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Job Application or Cover Letter | Job Search in Finland
A cover letter or an application letter (n Finnish, työhakemus) is a professional document that accompanies your CV when applying for a job. This is an essential part of every job application in Finland.
The aim of cover letter is to convince an employer that you are the right employee for the company. This is your chance to make a great first impression on a hiring manager, recruiter or potential employer. The purpose of this letter is to tell who you are, why you are applying for that job, and how your skills, education and experience will meet the employer's needs, as well as why you are interested in working for this company.
The job application is traditionally a concise text, no more than a few pages long, which complements the information in the CV and, above all, seeks to show motivation for the position to be applied for. The most common form of cover letter is the written one, but in case you would like to stand out from the crowd the video job application may be used.
A cover letter can be more informal than a resume that only tells the essential facts about your background. The job application or cover letter offers an opportunity to bring more of your own personality - the recruiter often makes his first impression of the applicant on the basis of the job application.
А good job application or cover letter should be:
- Concise
- Fluently written
- With a clear structure
- Grammatically flawless
- Focused on your qualifications for the job
Don’t make the mistake of just writing about yourself, but demonstrate how your skills and experience can benefit the company's particular needs. Indicate in the application letter that you are familiar with the company through a website or social media, and you know what kind of job you are applying for.
Ask a friend or acquaintance to proofread your cover letter so that there are no mistakes. Always remember to check that there is no information in the application that refer to the previous job you applied for.
The Job Application / Cover Letter Structure
- Start by introducing yourself briefly
Tell informatively and concisely. Use the keywords mentioned in the job description.
Approach your cover letter from the employer's perspective, it should be "employer focused” - especially write about your professional background.
- Indicate what you can bring to your potential employer
At this stage, write what kind of skills or experience you have accumulated during your career or studies, but indicate only the most relevant ones which specifically match the job you are applying for. Mention your previous jobs that are relevant to the position you are now applying for, or highlight your education if this is your greatest strength for that particular job.
- Show your motivation
At this stage you can explain why you are applying for this job at this company. Why you are interested in this particular work? What is motivated you to apply?
Demonstrate any specific knowledge you have of the company and its products or services. Praise the positive image of the company you are applying to work for. Define your key achievements, state the skills and qualifications explaining what you can bring to this company / organization. You can highlight two or three skills or abilities that will demonstrate how you are the right fit for this position.
- Reveal your personality
Write a little bit of your personality and at the same time talk about your most important qualities that you can bring to work.
If you’re persistent, logical, honest, punctual, diligent and organized, flexible or maybe you are a good teammate, here is a right time and place to talk about it. You can also mention how your former colleagues/coworkers or friends describe you and how your qualities make you a perfect candidate for this job.
- Describe your key features shortly
Briefly summarize the three most important things you would bring with you to the company you are applying for. You should always tailor your cover letter and information contained in it to the position you are applying for.
Your key competencies may be, for example, your expertise in the field, your problem-solving skills and ability, proactive attitude, customer focus or leadership capacities.
CV & Cover Letter Sample
The easiest way to write a Job Cover Letter, as well as CV is to use free Microsoft Word templates.