In science and engineering fields, a cover letter can be a great way for you to express more about who you are and how you can use your talents to help a company. A cover letter is the best option if you want a platform to directly state why you’re the best candidate for the job. Here’s how you can write a more professional cover letter to get your next job.
Start your cover letter with a professional salutation. Rather than starting with something more generic, like “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager,” start with the recruiter's name. You should also include your contact information in the header, with your phone number and email address. Once you’ve completed your introduction, you can use these cover letter tips and the ResumeNerd cover letter builder to write the rest of it.
The cover letter format starts with a hook that entices the hiring manager to keep reading. Hiring managers often have to scan through dozens or even hundreds of computer science resumes and cover letters to find the right person for a job, which means the perfect cover letter will need to hook the hiring manager instantly. Here, the applicant mentions an algorithm he wrote that resulted in a 260% increase in clickthrough rate for a company in the early stages of his career.
Now that the hiring manager is reading, you can review everything that makes you perfect for the job. Look at anything in the job description, any skills you’re especially proud of and specific metrics that showcase what you’ve accomplished as a computer scientist. The applicant mentions his programming language knowledge, problem-solving skills and a 47% increase in sales on average. You can also include bullet points outlining your best accomplishments when writing your own cover letter.
In the third paragraph, you want to re-emphasize all the reasons a recruiter should choose you over other job seekers, then deliver the call to action as a request for the job interview. This provides a satisfactory conclusion for your entire job application. The applicant here asks “Let me know when we can sit down and talk.”
Every time you embark on a job search, you should assume that it’s best to write a cover letter and a resume. The resume is certainly important, as it indicates all sorts of information about your work history and skills. Using the ResumeNerd resume builder, you can create a great resume for any job search. However, a cover letter allows you to expand your skills and knowledge, making a great addition to a hunt for a new job.
You should aim for your cover letter to be at least three-quarters of a page or around 250-350 words. This gives you more than enough space to include all your skills and experience but also ensures that a hiring manager reads through the entire cover letter.
You don’t need years of experience to get a job in software development or software engineering. Instead, rely on your skills and your expertise. You can also include information about any alternate experience you have, such as experience in a computer science internship. Show how your skills will translate into success at the company, even if you have limited experience.
