Writer Cover Letter in 4 Steps (with Examples & Templates)

A writer cover letter is a document used to demonstrate why you are the best fit for the position to a potential employer. In these types of letters, you’ll be giving your first impression to a hiring manager. As you’re applying for a position as a writer, it’s essential to make sure that you engage the reader and persuade them that you have the talent it takes to work for them. This article will also go over what should be included in an effective writer cover letter and what you should do to craft one appropriately.

A writer cover letter aims to market yourself to a potential recruiter or hiring manager to help yourself stand out from other candidates. By drafting a personalized cover letter that matches the position you’re applying for, you’ll improve your chances of being hired. A writer cover letter is even more crucial as it will be a small showcase of your writing abilities.

A writer cover letter is a one-page letter that you submit alongside your resume during the job application process. It is a way to introduce yourself professionally but more personally than the list format found in a resume. It summarizes your qualifications, experience, and other accomplishments that indicate you to be a strong candidate. A well-written letter is fundamental to show the hiring manager that you have the initiative and are interested in offering the position. 

If you are looking for the appropriate formatting method to write your cover letter read the following guideline to avoid any mistake in your letter.

The essential steps include:

• Use a simple professional font like Times New Roman or Calibri rather that makes the content of your letter clear and easy to understand.
• The font should be 10 or 12 points in size and consistent with your resume.
• Use the standard single-spaced format to facilitate reading.
• Add space between each section. For example, a line space between paragraphs.
• A one-page, three-paragraph format is considered standard. However, it should be concise rather than wordy.
• Most cover letters should have a 1” margin. However, if you can’t avoid going onto a second page, you could shorten the margins down to ½” at the most.
• Permanently save the file as either a Word Docx or a PDF with a particular file name.

It is essential to include relevant information and structure your cover letter appropriately. So while writing the letter, make sure to add all information listed in the job description to show them why you are a great fit for the job.

Below are the essential steps to follow for crafting a convincing writer cover letter:

Step 1- Header

The first step is to craft an appropriate header that addresses the reader and makes it easy to understand the cover letter. The header should be comprised of the following components:

Date

The date should always be included at the top of the letter before anything else. This makes sure that the recipient knows the letter is relevant and is pertinent to the current position they are trying to fill.

Name and contact information of the recipient

Then you should write the name and contact information of the person you are addressing. You should find the name of the hiring manager or recruiter to address them correctly and show that you took the initiative to learn a bit about the company.

Subject line

It is appropriate to include a short subject line highlighting the letter’s purpose. This way, the recipient understands the letter’s purpose and will be in the right mindset as they begin to read the content.

Greetings

Finally, the header should also include a professional greeting suitable to the style and tone of the letter. For example, a simple “Dear X”, including the hiring manager’s name, would be an acceptable way to greet the reader.

Step 2- Introduction

The following information should be included in the introduction section of the writer cover letter:

State the purpose of writing the letter

It would be best to be as direct and concise as possible when stating the letter’s purpose. It should be a quick and informational section that captures the reader’s attention and shows them exactly what they are reading. Hiring managers will receive many letters, so it is a good idea to state your purpose at the beginning clearly.

Step-3 (Body)

The body of the writer cover letter is arguably the most important. Hence, the following components should be included carefully:

Highlight your qualification

In the body of the writer cover letter, you can write about your qualifications, but you should be brief and concise. Remember that you only have a couple of paragraphs to explain why you are the best fit for the role, so be as brief as possible.

Connect your experience to the company’s need

Your experience should be relevant to the company’s needs, so check the job offering and include experience that can connect to what they want. The hiring manager is looking for someone who can assist their company’s needs. Therefore it is essential to discuss how your experiences will help them.

Demonstrate your writing techniques

This is your first chance to show off your writing skills, so make sure it is embedded appropriately in your writer cover letter. For example, you can use a short anecdote highlighting your past experiences as a writer. As long as you can briefly describe a relevant experience, showcasing your abilities is a great way.

Highlight your relevant skills

Double-check the job description for the skills they are looking for, then highlight any of your skills that align. Depending on the job you are applying for, you may want to highlight different relevant skills. Again, this is a great way to show that you are the perfect fit for the job and help yourself if the employer uses a filtering system.

Write what you can contribute

It is necessary to show how you can help the company. Ultimately, the company wants to hire a writer who will help them achieve their goals, so make sure to talk about what you will contribute and how they can benefit them as a business.

Request an interview

Finally, in the final paragraph of the body of the writer cover letter, it’s a good idea to request an interview politely. Use a professional call to action that puts forth your initiative. It’s a great way to show that you are confident and interested in the position.

Step 4- Conclusion

The conclusion of the writer cover letter will be like other types of formal business documents. You should include the following:

Thank the recipient

It’s crucial to thank the recipient for taking the time to read your letter. This shows that you are professional and would be pleasant to work with.

Sign off

Include a professional but straightforward signoff to end the letter formally. For example, you can include a simple “Regards”, “Best”, or other similar variation to end the cover letter.

Your name, contact information, and signature

Finally, the last element to include in the writer cover letter is your name and contact information. If they want to continue forward with the hiring process, they’ll need easy access to your contact information. You should also add your signature, a formal business document.

Given below are the template and sample you can edit and use to decide what to include in your letter and how to format it.

Here is a collection of free writer cover letter templates you can use to writer your own letter:

Do’s & Don’ts

There are several vital elements to consider when writing your writer cover letter. Before beginning, think about the following best practices to improve your chances of getting hired:

They include:

Get to the point

Consider that the recipient will likely need to read dozens of these applications in a short amount of time, so keep your cover letter brief and to the point. Keep your cover letter to one page or less.

Choose your tone wisely

It’s a good idea to match your tone with the job description. For example, if you know the employer is looking for a more serious candidate, then use formal language. On the other hand, if it seems like they are looking for someone more relaxed, feel free to use a reasonable amount of humour to show your personality.

Be confident

Appropriate confidence is necessary to show that you are the right candidate. Just be careful not to overstep and come off as arrogant. Remember, the cover letter should also showcase what you can do for the company, so try not to make it all about yourself.

Proofread

A writer cover letter is likely the most crucial document you’ll ever proofread. It’s essential to avoid typos and grammatical issues; otherwise, the employer will not believe you can produce compelling content. So make sure you proofread your cover letter several times and demonstrate that you have an eye for detail.

They include:

Repeating your resume

Your cover letter isn’t supposed to be a summary of your resume; it should be original writing that is more conversational. It should offer a glance at what the reader will find in the resume but should also be your moment to highlight why you are the right candidate.

Sending generalized letters

Do not send a generalized letter to several employers. Every cover letter should be personalized based on the needs of the company and its job description. Hiring managers can quickly notice a generic template, so take the time to write a customized letter for each position you apply to.

Highlighting your flaws

It is important to avoid writing anything negative about yourself, and instead, it’s better to highlight your pros rather than your cons. Ultimately, this cover letter should be the most critical marketing tool to sell yourself. So don’t emphasize any potential flaws you may have.

Lack of attention to details

Forgetting to pay attention to details in your writing before sending it out is the easiest way to get discarded as an option. Using the wrong company name or leaving in a typo isn’t going to make an excellent first impression with the hiring manager. So, double-check everything and use clear language and concrete examples.

Discussing past

Wasting the space on your cover letter to talk about negative past experiences is a definite no. Do not complain about your previous employment or explain why you left. Instead, focus on how you can help this new company and maintain an optimistic tone about the future.

Talking about money

Naturally, your salary and other compensation are critical deciding factors in the hiring process for both parties, but that should be discussed later. It’s best to focus on your capabilities as a candidate rather than talking about salary unless the job offer requests you explicitly to mention salary requirements.

Making it all about you

Finally, while mentioning your talent and experience is essential, remember that the hiring process is a two-way street. You should explain how you can help the company without exaggerating or sounding arrogant. You can also focus on why you would work well at the company and how you can support them rather than focusing on your needs.

An appropriately crafted writer cover letter is crucial if you are seeking employment in content writing or copy writing. It is your best opportunity to show your potential employer that you are talented and would be an excellent fit at their company. Before a hiring manager looks at your resume or portfolio, they’ll read your cover letter, ensuring you are making a great first impression. Be engaging, impactful, and brief. It is fundamental to write a letter to the point and relevant. So, follow the guidelines to write a writer’s cover letter given in this article to avoid the discard pile and land your ideal job.