Writing a cover letter is a rather tricky thing to do, especially for the retail industry. Most of the time, a cover letter needs to introduce you and your skills, but it has to do that in a way specific to the industry. Using industry language and appealing to the employer is crucial here. Knowing how to do all of that is extremely important, so the approach matters a lot in this situation. With that in mind, here are some of the best ideas that you can access right away!
Avoid repeating the resume
Let’s face it; your cover letter needs to showcase your curiosity and personality. You need to show that you are indeed interested in the retail field. If you can add some historical facts about the retail industry and maybe tell why you are interested in this industry, that would be great. Keep in mind that showing interest and expertise is a crucial aspect here, and it can pay off a lot in the end.
Cover letters don’t have to be too long
Yes, this is a problem that many people don’t understand. Cover letters need to have up to 3 paragraphs. That’s specifically true for the retail industry, where employers receive tons of cover letters and CVs. Keep it short and sweet, offer the juicy information and stay away from a very long exposition.
Determine the key priorities and requirements for your retail job
The idea here is simple; you want to show the employer that you know what you are getting into. Craft a section that shows exactly what you can deliver for that role. Targeted cover letters are crucial here, so adapting to the situation can be extremely important.
Show your skills, not your education
Employers don’t care about what you studied; they are interested in your skills. At the end of the day, the retail industry is very challenging for many people, so having the right skills can indeed pay off very well. Adapting to all of this can come in handy, so it’s up to you to handle the situation in a proper manner. That’s why your cover letter for the retail industry needs to include a short section about your skills.
When you write a cover letter for the retail or customer service positions, display your qualities too, alongside your skills. Including some of your past achievements is a crucial factor, so try to adapt to the situation.
Another thing to take into consideration is sharing examples of how your background can help in the case of your cover letter. Adapt this to that open position you want to gain. Adapting this way is important since it shows your interest in the position. It also shows the employer that you know exactly what he is looking for, and that will help you quite a lot. It makes them see you took the time to study the company and didn’t just get a template from the web with 0 effort involved in this.
Showcase any previous experience in the retail industry
Most of the time, previous experience can come in handy. The idea here is to make sure that you have at least a bit of experience in a similar position or a job related to the retail industry. Keep in mind that even if you don’t have previous experience, you can develop some soft skills like listening, communication, positivity, self-control, assertiveness, empathy, conflict resolution and others that come in handy for retail workers. If you can include these in the cover letter, this will also be extremely helpful for you!
Show your enthusiasm and attention to detail
There are some characteristics that most employers want to see from people that want to work in the retail industry. For example, it can be a good idea to show your attention to detail and enthusiasm for this type of job. Expand on some of your personal traits to show that you are indeed a hard worker and a dedicated person. Retail companies are looking for people like this, so try to keep such a thing in mind.
Use the right format
The cover letter format for the retail industry is pretty much the generalized one. Include your contact information and date, employer contact information, salutation, and then you can move to the body of the cover letter.
In the first paragraph, you need to add info regarding why you are writing. The next section has to share your offer to the employer, so make sure that you use the ideas above and target the retail industry at all times. Pitch yourself as a dedicated and hard-working person, show that you are an excellent candidate for the job. Here you need to interpret your resume, not repeat it.
When you reach the conclusion, thank the potential employer for considering your resume and allowing you a shot at the desired retail position. You can also add some info on how you may follow up.
Tell a story
Most cover letters tend to be boring. Sharing a story and including some testimonials is a much better idea, and in the end, it can pay off well for sure. The idea is to use numbers too, because illustrating the impact you had on previous companies can be very helpful. Plus, retail employers love seeing numbers, if that can translate into sales!
Add a headline and be realistic
Headlines are not required for all cover letters, but they can be very useful for a retail industry cover letter. Cutting the fluff and making sure that you show your skills with an appropriate description can be a much better idea. Even if the cover letter is longer, if you add this info, you will show that you took the time to deliver something new and distinct.
Quality matters when it comes to writing a cover letter, especially in the case of the retail industry. Make sure that you use all these great tips and remember, writing a good cover letter can take a lot of time and effort. But it can work to your advantage since this is the best way to gain a stellar retail position!