What recruiters look for in a cover letter

Writing a cover letter is often one of the more daunting aspects of a job hunt. You’ll find yourself asking questions like: What do I include? What do recruiters want to see? Does anyone ever read them?

Most recruiters I speak with do read cover letters, but only after looking at a CV they think is a good fit. They want to make sure you meet the qualifications before spending the extra time. So what is it they hope to learn from a cover letter that isn’t already in your resume? Here are six things recruiters and hiring managers want to learn about you in a cover letter, and how you can make sure yours stands out.

There are few jobs in international development that do not require strong communication skills, so recruiters often look to a cover letter to get a sense of a candidate’s skills in this area, as well as writing style.  

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