THE ARTICLE CONTINUES FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE | 37 The all-important motivation Your motivation for applying for the job should emanate from the cover letter. Therefore, in the first section you should write about what it is about the company and/or the job that you find interesting or inspirational, and why. It shouldn’t be about why you have chosen a degree within your specific field – it should be about the company. You want the company to see that you have done your research and considered why you want to work for them. They should feel that you want to be part of their corner of the world, and they should understand why. What will the company gain? The largest part of the cover letter is about which of the tasks presented in the job ad you can do and how. When you analysed the job ad, you highlighted all the elements that you can do or have knowledge of. Focus on the green elements. Write specifically which tasks you can do, how you will do them, which methods and tools you expect to bring into play, and in which order you will do this. Write how this will contribute positively to the company. Give very brief examples and results that show what you have accomplished previously or describe your ideas about how to resolve challenges. Depending on the content of the job ad, it’ll often be relevant to describe how you collaborate with customers, colleagues, and perhaps how you can communicate your knowledge to those who don’t have the same professional competences as you. This demonstrates that you have the necessary knowledge, experience or ideas to be successful in the job, and it makes the employer feel convinced and hopefully convinced enough to call you in for an interview. What type of colleague are you? Not only your professional competences need to match the job – your personal competences are also important. In the last section of the application, give a brief description of what you’re like as a colleague – and how this is manifested. Again, look at the job ad and remember the information you got from the telephone call. Do they need someone to work very independently or someone who has many similar tasks? How can you show that you’re a team player? How can you demonstrate that you can think outside the box or concentrate on the same type of task without getting bored? Describe a couple of hypothetical examples – do not refer to previous experience RELATED VIDEOS Sané Ceesay Christensen, career consultant at IDA, talks about what a great cover letter should include and how to structure your cover letter, so you have the best chance of being invited for an interview.
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