After you have the nuts and bolts of building a cover letter down, you may wonder how you can take your letter to the next level. What can you do to get your cover letter to separate you from the pack of other applicants and secure yourself an interview?

We’ve rounded up some answers for you from the team members at the Breen Center. Keep reading to see what each of our professional career development staff members believes will elevate your cover letter game to the next level.

1. Show some confidence

According to Megan Johnson, a career coach at the Breen Center, “A stand out cover letter is setting the tone right from the start. There should be a nice balance of confidence and enthusiasm for the desired role throughout the letter.”

So right out of the gate, you should try to find a way to establish yourself as a competent candidate who is excited about the potential to work for the company you are applying for.

This sentiment was echoed by graduate intern Dustin Miller.

“I think what makes a great cover letter stand out is any way a student can include CONFIDENCE in their writing,” Miller said. “Words and phrases like, ‘I know I am a strong fit,’ I am,’ ‘I believe,’ and ‘My experience and skills would lead me to have success in this role.’ Phrases like that go a long way.”

“Change all of those ‘I think’s’ to another word that shows you have confidence in your ability!” Miller said.

And remember, this is your chance to show them that you are the ideal candidate. This means your letter should always focus on what you can bring to the table as a professional, as explained by employer relations specialist Christina Wolfe.

“You will also want to explain what you can do for the organization, not what they can do for you – this is key!” Wolfe said.

2. Do your research

Self-assurance is definitely important in your cover letter, but you also have to do a bit of digging and research the position and company of your application, as indicated by the Breen Center director, Brynn Mason.

“You’ll want to be sure to reference the job description so that you can identify key pieces of information like skills, qualifications, and industry terminology,” Mason said.

Wolfe also commented on the importance of this.

“I highly recommend that you use the job description to your advantage in your cover letter,” Wolfe said. “Think of the job description as a ‘checklist.’ While writing your cover letter, you will want to ‘check’ off as many of the skills that are required for the position. “

This doesn’t mean you should copy the job description word for word, but by using the description to find similarities within your personal experiences, you have a higher likelihood of displaying yourself as a more ideal candidate.

Additionally, the ability to convey any additional information about the company will make you stand out as a great candidate. This includes taking the time to properly address the letter!

“Make sure that you are addressing the HR department or hiring manager directly, instead of a generic greeting,” Mason said.

This shows you took the time to do some research and are invested in the application.

3. Show some personality!

Unlike a résumé, cover letters give you a little more freedom to express yourself and tell potential employers a bit more of your story.

“A cover letter is your narrative, your voice within your application materials,” Mason said. “Give specific examples of the skills you developed, highlight your qualifications that make you a good fit for the job, and be sure to be authentic.”

Skills and experiences are important, but employers are also looking to get to know you a bit in a cover letter. So using your own voice to tell your story is key for a successful cover letter, as Wolfe emphasizes.

“Cover letters are great for showcasing your personality,” Wolfe said. “Now is your time to shine through in the interview process!  Your resume is more ‘to-the-point,’ but your cover letter can highlight more about you as a person, while explaining in a meaningful way why you are an ideal candidate for a job.”

Final points

The moral of the story is this: while there are basic forms to follow, there is no one exact right way to write a cover letter.

It might make sense for you to include information about where you grew up or how you found out you wanted to be in your chosen field, but those same details may be irrelevant for someone else. You have to write about what makes sense based on your story and the rest of your application.

Think about how you want to represent yourself in your letter and write from there.

“This is your story – be proud of what you have accomplished and sell yourself!” Mason said.