Cover Letter: Tips for New Graduates.
Many recent graduates find that the transition from school to the job market is more difficult than they thought. Guaranteed placements and recruiting at top schools aren't what they used to be, and new grads are finding they have to market themselves much better than before. If you're trying to find your way into the job market, your educational references and CV probably won't be enough anymore. You should apply yourself and redouble your imagination and creativity with your CV. Work in depth on your cover letters by targeting each job offer.
Cover Letter: Focus on the positive points
As a new graduate, it may seem like you have limited work experience. Or at least it may seem unrelated to the field in which you would like to work. Don't fall into the trap of this type of thinking. Most work experiences have many facets that apply to any job.
For example, if you worked in a grocery store in high school, or even college, this may not seem too applicable to your chosen field. But viewed from the right perspective, you might highlight customer interactions, multi-tasking, working to deadlines, or a whole host of other useful skills that apply to virtually any other job you could want. Don't focus too much on the specific work you did. Just highlight what you learned and the skills it helped you develop.
Differentiate yourself
Typically, you don't graduate on your own. You come out of college as a member of a group, often a very large group. It is therefore very important to stand out from the “herd”. To do this, you need to use your cover letter to explain why you are different, or even better, than other potential candidates.
You need to market yourself like any business. This means developing your own personal brand so to speak. If you’re part of a group of communication majors for example, why would you be the best choice? What makes your communication technique better than the rest? Your cover letter is a great place to start building your brand and differentiating yourself from the rest.
Don't focus too much on your school's reputation, course quality or awards, certificates and diplomas. These elements should all be mentioned, but they are not the only criteria that a potential employer will use to make a selection. If that were the case, they wouldn't even bother interviewing for jobs. The most important thing is your ability to give them something. Show them why you are the best choice for this position.
Many graduates end up in a different field than the one in which they specialized. In other words, don't limit yourself in your job search or your CV and cover letter. Part of the differentiation is that the potential employer can see the connections between your life experience, your coursework, and your dream job. It may take a little thought, planning and imagination, but if you can't see the connection, you can't expect a potential employer to either.
Use a confident tone
When writing your cover letter, make sure to use a confident tone when you conclude it and ask to meet the recruiter for an interview. Avoid appearing demanding and arrogant, but also be careful not to appear desperate or pleading.
