Cover letters are the icing on the corporate cake, and often, your key to a new career. Some say the age of the cover letter is over, others say it’s more important than ever in an increasingly digitalized world.
Whichever side you take, it’s worth knowing how to write one, and why they can be particularly relevant for veterans.
Here’s your guide to writing a world-class cover letter.
Standing Out
How do you stand out as a candidate? Your veteran status is a good place to start, but unfortunately, it’s not always easy to convey the extent of your incredible skill set.
Plus, if your prospective employer is using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), there’s a chance it won’t pick up on the wide range of skills and experiences your background represents.
Whether it’s the resume or the online portal, the application doesn’t always give you a chance to talk about your background. As a veteran, that background is an essential part of what makes you such a valuable candidate, and you don’t want to lose the chance to talk about it.
While learning to translate your military skills on a civilian resume is essential, a cover letter can be a great way to give more context to those skills. It’s important to remember that the ideal resume length is one page.
Tailor Your Message
Employers are looking for candidates who do their research. What made you want to apply for the position in the first place? The cover letter gives you a chance to let them know.
For example, you can mention which elements of the job description resonated with your skills and experiences, or highlight something unique about the company’s values, projects, or policies that excited you.
Having a template cover letter ready to go is useful as long as you leave room for customization.
A good tip is to Google the company, find the ‘about us’ page, and use their keywords/mission statement to help you craft your cover letter. The more specific the better.
Your Vision and Values
Resumes focus on your past victories, whereas cover letters allow you to talk about the future.
Employers are typically on the lookout for candidates who are going to stick around for the long haul. What do you want out of your future? Where do you want to take your career in the next few years? Aligning your plans with the vision of the business boosts your employability, so it’s worth thinking about what you’re looking for.
Personality
Authenticity is the key to showing off your personality. Inject your voice into the cover letter, and you’ll have an easier time writing persuasively. If you’re struggling to write anything down, it’s worth just writing whatever you have in your head and coming back to edit it later, even if it’s complete nonsense – the remedy to writer’s block.
While tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini can be fantastic writing companions, they will struggle to capture your unique voice. If you need support from AI, it’s best not to rely on it too heavily. A good recruiter or hiring manager will be able to spot AI-generated writing in an instant.
The less is more rule holds up when writing a cover letter too. Aiming for half a page (or a page maximum) is a good milestone to work towards. Don’t forget your paragraphs either – breaking up your text makes it more engaging and much easier to understand.
Support from Ex-Military Careers
Need help writing a cover letter? We can help you out. Contact the team at Ex-military Careers for more info on what it takes to develop a strong candidate profile. We’ve helped hundreds of veterans find meaningful work after leaving the forces, and we know how tough the journey can be. We’re committed to making your professional life easier and helping you find a meaningful new role outside of the military.
