When a company advertises a job vacancy, they are effectively saying, “We don’t have someone to do this role — we have a problem!” What is vital is for you to achieve in both your resume and cover letter is the impression that you are the solution. As well as a professional CV, your will need a targeted cover letter.Related: 7 Cover Letter Mistakes You Make When Applying Via E-mail
A recruitment colleague of mine recently completed an analysis of the quality of cover letters sent to his consultancy. Out of every 100 candidates, on average:
- 73% of applicants supplied no cover letter or a brief introduction in the email of one to two lines
- 16% supplied poor quality cover letters with spelling mistakes and highlighting no relevance to the specific role being advertised
- 11% provided a professional cover letter highlighting the key aspects from the advertisement and their relevance to the appointment