The best cover letter

This is how you write it

All my dear girls from Amayzine must now stop reading, because I will hold on to them until retirement, but I can easily imagine that you are in the mood for a new job. 365 blank days ahead do something to you. Everything can be different. That can also happen in December, of course, but this is the moment for contemplation, evaluation, and taking action. A new job starts with writing a good letter. It can wedge the foot in the door that even a Jehovah's Witness would be jealous of. Let's go.

1. Stay away from clichés

Do you really think they will choose you from all candidates if you end your letter with: ‘I would be happy to explain my letter in a personal conversation’? There is only one job, so be the best and the most fun and make sure your unique personality stands out.

2. Mean it

Don't write: ‘Your organization particularly appeals to me.’ First of all, don't do it because it's incredibly clichéd, and secondly, it says nothing. That could apply to Albert Heijn, KLM, or the pizzeria around the corner. What exactly appeals to you in the organization? Dive into that and show that you know the company (a little).

3. Never copy-paste

Oh, how many application letters I have received that stated they would love to intern at ELLE, while I was really the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire.

4. What do you bring?

Also something like that. Many applicants argue why that job is so good for them. That's nice, but in the end, you won't be hired because it's so nice for YOU. So: don't ask what a job can do for you, but ask what you can do for the job. Something like that.

5. Bonus points

Recently, a guy asked if I wanted to peek at his application letter. He had researched the person he was addressing the letter to and even made a few appropriate references and jokes about it. He was immediately invited for an interview, and I totally understand that.

6. And then still

Write the name of the person flawlessly, check if it's a man or a woman you are addressing the letter to (nothing worse than ‘dear ladies and gentlemen’ or the old ‘lectori salutem’), read the letter aloud, mistakes are more likely to stand out that way, and you will see earlier that you might have used the same word a few times.

7. And oh yes

If you don't get it: don't be sad. You have learned something from the process anyway, and who knows, this might lead to something else beautiful. I once missed out on a job, but the manager in question remembered me and invited me to apply for another job that was actually much more fun and suited me better. Have faith, it will be alright.