I'm now on a mission to empower you to work from home and achieve work-life balance. My passion lies in crafting insightful, education content. I have taught thousands of students and employees how to write, do SEO, manage eCommerce stores and work as Virtual Assistants. Join our most popular course: SEO Article Masterclass

Write A Comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024 + Examples

After weeks of heavy job search, you’re almost there!

You’ve perfected your resume.

You’ve short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.

You’ve even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.

But then, before you can send your application and call it a day, you remember that the job ad requires a cover letter.

Now you’re stuck wondering how to write a cover letter ...

Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think.

In this guide, we’re going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.

What’s a cover letter & why it’s important for your job search
How to write a convincing cover letter that gets you the job (step-by-step!)
How to perfect your cover letter with the Novoresume free checklist
What excellent cover letter examples look like

New to cover letter writing? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!

So, let’s get started with the basics!

What is a Cover Letter? (and Why It’s Important)

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application (alongside your CV or Resume).

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can spark the HR manager’s interest and get them to read your resume.

A bad cover letter, on the other hand, might mean that your application is going directly to the paper shredder. So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

How does a good cover letter look, you might ask. Well, here’s an example:

Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you don’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume.

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, writing all this might seem pretty tough. After all, you’re probably not a professional writer.

The thing is, though, you don’t need to be creative, or even any good at writing. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:

Header - Input contact information
Greeting the hiring manager
Opening paragraph - Grab the reader’s attention with 2-3 of your top achievements
Second paragraph - Explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the job
Third paragraph - Explain why you’re a good match for the company
Formal closing

Or, here’s what this looks like in practice:

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter (And Get Hired!)

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, we’re going to guide you through the process of writing a cover letter step by step.

Step #1 - Pick the Right Cover Letter Template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

So, what’s a better way to leave a good impression than a well-formatted, visual template?

You can simply pick one of our hand-picked cover letter templates , and you’ll be all set in a jiffy!

As a bonus, our AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter on the go.

Step #2 - Start the Cover Letter with a Header

As with a resume, it’s important to start your cover letter with a Contact Information section:

Here, you want to include all essential information, including:

Phone Number
Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
Name of the company you’re applying to

In certain cases, you might also consider adding:

Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile that’s relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Let’s say you’re a professional writer. In that case, you’d want to link to your blog.

And here’s what you shouldn’t mention in your header:

Your Full Address
Unprofessional Email - Make sure your email is presentable. It’s pretty hard for a hiring manager to take you seriously if your email address is “[email protected].” Whenever applying for jobs, stick to the “[first name] + [last name] @ email provider.com” format.

Step #3 - Greet the Hiring Manager

Once you’ve properly listed your contact information, you need to start writing the cover letter contents.

The first thing to do here is to address the cover letter to the hiring manager .

That’s right, the hiring manager! Not the overly popular “Dear Sir or Madam.” You want to show your future boss that you did your research and are really passionate about working with their team.

No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes to get hired in any of them.

So, how do you find out who’s the hiring manager? There are several ways to do this.

The simplest option is to look up the head of the relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably Head of Communications or Chief Communications Office.

So, you do a quick lookup on LinkedIn:

And voila! You have your hiring manager.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of a server. In that case, you’d be looking for the “restaurant manager.”

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

Here are several other greetings you could use:

Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
Dear Hiring Manager
To whom it may concern
Dear [Department] Team

Step #4 - Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your job search.

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph .

The #1 problem we see with most cover letter opening paragraphs is that they’re usually extremely generic. Most of them look something like this..

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

See the issue here? This opening paragraph doesn’t say pretty much anything except the fact that you’ve worked the job before.

Do you know who else has similar work experience? All the other applicants you’re competing with.

Instead, you want to start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

So now, let’s make our previous example shine:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed their sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the job.

See the difference between the two examples? If you were the hiring manager, which sales manager would you hire, Jonathan or Michael?

Now that we’ve covered the introduction, let’s talk about the body of your cover letter. This part is split into two paragraphs: the first is for explaining why you’re the perfect person for the job, and the latter is for proving that you’re a good fit for the company.

So, let’s get started...

Step #5 - Explain why you’re the perfect person for the job

This is where you show off your professional skills and convince the HR manager that you’re a better fit for the job than all the other applicants.

But first things first - before you even write anything, you need to learn what the most important requirements for the role are. So, open up the job ad and identify which of the responsibilities are the most critical.

For the sake of the example, let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. You scan the job ad and see that the top requirements are:

Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of $10,000+ / month
Some skills in advertising on other platforms (Google Search + Twitter)
Excellent copywriting skills

Now, in this section, you need to discuss how you fulfill these requirements. So, here’s how that would look for our example:

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+ . As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation & management process end-to-end. Meaning, I created the ad copy , images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

Google Search

Are you a student applying for your first internship? You probably don’t have a lot of work experience to show off in this section. Learn how to write an internship cover letter here.

Step #6 - Explain why you’re a good fit for the company

Once you’ve written the last paragraph, you might be thinking - I’m a shoo-in for the job! What else do I need to write? I’ll just wrap up the cover letter and hit that sweet SEND button.

Well, no. You’re not quite there yet.

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary .

Meaning, you also need to convince the HR manager that you’re really passionate about working with them.

How do you do this? Well, as a start, you want to do some research about the company. You want to know things like:

What’s the company’s business model?
What’s the company product or service? Have you used it?
What’s the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

So, get to Googling. Chances are, you’ll find all the information you need either on the company website or somewhere around the web.

Then, you need to figure out what you like about the company and turn that into text.

Let’s say, for example, you’re passionate about their product and you like the culture of innovation / independent work in the organization.

You’d write something like:

I’ve personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that it’s the most innovative tech I’ve used in years. The features such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and Made-Up-Feature #2 were real game changers for the device.

I really admire how Company XYZ thrives for excellence for all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone that thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I and Company XYZ will be a great match.

What you don’t want to do here is be super generic for the sake of having something to write. Most job seekers tend to mess this one up. Let’s take a look at a very common example we tend to see (way too often):

I’d love to work for Company XYZ because of its culture of innovation. I believe that since I’m super creative, I’d be a good fit for the company. The company values of integrity and transparency really vibe with me.

See what’s wrong here? The example doesn’t really say anything about the company. “Culture of Innovation” is something most companies claim to have.

The same goes for “values of integrity and transparency” - the writer just googled what the values for the organization are, and said that they like them.

Any hiring manager that reads this will see through the fluff.

So, make sure to do a lot of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying.

Step #7 - Wrap up with a call to action

Finally, it’s time to finish up your cover letter and write the conclusion.

In the final paragraph, you want to:

Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? Any other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision? Mention it here.
Thank the hiring manager for their time. It never hurts to be courteous, as long as you don’t come off as too needy.
Finish the cover letter with a call to action. The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action. You should ask the hiring manager to take some sort of action.

And now, let’s turn this into a practical example:

So to wrap it all up, thanks for looking into my application. I hope I can help Company X make the most out of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your facebook marketing goals.

Step #8 - Use the right formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions to a cover letter:

Best Regards,
Kind Regards,

And we’re finally done! Before sending off the cover letter, make sure to proofread it with software like Grammarly, or maybe even get a friend to review it for you.

Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?

Professional email
Relevant Social Media Profiles

Do you address the right person? I.e. hiring manager in the company / your future direct supervisor

Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?

Did you mention 2-3 of your top achievements?
Did you use numbers and facts to back up your experience?

Do you successfully convey that you’re the right pro for the job?

Did you identify the core requirements?
Did you successfully convey how your experiences help you fit the requirements perfectly?

Do you convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about the company you’re applying to?

Did you identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?
Did you avoid generic reasons for explaining your interest in the company?

Did you finalize the conclusion with a call to action?

Did you use the right formal closure for the cover letter?

5+ Cover Letter Examples

Need some inspiration? Read on to learn about some of the best cover letter examples we’ve seen (for different fields).

College Student Cover Letter Example

Middle Management Cover Letter Example

Career Change Cover Letter Example

Management Cover Letter Example

Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

Want to discover more examples AND learn what makes them stand out? Check out our guide to cover letter examples .

Next Steps in Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume

Your cover letter is only as good as your resume. If either one is weak, your entire application is for naught.

After all, a cover letter is just an introduction. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression, but flopping at the end because of a mediocre resume.

...But don’t you worry, we’ve got you covered on that end, too.

If you want to learn more about Resumes & CVs, we have a dedicated FREE guide for that. Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume , as well as how to write a CV - our experts will teach you everything you need to know in order to land your dream job.

Or, if you’re already an expert, just pick one of our resume templates and get started.

Key Takeaways

Now that we’ve walked you through all the steps of writing a cover letter, let’s summarize everything we’ve learned:

A cover letter is a 250 - 400 word document that convinces the hiring manager of your competence
A cover letter goes in your job application alongside your resume
Your introduction to the cover letter should grab the hiring manager’s attention and keep it all the way until the conclusion
There are 2 main topics you need to include in your cover letter: why you’re the perfect candidate for the job & why you’re passionate about working in the company you’re applying to
Most of the content of your cover letter should be factual , without any fluff or generalizations

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guides…

How to Write a Motivational Letter
How to Write a Resume with No Work Experience
Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

How To Write a Cover Letter With Examples

Cover letters can help differentiate you from other job applicants and be the determining factor of landing your dream job. By taking the time to craft a custom cover letter, a single sheet of paper can help communicate all the human elements that a resume may fall short of capturing about yourself.

But what do employers and recruiters have to say about how to write a cover letter? What are the best tips they have to offer for graduate students who are writing a cover letter?

We asked 11 employers for their best cover letter tips. Here is what they had to share.

Let it Set the Stage

In many ways, cover letters should provide background information and context to your resume, while simultaneously addressing how that resume addresses the specific requirements of the job opportunity. The cover letter is your opportunity to "set the stage" and to convince the hiring manager why your specific set of skills, experiences and interests will provide value to their team and its objectives.

Andrew Horrigan '11 BSBA (Management Information Systems), Product Manager at Cisco

Research the Hiring Manager

If possible, find out who the hiring manager is and look them up on LinkedIn. Do your research on the company you're applying for. What's their mission statement and how do they portray their company culture? Hopefully what you're looking for in a job is reflected by those things. Make sure the hiring manager knows that and understands who you are and what drives you. A resume is often about as robotic as things can be. Make sure your cover letter is the opposite—personalize it and let yourself shine through.

Joshua Schlag ’05 BS (Computer Science) ’11 MBA, Digital Marketing Manager at Pyramid Analytics

Utilize Career Development Resources

The University of Arizona and Eller College of Management go to great lengths to make sure students are prepared for their impending career journey. Because cover letters are so important to getting your foot in the door, there are several career development resources online and on campus to take advantage of. The university’s cover letter builder serves as a nice template to get started. And of course, it never hurts to make an appointment with an Eller Career Coach through eSMS to have a professional review your letter before submission.

Brett Farmiloe, ’06 BSBA (Accounting), Founder, Featured

Discover Past Samples of the Position

Do your research on the company and personalize your cover letter to the role for which you are applying. Don't be afraid to Google, "How to write a good cover letter for X position." Seriously, it helps! There is so much information out there from various perspectives—applicants, hiring managers, etc. Most importantly be yourself and let your personality come through. And don't forget to spell check!

Mariam Nikola '17 MS MIS, Consultant at Point B

Highlight Your Soft Skills

When writing a professional cover letter, there are a couple things you can do to set yourself apart from the pack. First, make sure you tailor your letter to the specific position you are applying for. This should not be a general, "one size fits all" letter—be sure to discuss specific details surrounding the role or the company itself. Secondly, this is an opportunity for you to show a little bit of your personality. Obviously, you want to remain professional, but this is a great time to highlight some of your soft skills that might not be fully conveyed through your resume.

Brian Ellis ’17 BSBA (Management), Staffing Manager at Randstad Office and Administrative Professionals

Fill in the “Why” Gaps

As a talent advisor, I review a lot of applicants and agree that a cover letter can be a great way to stand apart, if it is done correctly. A great cover letter for me covers the ‘why’ that I cannot understand from just a resume alone. It should clearly state why you are interested in the role, what your goals are for utilizing your graduate degree (if recently graduated) and explain any career pivots reflected on your resume. If you answer those questions in a direct, concise manner it will add value to your application.

Monica Larson , ’11 BSBA (Marketing) ‘20 MBA, Talent Advisor

Tell Your Story

A cover letter is your opportunity to tell your story—tying your experience and personal interests into why you want a position and why you are the best candidate for it. Paint the picture of your journey and what about the position excites you personally and professionally. Similar to your resume, keep it short and sweet. No need to repeat what’s already on your resume. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t have time to comb through a novel, so you need to engage them with as few words as possible while also grabbing their attention.

Kelly Castoro, ’06 BA (Spanish, Portuguese), Project Manager at Squarespace

Tailor Each Cover Letter to the Position You Are Applying

Be sure to research the role and customize your cover letter for each position, relating your experience to the particular role you are applying for. Personalization is key—research who you are sending the cover letter to and address the letter to them directly. End your letter with a call to action, stating you will follow up by phone or email if you haven’t heard from anyone. Follow ups are very important!

Jessica Rosenzweig, ’15 BSBA (Business Management), Account Manager at PeopleWare Staffing

Communicate Bankability and Personality

Your cover letter answers two crucial questions; are you bankable and are you someone the company will enjoy working with? Communicate bankability with your knowledge of the company, industry and why your skills, capabilities and interests are a great fit. Share your passion for their mission, culture, brand—whatever excites you about becoming a member of their team.

When conveyed through a concise, well-formulated, well-worded cover letter, you demonstrate the ability to write an effective business case—communicating that you are a ready professional and worthy teammate who will hit the ground running.

Theresa L Garcia, ’83 BSBA (Human Resources), Senior Change Management and Organization Capability Consultant at Boeing

Keep it Concise but Compelling

A cover letter is your chance to speak directly to the hiring team and tell them why you are not only the best match for the position for which you are applying but also give them additional insight into yourself as an individual that is less visible from your experience.

A great cover letter should be attention grabbing and touch upon the qualities that make you stand out from others in the applicant pool, highlight both your recent and most distinguished accomplishments and drive home why you are the right person for the job. Professionalism is always important, but don’t be hesitant to put your voice into the letter to let your personality shine through. Research the company, understand where they currently are, where they are going and show why you are the right person to get them from point A to point B. Recruiters spend a lot of time reviewing applicants and making yourself stand apart from the crowd is key. Keep it concise but compelling!

Matt Reineberg, ’14 BSBA (Marketing), Senior Talent Acquisition Sourcer at Cox Enterprises

Highlight the “Why”

Why are you applying to this company? Why do you want this position? Your cover letter should aim to answer the why behind applying for the job. Conveying an interest and excitement for working specifically for this job at this company, rather than a desire to get any job anywhere that will give you money, can go a long way. Show the company that they should hire you and your passion over someone that might have the skills needed for the job, but doesn’t care about the work as much as you do.

Ryan Nouis, Trupath

Ready to Learn More?

IMAGES

39 Professional Career Change Cover Letters ᐅ TemplateLab
Cover Letter Examples Career Break Cover-letter : Resume Examples
Pin on Cover Letter Examples For Job
Career break cover letter template in Word and Pdf formats
39 Professional Career Change Cover Letters ᐅ TemplateLab
Example Cover Letter After Career Break

VIDEO

Refining your resume and cover letter
How To Write A Disruptive Cover Letter 🤔😀👍💪😘
Letter 15: break it down to the fundamentals
BREAK-UP LETTER
Writing a Cover Letter :: Career Services at Western Technical College

COMMENTS

How to Explain a Career Break in Your Cover Letter
Dear Mrs Jones, RE: Application for the position of Remote Customer Service Advisor as advertised via XYZ. Please find my CV/résumé enclosed for your consideration. Several of the attributes required for your role resonate personally, given my career thus far in the field of customer service. With 10 years' experience as a customer service ...
How to write a career break cover letter (with tips)
4. Write your opening paragraph. Explain why you're applying for the role at the company (name the role and the company). Briefly state why you're pursuing this particular role at this particular company. Mention how the role matches your career goals. Related: 7 powerful ways to start a cover letter (with examples) 5.
How To Write a Cover Letter for Returning to the Workforce
Here is a list of seven steps to writing a cover letter when returning to the workforce: 1. Identify who you are. List your full name, address, phone number, email address and any other contact information you deem appropriate. Remember you're tailoring the cover letter to the job you're applying for, so if the employer is very active on social ...
How to Write a Career Break Cover Letter
Download the template and use it alongside the following steps. First, be concise and professional. The cover letter should be a maximum of one page of A4 in a clear font, point size 10, 11 or 12 ...
Cover letter samples for coming back from a career break
Customer service return to work cover letter. Launch in email Copy to clipboard. Dear [hiring manager], I'd like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy advertised on your website. I have a wealth of skills, knowledge and expertise in customer service, and I am confident that I can deliver an exceptional customer experience.
How to explain a career break in your cover letter
Some of the most common reasons for a CV gap include: Time taken off due to illness. Caring for a relative. Made redundant from a previous role. Travelling. Looking for a job. Childcare responsibilities. Going back into education. Whatever the case may be, it can still feel a little awkward explaining your career break to prospective employers ...
Writing Cover Letters For A Career Change: Tips And Examples
Tips For Writing A Career Change Cover Letter. 1. Personalize Your Approach: Address the letter to a specific person whenever possible. Doing so demonstrates attention to detail and a genuine ...
Cover Letter Template for Career Break
Thank the employer for their time and consideration while closing the letter an sign off with an appropriate salutation such as "Yours sincerely", or "Yours faithfully". Example: Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you for an interview and take my application further.
Career break cover letter template
To finish the letter, always thank the employer. Sign off your cover letter with 'Yours sincerely' (if you know the name of the hiring manager)/'Yours faithfully' (if you do not), and your name. Example: Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.
Career break cover letter example (UK cover letter)
Career break cover letter template. The template below follows all of the current best practices for writing a cover letter. It's free, and you're welcome to use it as many times as you like. Please note, the template below contains placeholder text in [square brackets]. Please be careful to substitute the placeholder text for words that ...
How To Write a Career Change Cover Letter (With Examples)
To write a career change cover letter, start with the following steps: 1. Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by stating who you are, what you want and why you'd be a good fit for the job. Highlight your most impressive, valuable and relevant achievements without oversharing your lack of experience.
Yes, You Can Put a Career Break on Your Resume. Here's How.
The best spot for a career break on your resume is in your experience section. To add one, follow these simple steps: Come up with a name for the "position," such as "Family Sabbatical," "Professional Development," or "Volunteer.". Where the name of a company is typically listed, add "Career Break,". "Planned Career Break ...
Cover Letters and References after a Career Break
Sample Relauncher Cover Letter: Dear: I am very interested in the A opportunity at Company B, and believe my skills and experience make me a strong candidate. As you can see from the attached resume, I spent X years doing very similar work as a Y at Z Company. In addition, I developed C skills in my D years at E Company.
How to Explain an Employment Gap on a Cover Letter (Sample)
Follow these four writing tips to turn your resume gap into a compelling reason to hire you. 1. Structure your cover letter correctly. Writing a cover letter with an employment gap is not that different from writing a regular cover letter. It should still focus on highlighting your greatest strengths and the qualities that make you a good ...
Best Career Break Cover Letter Tips
Main Rules for Career Break Cover Letter. There are many specific rules for writing a cover letter, but let's start with some general principles and work our way down to the specifics. No. Your cover letter is not simply your resume in a longer, differently structured form. The recruiters have already seen your CV.
Career Change Cover Letter Samples & Examples
Let's start writing a cover letter that will make this career change a reality for you. 1. Start with a great intro. Start your cover letter by greeting the hiring manager by name. If you're unable to find a name, use "Dear Hiring Manager" but steer away from outdated greetings such as "To Whom It May Concern.".
Career Break Cover Letter
Although writing a career break CV and cover letter seem intimidating, the format and style are rather simple. In most cases, half an A4 page in a clear font (size 10-12) is sufficient. Keep it professional and steer clear of slang and jargon, unless the latter is necessary to display your aptitude. In the first paragraph, discuss the role you ...
Navigating Career Breaks on Your Resume: A Comprehensive Guide
Address the Career Break in Your Cover Letter - If your career break is a significant gap, consider addressing it in your cover letter. Explain briefly why you took the break and how it has ...
Resume Samples for After a Career Break
Here is one way you could present a caregiving career break on a resume: Jacob Flores. 778 Mulberry Way, Dallas, TX 75002. 555-555-5555. [email protected] Objective Dedicated, passionate graphic designer with 5 years of experience looking to develop comprehensive designs to support client branding.
Guide to a career break in a CV: how to explain it to employers
How to explain a career break to employers. As you prepare for a job interview, it's beneficial to decide how to discuss your career break with employers. Here are some steps that can help you explain this period correctly: 1. Use open and honest communication. When an interviewer asks about the gap in your employment, be honest.
How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024 + Examples
Header - Input contact information. Greeting the hiring manager. Opening paragraph - Grab the reader's attention with 2-3 of your top achievements. Second paragraph - Explain why you're the perfect candidate for the job. Third paragraph - Explain why you're a good match for the company.
Cover Letter Tips for Stay-at-Home Parents Returning to Work
The following cover letter tips are a great place to start and will help put you on the path to restarting your career. 1. Don't Hide It. When hiring managers look at your resume, chances are good they'll notice that you've been sidelined for a bit. That's all the more reason not to leave it out of your cover letter.
How to mention a career break to raise a family on a CV
Use a cover letter to address the gap in more detail. If you want to discuss your career break and what it taught you in more detail, consider writing a cover letter containing this information. In the letter, address the break in a few sentences. Then, depending on how transparent you want to be, mention why you decided to take time away from ...
Career Break Resume Samples for Explaining Employment Gaps
For example, instead of mentioning that you took a break from January 2017 through September 2018, you can just include that you were on leave from 2017 to 2018. 4. List your career break as a sabbatical. After mentioning it in your summary or objective section, you can also include your career break in your employment history as if it were a ...
How To Write a Cover Letter With Examples
Tell Your Story. A cover letter is your opportunity to tell your story—tying your experience and personal interests into why you want a position and why you are the best candidate for it. Paint the picture of your journey and what about the position excites you personally and professionally. Similar to your resume, keep it short and sweet.