The cover letter is always a complex and perilous step when applying for a position. How to properly structure your words? What information should be included? Should you write a rather long letter to explain your advantages in detail or should you opt for a summary format? Recruiters from Deloitte, Mazars, Simon-Kucher & Partners and Microsoft give us their tips!
Just like the CV, the cover letter does not deviate from the imperative of impeccable spelling. This is the first point on which you must be vigilant. A big mistake slipped into a sentence can easily put an end to your dream of joining a company. Therefore, you must be vigilant on this point, do not hesitate to reread your letter several times and even have your loved ones read it to check that the ideas put forward are clear.
Do you still need to write a cover letter?
Between specialized social networks, the meetings which are multiplying during forums and in schools, the question can legitimately be asked. Is the cover letter outdated? Should we continue to write about it?
In some companies, it is no longer as essential and the CV may very well be sufficient. “ The cover letter is not mandatory for us. This is why it is important to clearly specify your search and availability on your CV. However, the cover letter remains interesting for a candidate who does not have the typical profile for a position, but who will explain his background and his choices », indicates Flora Quéré, Recruitment and Acquisition Strategy Manager within the firm Mazars.
For Bessa Krasniqi, Lead Recruiter – Global Talent Acquisition EMEA at Microsoftthe observation is similar: “ Senior profiles no longer write cover letters, it’s not a tool that I necessarily recommend for them. However, for a young graduate, this can allow them to give more weight to their application. »
Learn about the company
It’s a must! If you decide to send a cover letter to your future recruiter, it is imperative to demonstrate that you know the company you want to join! “ You should not only focus on general elements, such as key figures that talent departments already know », specifies Flora Quéré.
Delphine Combier, HR Manager at Simon-Kucher Partners, highlights a good practice that she observes among a growing number of candidates who apply to her firm: “ The generic cover letter is unacceptable! But we see more and more young graduates calling Simon-Kucher & Partners employees directly to find out, gather information and create their cover letter. It is very appreciated. Indicating, in your letter, that you had an exchange with one of our employees is very revealing of the candidate’s motivation and interest! »
The cover letter is also intended to demonstrate that you have done the necessary research on the company. “ It is easy to assert your curiosity by highlighting a current fact about a society “, explains Bessa Krasniqi. “ Today, all companies are present on social networks, on LinkedIn, Twitter and even Instagram! We provide plenty of information which is material for our candidates to use and which can enable them to personalize their cover letter. », adds the recruiter from Mazars.
Work well on the hook of your cover letter
How you begin your cover letter is critical. Again, if the first paragraph is unengaging, the recruiter will probably not continue reading. “ We receive a lot of applications and the time dedicated to each cover letter is quite short. You have to get straight to the point, right from the introduction. We must also start with a hook that makes us want to go further. », advises Evelyne Saïman, Talent Acquisition Director of Deloitte.
In addition to the hook, the transition with the introduction and the rest of the text is crucial. “ After having mentioned company news or an interesting element gleaned during discussions with our colleagues, the candidate can develop his motivation in the rest of his letter », specifies Delphine Combier.
The structure of the cover letter
This is also an important question when working on your application. What form should you give to your text? How to approach the subjects? In what order? For Flora Quéré, this cover letter must above all consist of three parts. “ In the first paragraph, you must address your background and keep it short and concise: who I am, what I am looking for and why. Secondly, you have to focus on the company, explaining why you want to integrate this structure in a frank and authentic way. Finally, in the third paragraph, the candidate must address his relationship with the company: why he thinks he is the right person for this position, what skills he can highlight in his job and how we can work together. »
Regarding the size that should be given to your cover letter, Bessa Krasniqi invites candidates to put themselves in the shoes of the recruiter. “ You have to keep it short, punchy, sincere and personalize this letter as much as possible! You have to ask yourself this question: will the person reading it have time to read three pages? »
Be yourself in your cover letter
Once again, it is important not to oversell yourself, but to always highlight your skills and your achievements. “ The recruiter expects the candidate to be able to say more about their expertise and to be able to support their arguments with examples, figures and concrete elements.rets,” advises Evelyne Saïman.
The ideal: stay true to yourself while seducing your recruiter, “ sell yourself, while being authentic », summarizes Delphine Combier. “ A well-written letter makes you want to read the CV. It’s only marketing that will make you want to meet the candidate », concludes the HR Manager of Simon-Kucher & Partners.
