Cover letters are a make or break element to job applications in a whole range of different industries. They’re a tricky skill and can be a thorn in the side of job applications for some people. In particular, anyone who has had to apply to a lot of jobs at the same time will attest to the fact that it’s really difficult to churn out tailored, well-written cover letters over and over again. It’s no more difficult anywhere than in marketing, an arena where the ability to portray things positively is something of a pre-requisite for being able to secure employment. So, with all of that said, let’s take a closer look at what you should be doing to make the best possible marketing cover letter.

 

Write A Unique One For Each Job

This is obviously the most annoying piece of advice you could receive but it is probably the most important, as well. It’s so, so tempting when you are putting in applications to loads of different companies to have a template that you just fill the blanks on. Aside from the massive risk you’re incurring that you make a clerical error and embarrass yourself, there’s also a simple fact to face: no cover letter that is generic enough to be copy and pasted on the front of all of your applications is a successful cover letter. “A cover letter needs to be a personalized, bespoke document that details intent and passion for the company it is being sent to. When a company receives a cover letter that is boring or seems too bland, they immediately start to theorize that other companies must be seeing the same document”, says Jade Bittman, cover letter editor at Editing Service. This is unacceptable and the extra effort that it will cost you to resolve this problem will be tiny in comparison to all the favors that you will be doing yourself by being really disciplined in this regard. Marketing is a field where the details are noticeable. Don’t trip over this hurdle, whatever you do.

 

Write Clearly And Effectively

Writing well is an obvious but vital thing to say. Whereas in the resume or CV there is less of an onus on you to be writing gracefully, the cover letter is where the opposite of that is true. Making mistakes over issues like spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax and formatting will almost certainly guarantee your application a face track to the trash receptacle. Whilst it will take a lot to solve these sorts of problems without any sort of outside help, outside help is always there and ready. So, let’s look at some sites to give you that helping hand:

 

 

Treat It As An Assignment

Marketing is all about selling a product through all the tools available to you as an industry professional. When you put in your application for a job in marketing, every single element to your application is like a test, a job interview in itself or even a practice assignment. Remaining professional at all times, including following the two tips above, and reassuring the company you are applying for that you are competent and capable of selling them something (i.e. yourself as a future employee) can be a crucial process that you should always keep your mind open to throughout the tedious step by step of applying. Don’t let your standards drop at all as you begin to write your cover letter and prove to the company that you are an ideal match.

Define your value proposition – what do you bring to that specific company that no one else does? Develop your elevator pitch as well. State your key skills as well. For example, you would probably have to be proficient in A/B testing, social media marketing, Web analytics, Email marketing, SEO etc. 

 

Conclusion

Overall, the cover letter is key. As an odd little piece to the rest of the application puzzle, the cover letter can easily be forgotten. Do everything you can to ensure that no such thing happens to you and that whatever you submit represents your ability to the full.

Aimee Laurence has worked in tech policy and marketing for the past 3 years at Paper Fellows and at Australianhelp. Her writing focuses on content marketing within technology. She also has an interest in email marketing and click conversions. She works in freelance editing at the Assignment Help portal.

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