Anyone who’s searched for a job knows how tedious it can be to write a cover letter.
It involves dissecting the job description and matching it up with your experiences which can take time. It also has to be perfectly written with no grammatical errors, which also takes effort. However, cover letters still play an important role in securing a job on the Hill. Here are some areas to focus on when writing your cover letter for a job on Capitol Hill.
Research the agency you’re applying to.
You should know the agency you want to work for backward and forwards. This includes understanding what the agency does and how it meets its goals. Look for ways to reveal what you understand about the agency in your cover letter. You want to show the hiring manager that your talent is a good match for the organization.
Cut to the chase.
People working on the Hill have a lot of things on their plates, so you want to write your cover letter in a clearly and succinctly. Keep your cover letter to a single page that consists of about three to four paragraphs. While connecting your skill sets to the requirements in the job posting are most important, so is adding some kind of hook that will make the hiring manager remember you. Perhaps something about why you were drawn to work on the Hill.
Be specific.
Think about using one or two specific examples to explain why you are perfect for the job you’re applying for. Instead of packing the cover letter with every skill you have that is a great fit for Capitol Hill, pick a few that you can tell specific stories about. This way, a hiring manager can actually picture you in the role you’re interested in. Use as many action words as you can to make the story you tell more vivid.
Perhaps now you have a better idea of why a cover letter is so important for your overall job search.
While it does take time to put together, it helps you stand out among the other candidates. Nearly every job posting on Capitol Hill will receive many applications. Use your cover letter as a tool to show the hiring manager why they simply have to bring you in to learn more.
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