As the leading cloud and data recruitment agency, one of our aims is to help our candidates with their successful careers. This article will tell you how to write a great cover letter for your cloud or data job.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is the name given to the brief document you send with your CV when applying for a job.
Your CV gives an overview of your experience and the skills you have gained over the year, so the cover letter aims to highlight to the recruiter the areas that make you perfect for the role you are applying for.
With this in mind, your cover letter must be tailored to each job you apply for. For example, in a data analyst role, you will want to highlight your experience working with data and delivering actionable insights.
A strong cover letter that is written with the job you are applying for in mind is a great way to catch a recruiter’s attention and leave them eager to review your CV to find out more about you.
Sample cover letter outline
To ensure you are writing a solid cover letter, keep the following outline in mind:
- Always include your name and contact information at the top, such as your phone number and email address. You may also include a link to your LinkedIn profile and your portfolio or GitHub.
- Make sure the date is indicated.
- Address the letter to the recruiter using their name and title and the name and address of the company they work for.
- Use a personalised greeting, such as “Dear Mr Webley”, rather than a generic term.
- Begin with an introductory paragraph that will hook the reader in and catch their attention. State the role you are applying for, your best achievement to date (relevant to the role) and express your enthusiasm for working for the particular company you are applying for a position with.
- The following paragraph should explain your career experience and accomplishments, especially any relevant courses you have completed. When writing this paragraph, always refer to the job posting, and highlight your most impressive career successes to date.
- Another paragraph should explain why you are applying for this particular position. Emphasise what it is that you believe makes you the ideal candidate for the role, why you would be an asset to the company, and what it is about the company that makes you want to work for them.
- A closing paragraph should be written that ends with a call to action. Thank the consultant for their time, and ask them to contact you for an interview.
- Sign off with your full name.
Cover letter best practices
As you are writing your cover letter, keep the following best practices in mind:
- Make sure every cover letter is tailored to the position you are applying for. If you are starting your career and applying for many jobs, it can be tempting to save time and send out a generic cover letter, but this won’t be effective in the long run. Review the job description and the hiring company’s website to get a better sense of them, and then take some time to personalise the cover letter to their wants and needs.
- Shout about your accomplishments. Explain how things you have done during your career have helped companies to make better business decisions, and quantify these achievements where you can. Including evidence of your success will show employers the value you could bring to their company.
- Showcase your passion for your career. As well as wanting to make sure you have the technical skills required for the role you are applying for, recruiters also want to know more about you as a person so they can decide if you will fit into the team. If you are enthusiastic and show why you are interested in your chosen career and the particular role advertised, you will definitely stand out.
- Proofread, proofread and proofread again. Most cloud and data careers require a strong eye for detail, so once your cover letter is completed, read through it at least twice. Check for grammar, spelling and typographical errors.
If you are starting your career in the cloud or data niche, are already working in this niche and want to take the next step up, or are an employer looking to expand their cloud or data teams, please get in touch with one of Agile Recruit’s consultants to find out how we can help you.
