Many applicants are exasperated at the thought of writing cover letters. What should they write? The cover letter has brought some job seekers to the verge of desperation. But once the basic structure of the cover letter is well understood, the rest will no longer cause a major problem. Here are 15 interesting developments in cover letters.

Cover Letters in Germany;

Cover letters are annexed documents to any application. They highlight extra details to help you get a job interview. Before you even start writing, you should check your CV, as both documents should be customized to the target job. HR managers are those who will examine your letter and see whether you will be perfect for the job interview or not. Are you puzzled with the existing cover letters online? Do you want a letter that meets the professional standards? If yes, sign up to Fratres and learn about the best cover letters development in germany.

1. Cover Letter Header

A mistake that often occurs when applying for a job is not preparing a perfect header. This section specifies the time and from where you are sending your letter. A header in your letter is written at the top left of your letter. It includes the date, the city from where you live, your name, the name of the company and its address if possible. Here is an example:

Berlin,

27 December 2021

Monica Feliss

ABC firm

You should do the same with the address of any workplace. It can be particularly embarrassing here if you have already written another application and forgets to change the address.

2. An Appropriate Salutation

As a rule, you can find the name of the contact person directly in the job offer. You should of course copy this correctly to your cover letter. Otherwise it is recommended to employ Job titles, or addressing formulas such as, Frau, Harr.

3. A Perfect format:

A cover letter is similar to a three paragraph essay. It should not exceed a single page. Even if you have a lot of professional details, sum them up or select what is suitable for the job. A cover letter is not about part-time jobs or students' jobs.

4. Choose a Readable Font

There are many style letters and highlighters. You have various writing options. But, in this case, your font should be the same applied in your CV. A lot of applicants are falling for this mistake. They employ a CV font and format far from their accompanied cover letters. This gives the impression that none of the documents is written at the same time or updated for the candidacy.

5. Employ Keywords: 

Many websites and career tips articles are insisting on keywords. Key words are the words employed in the job offer that are specific to the job. That is among the requirements there are certainly some general words that apply to various jobs and specific words relevant to the job. In this case, you should employ some of these specific words to give the impression that you have well read the job offer. Here is; Why You Should Use Power Words in Your Cover Letter

6. Professional Email Address

As an applicant, your email address should be professional. It should not employ pet names, or aliases. If you want to be taken seriously as an applicant, you should think more about your email address. In the meantime, the following spellings have become established for the email address: surname.first [email protected], [email protected] or something similar. 

7. Focus on  Individuality

Do you use the same template for every application and only change the company name and contact person? If yes, do not get surprised for being rejected. HR professionals pay close attention to how individual a cover letter sounds. Therefore, you should make changes in your letter in all its sections and avoid copy-pasted materials.

8. Adopt a Good Structure

Make sure to include paragraphs where sections are connected. In the case of a one-sided application letter (on which space must also be left for the recipient, sender, etc.), there should be around two to three paragraphs.

9. Indicate your interest in the job

Many applicants fail at expressing their interest in the job. In fact, showing interest occurs in two occasions; in the introduction and in the conclusion:

-Your introduction should reveal this interest.

-Your conclusion should repeat that you are interested in the job and expecting a job interview. Take a look at; Learning Graduates Is Not Difficult At All! You Just Need A Great Teacher!

10. Convert your letter into PDF:

It is very common to request a PDF format of your cover letter. In Germany, many employers are using an ATS Software that may not read all the received formats. That’s why a PDF version can be the safest way to ensure the arrival of your application documents.

11. Include your signature

An original signature at the end of the cover letter shows that your content is not made by robots. Some applicants are worried about inserting a signature on a virtual copy. The solution here is to  scan your signature and insert it into the document.

12. Avoid Standard Phrases in the Introduction

There are some phrases that HR managers are sick of. Unfortunately, some applicants employ them, thinking that they are as meaningful as a work of art. These phrases sound ridiculous such as, "I read your job offer on May the 14th 2021 in the Neue Tageszeitung with great interest" or "I hereby apply for the position of Sales Manager in your  company". This is not a professional way to introduce a cover letter. The expected introduction should include:

 -Your name and professional situation ( are you currently working, or your previous job title)

-Your period of expertise ( how long have you been in the previous field)

-Your intention to apply for the job offer ( mention the source of this offer, and its reference number). Take a look at; This Is Why Cover Letters Is So Famous!

13. Avoid exaggeration Self-appraisal:

The content of your cover letter should not revolve around self-flattering words. Describe your personal traits in a simple and a brief way. After all, you should keep the suspense to motivate the reader to meet you for a job interview.

14. Avoid outdated Templates

You are applying for a job in 2022, why are you using a template dating from 2012?  Such templates can certainly be outdated. But, before choosing any template, check the template used in your CV. Cover letters and CVs are complementary documents. So, they should seem suitable for the job, as HR managers will check both documents at the same time.

15. Explain Gaps in your CV:

If you have a long time space between each job in your work experience section, justify these gaps in your cover letter. Keep in mind that employers can notice the period of inactivity on your CV. They will seek explanations in your cover letter. So, do not hesitate to give a few reasons for your career breaks.

These were the top 15 ways to develop your cover letter in Germany. The main tip is to have an updated cover letter that sounds accompanied with your CV. Remember that writing a Cover letter comes after providing your CV. its content should be relevant at the target position and at the same time to what you have previously written on a CV.