Cover letters are often disregarded as mere formalities, but the truth is that they are essential to landing an interview.

The article holds something for everyone who needs to write a resume and cover letter for a job application in South Africa: from the target audience to the do's and don’ts of resumes, as well as tips on how to make your email stand out.

We present you with a step by step guide for writing your next successful cover letter.

The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself as well as your skills to the prospective employer.

A cover letter should not be longer than one page and should include the following:

• A clear introduction paragraph.
• A brief summary of your previous experience.
• A list of the positions you are applying for with the company you are sending your application to.
• An account of why you want that position and what makes you qualified for it.
• CTA

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Introduction

Introduce your resume and your skills to the prospective employer.

A cover letter is a formal introductory letter that is written by a job applicant to convince an employer to hire them for the position. The cover letter introduces the applicant and provides specific reasons why they are qualified for the position.

A cover letter is a letter that accompanies your resume and supplies your qualifications to the employer. Include an introduction with a brief sentence that explains why you are sending your resume and what kind of job you are looking for. List 20 recent accomplishments that demonstrate your abilities

Include the section where you tell how your skillset meets the position requirements.

I have over five years of experience in copywriting and my skillset meets the position requirements.

Past Experience section

The cover letter is a necessary component of your application process. It should highlight your skills, work experience, and qualifications, in an effort to convince the employer to hire you.

Whatever you do, don't lie about your past experience or embellish it. This will only get you in trouble later on down the line when they find out that what you said was not true and they question why they hired you in the first place. Remember to keep it concise and relevant!

The right approach is to write a brief summary of your previous experience quickly summarizing each one.

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Every student is asked to provide their previous experience in their Cover letter.

A brief summary of your previous experience in your Cover letter should be provided in a clear, concise and persuasive manner. It should include a highlight of the relevant skills that you used to achieve success in the past. The sentence structure should also be organized and coherent. Lastly, it should not exceed 150-words (1-2 sentences).

Job Related Skill Section :Why you are Qualified?

It is important for a cover letter to be in your own words and reflect what you have to offer.

Below are some tips on how to get started when writing your cover letter:

- Reiterate who you are and what you've accomplished so far.

- Apply the company's core values to your experience and accomplishments.

- Highlight any specific skills that may not be on a resume, but could be appropriate for the company.

Call to Action - CTA Section

A cover letter is an essential part in any job application. It is the first opportunity for you to make a good impression on your potential employer. Your cover letter should convince the recruiter that you are worth the time it would take to have an interview with you and deserve their consideration for the position.

Cover letters should include at least one call to action phrase that will grab recruiters attention and persuade them to consider interviewing you.

Don’t forget to read:Is South Africa a Good place to do a job?

The following are some of the phrases that you can use to write an effective COver letter:

1. Look no further

2. I can make a difference

3. Who am I?

4. Here’s my CV

5. Why me?

6. A unique skill set

7. Here’s what I’ve done so far

8. What skills do you need?