cover letter what is the purpose

Learning the purpose of a cover letter and how to discuss your professional background in one can help you lead a successful job search. In this article, you'll learn what a cover letter is, why it's important and what to include in yours with examples and tips.

A cover letter is a brief document sent with your résumé or CV to provide additional information about your background, motivations, and interest in the role. Cover letters allow you to share context that doesn’t fit in a résumé, such as your reasons for applying or unique qualifications.

What is the purpose of a cover letter? A cover letter offers a personalized introduction to a potential employer, highlighting your qualifications and interest in the role. While your resume focuses on skills and work experience, the cover letter provides insight into your soft skills, attitude, and motivations.

The main purpose of a cover letter is to fill in the gaps in your resume, and give hiring managers a deeper insight into your professional background. The best cover letters act as an effective marketing tool, and the product being marketed is you .

Highlight relevant skills and achievements: Unlike a resume, where details are brief, a cover letter lets you expand on your skills and experiences. It’s a place to connect your most relevant qualifications to the job requirements, showing employers why you’re a strong match.

A cover letter is a professional document that provides information about why you're interested in working for the company, your background and your qualifications. Cover letters are usually one page long, written in paragraph and letter form, whereas resumes often include bullet points.