In American movies, it’s common to see students writing a sort of introductory letter to their dream university. Can you remember a scene? You’d better because you’ll have to draft something similar when you apply for a tech job abroad: cover letters for programming. But what is a cover letter? Is it another laborious email that I have to spend time on? Isn’t it enough just to send my CV? Throughout this post, we will explain how to design a unique letter to make a memorable impression on your recruiters and get that long-awaited callback.
What are cover letters for programming?
Simply put, cover letters are letters attached to your CV where you introduce yourself in a personal and memorable way to your employers. Here you should summarise your skills, experience, achievements and a bit of your personal history. It is a tool that provides detailed information about why you are the best qualified for the job. But more than anything, it is a way to make the employer remember you, not ignore your application and schedule you for an interview.
Through a well-written cover letter, you lead your recruiter on a journey to your best career and life achievements.
Why is it important to send a cover letter?
Recruiters use cover letters as a way to ”screen applicants for available positions” and identify candidates they would like to interview. Remember that there will be a myriad of applications in the recruiter’s email, probably with a repetitive and generic structure; sending a cover letter amplifies your chances of attracting the employer’s attention, as it is a breath of fresh air among so many CVs. On the other hand, if the position requires a cover letter, it will be listed in the job advertisement. So it is an indispensable requirement. But even if the company doesn’t ask for one, don’t settle; include one anyway to increase your chances of getting a callback.
How do programming cover letters influence hiring managers?
With programming cover letters, recruiters can get a sense of your personality and get an idea of how you would add value to the company where you want to work and if you are in tune with the organisational culture or cultural fit. They also get to know your level of interest in the available vacancy because if you have not been asked for a cover letter, they will know immediately that you are a proactive person.
How to write a cover letter to apply for a programming position?
Now that you know what a cover letter is and its importance, we will give you tips that will help you to start writing your own cover letter to apply for a job as a programmer and not get forgotten. This is not just an extra space to expand your CV.
”I’m _____, and I have so many years of experience, and I’m an expert in”. Forget it.
Discard the idea that your cover letter is a copy of your CV. Don’t replicate what is already there. Its purpose is to add a personal touch and reinterpret the technical data that exists in your CV in the most persuasive and attractive way possible. An effective cover letter focuses on summarising your achievements, skills and the reasons why the employer should recruit you and not others. It should give an irrefutable reason why you, out of all the applicants, are the one. Demonstrate with tangible examples why choosing you is the best decision they could make.
Create a memorable opening line or introduction
The opening lines of cover letters for programming should be engaging, compelling and unforgettable for the recruiter to consider you for the interview. Don’t think you’re the only one who knows about cover letters. In foreign companies, it is very common to send cover letters. Instead of introducing yourself with the typical ”Hi, I’m so and so, and I would like to apply for the programming position,” come up with a different way of saying the same thing but in an original and creative way. But don’t digress either. Creating an attractive opening line does not mean putting poetic information without any meaning. Your opening lines should:
Describe the role you are applying for. Why you are interested in the position (and the company) What makes you a good fit for the company, or why you would fit in. It is also important that you research the tone of the company’s communication. If it is very formal or casual, or fun, you can write a cover letter for programming that is a better fit.
It’s not a love letter; keep it short: This is not the time to indulge your writing sensibilities. Recruiters don’t have a lot of time to read about your childhood or other information unrelated to your programming skills. Sorry, not sorry. Your cover letter should be no longer than three paragraphs and should be concise and focused on what really matters. Convey only the information necessary to encourage the recruiter to interview you. If you write too much, they probably won’t read it.
Write stories that validate your skills and experience. Storytelling, or the art of writing stories to persuade, is one of the elements that will make your cover letters irresistible for programming. It also provides insights into what your work style is like. Instead of robotically listing your achievements as a programmer, tell a story about how you, in your previous position, were an important part of solving complex coding projects or how you exceeded your clients’ expectations. It does not sound linear: ”I solved this problem, and then I did that”. It’s also useful to dig deeper into the company and its culture, so the story you tell will resonate better with its values.
It should be unique and personal, with no clichés. Don’t be a carbon copy. Don’t reproduce basic or predictable cover letters using formulas or templates.You are solely responsible for selling yourself in the best possible way. No ”my worst flaw is being detail-oriented”, ”I was born to be a leader” or ”I am perfect for the company”. All those clichés or catch-all phrases are so worn out that we bet recruiters roll their eyes when they read them.Employers are tired of reading the same old impersonal letters, and you don’t want to be the last pre-designed email they discard. Sometimes just including variations of words that replace or enhance what you want to say can make an impact on the impact of your cover letters for programming, making you stand out from the competition. If you’re looking for different results, don’t do the same thing over and over again”.
Plan content based on job requirements Align your cover letter with the requirements of the position you are applying for. Connecting the content of your cover letter to what recruiters are looking for will make you look like the best profile, as you will highlight all the points they are looking for. Find out what those technical skills, programming languages or soft skills are and write your cover letter around that information.
Show them how to solve specific problems. Don’t stay on the surface. ‘I’m a natural problem solver’ sounds generic and doesn’t tell them what kind of problems you solve. Don’t brag about your skills and demonstrate with facts. Explain a past situation in your previous job where you were instrumental in finding solutions. This adds far more value to your cover letter than simply telling them how good you are.
Cover letters should be visually organised. The recruiter will scan your text, i.e. give it a quick read to detect what really matters to them. Therefore, the texts of your cover letters for programming should be in a hierarchy. Follow the basic outline of a common text: introduction, body and conclusion. Organise your ideas and the information you want to write, highlighting the most relevant aspects of your career and experience and presenting them in an organised way, following a logical order and expressing yourself clearly.
Close the cover letter with a call to action. Finish the letter with a reason why they should contact you in a polite way. The closing should be a reaffirmation of your skills and make a strong match with the job profile and the company. You could also suggest that you are enthusiastic about offering more information about your experience and that you hope to have further contact with the company.