Job Application — 3 Things That Go Well With Your Resume: Cover Letter, Portfolio, Email
By: Sheenam Sharma
Tags: Cover Letter, Resume, Jobs, Email, Portfolio

So you have created an impressive resume for yourself and you are ready to go on a job hunt. But before you begin, sharpen your weapons first. In this article, we will understand how to put together a convincing job application-Resume, Cover Letter, Portfolio and Email. Resume complemented with these 3 on the side, definitely have an edge over other applicants as it makes the job of hiring managers, to filter out deserving candidates, much easier.

You can create the cover letter and portfolio on a template format (try Canva) or web pages to make it more presentable.

1) Cover Letter

A cover letter is basically a supporting document to your resume to summarize the key competencies, your ambitions and your career journey so far. It is more like weaving a story out of your resume and helping the recruiter navigate through your profile.

You have to give it your best effort, it has more readability than your resume and makes your chances of getting selected much higher. I don’t recommend customizing your cover letter too often. It is a summary of who you are and that cannot be changed if you want to land up a place which shares the same values as you do and the vision aligns. In fact nowadays you’ll see, there many companies that mention in their job posts that cover letters are mandatory, if not suggestive. Not only it raises your chances of getting hired but also the value of your compensation package.

Take it as conversing with the employer, by the way of a letter, about the following:

Start off with introducing yourself : Who are you, where are you from, why did you choose this particular career field, how it interests you.

Who are you, where are you from, why did you choose this particular career field, how it interests you. Now lead this how how you qualify to be a fit candidate: Mention your strengths and skills, your level of expertise in the matter, your extra-ordinary work initiatives, educational background, any courses or training you opted for, proving your learning agility (add links redirecting further to your portfolio).

Mention your strengths and skills, your level of expertise in the matter, your extra-ordinary work initiatives, educational background, any courses or training you opted for, proving your learning agility (add links redirecting further to your portfolio). Current role and responsibilities: Where do you work and a brief description of what they do, then the responsibilities incumbent on you in your current or last job, what type of tasks are you handling in your current role- any key projects you were a part of, your transferable skills.

Where do you work and a brief description of what they do, then the responsibilities incumbent on you in your current or last job, what type of tasks are you handling in your current role- any key projects you were a part of, your transferable skills. What is your ultimate career goal: Here you can add your career objective- where do you see yourself headed envisioning your career path.

Here you can add your career objective- where do you see yourself headed envisioning your career path. Closing Note: Sign off your cover letter with your personal or professional values, beliefs and work philosophy. Add social media handles at the end.

Formatting should be same as the resume. You can choose to add the content of cover letter in your email body itself instead of adding a separate attachment.

Have your essence in it, you can be witty, you can be topical, personalize it and be original.

2) Portfolio

A work portfolio is basically an evidence to your skills and demonstrates versatility of your professional experience. Suppose you are positioning yourself as a brand, so you have to offer the portfolio of what services do you offer and the testimonials supporting those offerings. (If you can’t remember much, you can simply go through your work notepad, if you have one, full of to-do lists to check what all you worked on and which tasks really stood out from the rest). Consider this a key to landing your dream job through the interview door:

Work Samples: Add only those reports or snips of your company projects that are publicly available and not confidential. Always maintain some project summaries of any important work you did. You can present your personal-capacity projects or freelance work — like blogs or designs on Flickr, Dribbble, photography on Unsplash, video-making skills on Pexels etc.

Add only those reports or snips of your company projects that are publicly available and not confidential. Always maintain some project summaries of any important work you did. You can present your personal-capacity projects or freelance work — like blogs or designs on Flickr, Dribbble, photography on Unsplash, video-making skills on Pexels etc. Feedback: If you can arrange an LOR (Letter of recommendation) from the previous supervisor or a teacher / coach, that’s great! In case not, then periodic employee evaluation by your previous manager, or the client reviews would work just fine.

If you can arrange an LOR (Letter of recommendation) from the previous supervisor or a teacher / coach, that’s great! In case not, then periodic employee evaluation by your previous manager, or the client reviews would work just fine. Education: Include academic degree, licences, certifications or badges from course-training to your portfolio.

Include academic degree, licences, certifications or badges from course-training to your portfolio. Awards and Honors: Rewards and example of your accomplishment that directly relates to this job post. You can also add photos like that of some event you were a part of.

Visual Impact — Not only does it act as a proof that backs up everything that you claim to be in your resume but also leaves a lasting impression on the employer by showing in a graphical manner the range of experience:

You can create one on a Canva presentation or a GitHub static page. Or just simply put everything in a Zipped folder or Google Drive Folder and add the respective links to your cover letter with short description of each or links in an excel file within the drive.

Don’t forget to check that all the links provided are redirecting correctly, all the attached files are opening properly without an error. Categorize and sequence your portfolio contents well.

3) Email

An email is what binds all these pieces of information in one bundle. It needs to be short,crisp and to-the-point because everything else is enclosed with your email. And just like any email, the format remains to be:

a) Subject Line(Catchy)

b) Content Body (Strategically organized)

c) CTA (Call-To-Action)

Systematically structure the mail body as follows:

Purpose : Mention how did you land up in their inbox, refer to the posting, job role, company, source of information where you saw the post (in case you didn’t, then mention you’d like to explore any current openings.)

: Mention how did you land up in their inbox, refer to the posting, job role, company, source of information where you saw the post (in case you didn’t, then mention you’d like to explore any current openings.) Candidate Overview: Utilize this section to match the job description of this company with your skills and experience. You have to assure the employer that you have exactly what they are looking for, in a candidate. Fit yourself in the frame they have defined in the JD.

Utilize this section to the job description of this company with your skills and experience. You have to assure the employer that you have exactly what they are looking for, in a candidate. Fit yourself in the frame they have defined in the JD. Answer the ‘why’: Why you are interested in this industry, company or the role. What makes it appealing to you, why you wish to join them?

Why you are interested in this industry, company or the role. What makes it appealing to you, why you wish to join them? Current Role: Mention where are you currently working, in what position.

Mention where are you currently working, in what position. Gratitude: Thank them for taking interest in your profile and guide them to go through your attached resume, cover letter and portfolio for their perusal.

Thank them for taking interest in your profile and guide them to go through your attached resume, cover letter and portfolio for their perusal. CTA: Leave them with your contact details to reach out to you.

I usually add in my email itself that I am willing to relocate. You can too. If you don’t have a lot to showcase, you can merge the two : email + portfolio or portfolio + cover letter or email + cover letter instead creating each one separately.

I recommend modifying your resume, cover letter and email wherever necessary as per the jobs your are applying for. It is imperative that you check for the spellings, tenses and punctuation to be accurate, always.

Employers get cautious that if you are not showing attention to detail in branding your own-self, you lack sincerity and you will have the same kind of pattern even at work. Employee’s values makes up for the company values.