How to Write an Effective Cover Letter for a Marketing Job
As a marketing professional, your job is to help others learn about a product or service and convince them to purchase it. Think of your job search in the same way: your resume is a representation of you as a "product" and the cover letter is the marketing to help convince an employer to hire you.
Crafting an effective cover letter for a marketing job isn't always easy, no matter your amount of experience. However, breaking it down step-by-step will help you craft the perfect cover letter that gets you noticed for your dream job.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Grab the reader's attention with an eye-catching opening paragraph. The hiring manager likely receives dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes and cover letters for the same position. If you don't catch his attention in the first few sentences, then chances are your resume will end up in the trash.
An eye-catching paragraph should include information that sets you apart from the competition -- maybe an anecdote about your previous achievements in marketing or even a sentence set in all capital letters, similar to an effective direct marketing letter.
-
2
Show why you are the best person for the job. This is your chance to shine now that you have the hiring manager's attention. Is the job for a sales-related role? Then demonstrate how your education, work experience and skill set are perfect for the position. You want to show how hiring you will benefit the employer. Were you the leading salesperson for your previous company? Then be sure to include that and show how you can translate that accomplishment to the position you're applying for and how it will help make their company successful.
-
-
3
Demonstrate your passion for the position and company. This is where you can really showcase your understanding of both. It can be something as simple as "working for XYZ Widget Company is the perfect way for me to combine my skills as a marketing professional to sell the innovative widgets to the clients who need them most." However, you must avoid sounding generic here. Make sure you show that you've done your research on the company.
-
4
Close the sale. For a marketing cover letter, this means to summarize how perfect you are for the job and ask for an interview. Say something like "I look forward to speaking with you about this position in more detail. Please contact me at (123) 456-7890 to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience."
It's also a good idea to indicate that you will follow up with the hiring manager if you don't hear back within a reasonable amount of time. For example, including something like "I will contact you in two weeks to follow-up and schedule an interview" will show that you are a motivated go-getter who isn't afraid to go after a goal.
-
5
End with a respectful close and your name. Make sure you sign the letter if sending it by regular mail.
-
6
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Even one spelling or grammatical error can ruin your chances for the job. A good idea is to write the cover letter and then leave it for 24 hours. This will allow you to see your work with a fresh view and you'll possibly see errors you might not have caught otherwise. It's also a good idea to ask friends, family or trusted colleagues to read over your work as well.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always address your marketing cover letter to a specific person. This increases your chances of getting your cover letter and resume to the right person. It also shows that you took the time to research and find the hiring manager for this position. Hiring managers like initiative.
If the advertisement for a job asks applicants not to call, then heed the warning. Calling a hiring manager who explicitly said not to call could disqualify you for the position even if you're qualified.
