Cover Letter - Body Paragraph Tips

 

What Is the Body of a Cover Letter? (And How to Write One Effectively)

What is the body of a cover letter?

Learning the answer to the question, "What is a career story?" can help you write the body to form a stronger and professional cover letter. It is is the narrative of your professional journey. It includes details about you, such as your work experience, skill set, values, and goals, to help prospective employers and industry professionals get to know you better. You should avoid writing your career story and recite it in its entirety. Focus on two or three key elements that are relevant for the position you are applying for. 

Remember that a way to make your cover letter more compelling is to include elements from your career story to do this Adjust your story to feature the skills and experience you have that the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate. Tailoring you letter like this can help gain their attention and differentiate you from other candidates.

How to write the body of a cover letter?

Here are some tips so you can write your own:

1. Write an opening statement

Start your body paragraph with an engaging opening statement to captivate your audience. You can include a personal anecdote about how you chose your career path. For example, if you became a chef because you loved your dad's cooking, mention that to help listeners or readers learn more about you and understand your motivation.

2. Describe main points of your career

Next, discuss any defining moments you had in your career to highlight your professional experience. You may mention your first job and discuss how that led you to your current position. You can also talk about any awards or recognition you received, such as becoming the employee of the month, to show your audience you have proven success in your industry. Discussing challenges that you faced and how you overcame them can also tell your audience more about your experience.

3. Discuss your career goals

If you're using your career story to apply for a new job, discussing your career goals can be beneficial. Discuss what short-term and long-term goals you hope to achieve and how the position can help you do so. For example, if you're applying for a marketing assistant position, one goal you may discuss is learning more about the industry to become a marketing specialist in the future. Discuss what you plan to achieve in the position as well to show employers why you're the best choice.

4. Proofread

Before sending your letter, ensure you proofread it. Mistakes can be distracting, so it's important to eliminate them ahead of time. Look for grammar mistakes or omissions you can resolve to ensure a detailed but concise story. Proofreading your body also ensures it's professional, so it impresses your recipient or listeners.

5. Be mindful of the space

Keep in mind that your goal is not to provide the hiring manager with a complete and detailed account of your whole career story. The ideal cover letter is just one page long, so choose carefully the elements of your career that you want to mention in the body of your cover letter. It should ideally have a length of one paragraph (two at the absolute most), so be as clear, direct, and concise as possible.

Body Examples

Here are some examples of cover letter's bodies focused on different aspects of the candidate:

Body paragraph example focused on career accomplishments

“In my previous teaching role, I carved out 10-minute slots in my senior class to do SAT prep testing, resulting in having the district’s highest SAT score average in English. My dedication to my student’s needs has always been my priority, and students responded with increased participation in the portion of the class allotted for the syllabus topics. After being named Teacher of the Year, I organized a continuing education and mentorship program for newly graduated teachers in the school district.”

Body paragraph example focused on skill set

“Throughout my career as an accountant, I have acquired skills in various areas of accounting and finance. In my first years, I worked in the public sector, developing budgets between $50,000 and $2 million and ensuring accounting records complied with federal and state regulations. Eventually, I moved to work in private equity firms. I gained firsthand experience in financial analysis in tech investments and monitoring funds’ investments, preparing all financial statements and presenting to investors and stakeholders.”

Body paragraph example focused on career goals

“After graduating from Columbia School of Social Work and working as a volunteer in various non-profit organizations focused on at-risk youth and women’s shelters, I’m eager to put my skills to work as a counselor in the court system. My understanding of vulnerable children’s needs and challenges has inspired me to continue my career supporting children through their caregivers’ or their court proceedings.”