If you have made up your mind for job hunting in 2021, make sure to craft your cover letter as perfect as crafting your CV. Till now, you must be wondering how long should your cover letter be?

 It seems a little extra to pen down the same information to the cover letter format most of the time. However, keep in mind that your cover letter should not bring up the same traits as your resume. Rather your job cover letter should focus more on your expertise and skills on your resume that the hiring managers value the most.

So keep in mind that your cover letter must be bespoke for every job application.

Your cover letter can make you stand out of the crow as the employers have to scan dozens of or say hundreds of job applications. Career advisors have considered resume cover letters to be an essential job application component that job seekers can't afford to leave at any cost.

Most job seekers seek an answer to a common question "how long a cover letter should has to be." Undoubtedly, writing a cover letter is a daunting task, as you have to introduce yourself as the best of all the candidates. Don't stress out as this blog is a solution to your problem "how long should a cover letter be for a job application?"

But before that, let's start with the basics.

What Is A Cover Letter? 

A job cover letter, also known as a Letter of Application, is a formal document comparable to precise interview round. It is that well-mannered self-introduction that provides your future boss a crisp and brief overview and snapshot of who you are before digging into deeper conversation.

A cover letter, being a part of your job application, is mainly included as an individual document that comprises no more than 400 words.

Purpose Of A Cover Letter

The cover letter is a key to differentiate yourself from other job seekers and an opportunity to speak one-to-one with the recruiters. Make sure to craft your cover letter quirky to get the hiring manager's attention.

Try to cover a short elevator statement within your cover letter that hooks the recruiter's attention and blows away any doubts or concerns to generate interest.

Is it necessary to include a cover letter?

Well, the answer to this question is No. It is not always mandatory to write a cover letter. It is not even feasible to write a cover letter for as many job applications as you make.

Writing a cover letter is a highly personalized way to address a specific employer that connects directly to your target audience. You cannot succeed by crafting a single "one size fit for all" letter and attach it to every job posting. Career advisors always recommend giving a personal touch to your cover letter by showing some enthusiasm. Mind it, either do it properly or don't do it.

How To Write A Cover Letter

Step 1: Do your research

It is always advised to research before you begin anything. Before you start writing a cover letter, make sure to get yourself updated about the company. Read the job description many times. Don't forget to visit their social media handle, their feeds, tweets, and much more. Feel the company culture by having a word with the current employees, talking to the front desk, and getting to know what the job post is all about. Try to connect with the company employees working at the same post on LinkedIn. By doing this, you will get a real insight into the job description.

Step 2: Answer questions in advance

Pre-empt potential questions that may emerge with your CV. For instance, if you listed Delhi as your location, however, the job is in Bengaluru, an employer is probably going to reject your application without any thought simply. Career advisors recommend using positive words such as, "I'm right now in the process of moving to Bengaluru with accessibility to begin in about fourteen days" - assuage worries ahead of time. 

Career changes, salary expectations, long career gaps, total experience (either too senior or junior) are any remaining examples of information that may need to be tended to. Your cover letter is the primary step to overcome these obstacles.

Step 3: Show enthusiasm

Recruiters need to feel like you truly need to join their company, cover letters show them who is set up to go above and beyond, and exhibit the demeanor, interest, and enthusiasm for the chance. 

Numerous applicants share comparative skills and strengths, education, and expertise in the present market, so managers regularly see cover letters as a differentiator to feature disposition and character. 

Numerous recruiters share this mantra: "You don't recruit for skills; you are hired for attitude. You can generally teach skills". 

Cover Letter Writing Etiquette – The Golden Rule

The golden rule of how to write a cover letter for a job is:

If your letter is addressed to a named individual, for example, Dear Mr. X, Dear Miss X, Dear Mrs. X, or Dear Ms. X, then the letter should end with a "Yours sincerely" (the sincerely has an "s" in lower case). 

If your letter is addressed to an anonymous contact, for example, Dear Sir, Dear Madam, Dear Sir/Madam, or To Whom It Might Concern, then the letter should end with a "Yours faithfully" (again use small "f" for faithfully).

Should a cover letter be handwritten?

When you react to a job post, your resume and different documents are normally accompanied by a cover letter. As a job seeker, you might be uncertain about whether a cover letter should be manually written. Still, in the present digital world, there are valid justifications to write your cover letter electronically. 

Here are few convincing reasons why it bodes well to use a laptop/computer to compose your cover letter.

1. We live in a world of digitalization.

2. Hiring managers are keen to see good evidence of better computer skills

3. A computerized typed cover letter is saved as a record

4. Most of the recruiters prefer a cover letter prepared digitally.

There might be uncommon events when the company accepts a handwritten job cover letter.This can apply, for example, if the organization you are applying to is profoundly traditional. 

But, for MNCs, parts in the field of money or IT, or if you are going after an executive job post, recruiting directors will hope to see a cover letter crafted using a PC.

EndNote

The bottom of "how long a cover letter be for a job application" is to play safe and put pen and paper aside when curating a cover letter. Drafting your letter on a computer offers various benefits, including tidiness, speed, and the capacity to spell check what you have written at the key click. Composing a cover letter can be scary. If you make sure to keep your writing concise and feature just your significant experiences, you will be en route to catching a job interview right away. 

Everything adds to a professional document that makes a good impression on the recruiting director. Good luck!!!