A proofreader cover letter should include your work experiences and accomplishments that show your attention to detail. It’s also important that you match your qualifications to the job requirements mentioned by the company.
I hope my guide will help you craft the perfect cover letter through its list of tips. I also made two proofreader cover letter samples you can use for your next job application.
What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is any document a job applicant submits along with their resume. It outlines the individual’s experience, accomplishments, and academic credentials relevant to the current position. The proper cover letter format is similar to a business or regular letter.
A well-written cover letter positively affects your chances of getting an interview. That’s why it’s essential to know the cover letter writing process before applying for a proofreading job.
The key to writing an excellent cover letter is ensuring it supports your resume. It expands on the items significant to the job and resembles a sales pitch explaining why you’re the best candidate.
Tips for Creating the Perfect Cover Letter
A successful job application starts with a well-written cover letter. These tips will help you design a powerful cover letter.
Detail Your Relevant Work Experience
An excellent cover letter for the proofreader position highlights the individual’s work experiences to show a combination of skills they possess. For instance, if you say you worked at a publishing house, the hiring managers might think you have the following:
- Proofreading skills.
- Editing skills.
- English language skills.
- Excellent computer skills.
- Knowledge of house style guides
Your cover letter is like a self-recommendation letter that allows you to detail your past accomplishments, experiences, and skills. Show your potential employer that you’re a perfect candidate by talking about specific projects you’ve finished.
The content of your cover letter should also bring attention to quantitative data on your achievements related to the job requirements. You can even include a bullet list that summarizes your experience on your resume.
Let the prospective employer know that you increased a brand’s revenue through the written copies you made. You can also say that you quadrupled your client’s social media following through engaging captions and banners.
Address the Hiring Manager Personally
A job-winning cover letter not only has flawless content about your experience editing and why you’re a terrific candidate. Your job application letter is also a nice opportunity to address your hiring manager personally.
You do not want to be addressed as “To whom it may concern,” “MacMillan Publishing,” “ABC Publishing,” or “Dear employer.” You should also know the name of the hiring manager.
Proactively call the organization and ask for the hiring manager’s name and title. You can also ask for their phone number, email, and other contact information.
Personalizing the cover letter for high-quality content is the same as customizing your resume according to the requirement of proofreader or editor. If you don’t want to call or email the hiring managers, you can search for them on LinkedIn.
It’s also advisable to address them personally while answering interview questions. This helps you express confidence and respect toward the employers.
Express Your Excellent Attention to Details
Showing employers your meticulous attention to detail will give you plenty of opportunities for proofreading positions. It’s one of the most essential yet basic entry-level qualifications.
This characteristic also shows strong grammar skills, spelling skills, and content consistency concerning the style checklist. Show you previous experiences proofreading books or social media content and how you pay superior attention to detail.
Proofreading your own cover letter and resume helps hiring managers examine your role suitability. A solid cover letter is free from common spelling, grammar, and style errors. Otherwise, a lack of attention to these spelling and grammatical errors will turn them off.
Use Keywords from the Job Description
Inserting keywords from the job description and job qualification list will save employers time reading. It’s one of the cover letter writing abilities that instantly informs them that you’re the ideal candidate for the job.
A strong cover letter that shows your key skills will help you become a proofreader without experience. You can insert words like “time management,” “attention to detail,” or “content writing.” You can also mention your content niche, whether it’s “academic papers” or “news.”
Share your ability to correct grammar and spelling errors if the job description says you need excellent language proficiency. Here are other keywords you can use for proofreading cover letters:
- Excellent editing skills.
- Digital content.
- MLA.
- Content creation.
- Blogging.
- Publishing.
- Microsoft Office Suite.
- Google Docs.
- Creative content editing.
- Editorial team.
- Content writer.
Cover letters don’t always go through an applicant tracking system like resumes. Hiring managers manually collect, scan, and rank them when choosing a perfect candidate.
Make it Concise
Managers constantly have a pile of cover letters on their desks or email inboxes. There’s no need to mention your complete track record or extensive experience on the proofreader cover letter. Only add your impactful experiences, accomplishments, and skills.
A three-paragraph format should answer all the questions of the employers. Use each paragraph to focus on one aspect of yourself. Start with a terrific attention-grabbing introduction. Introduce yourself and if you have a referral.
The second part of your cover letter should include your sales pitch. Mention your organization skills, people skills, and achievements. Inform them about your best publication and how you were able to correct errors in its spelling, grammar, and style.
You can also explain why your exceptional qualifications are associated with the company.
Finally, briefly explain how you can contribute to the organization. Show gratitude for their consideration, and say you want to follow up using an interview.
Proofread Your Own Cover Letter
Once you’re done writing your experience in proofreading and previous accomplishments, it’s time to proofread the letter. If applying for an entry-level position or a managerial role, your cover letter should be perfect and polished.
Check the cover letter for mistakes in spelling and grammar. Are the verb tenses correct? Did you use the correct pronouns to address your hiring managers? You also want to check if the company and name are correctly spelled.
It’d help if you also looked for any error in style to give the employers a pleasing reader experience. Make sure to remove the passive voice, repetitive phrases, and dangling modifiers.
Do You Need a Cover Letter?
Many people think cover letters are now outdated and unnecessary, but they are still beneficial to show your professionalism. Most job openings require a cover letter. But others do not have enough time to even read these letters, so they only want your resume.
Online applications do not need cover letters unless stated. You may submit your resume as an email attachment and let the email content be a short self-introduction.
How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
Cover letters should only consist of one page with a word count of 250 to 400. They should include three to four short paragraphs about yourself, why you’re fit for the job, and how the managers can contact you.
Cover Letter Ideas for Proofreaders and Editors
Now that you’re equipped to write a cover letter, here are some proofreader cover letter examples you can use.
Cover Letter Sample 1 (Spearmint Template)
This cover letter for an editor position highlights a person’s previous work experience.
Cover Letter Sample 2
If you lack work experience, you can share your academic credentials and key skills on your cover letter.
Craft the Perfect Cover Letter
Your proofreader cover letter should include an attention-grabbing introduction and your relevant job qualifications. Give a glimpse of your previous accomplishments as a proofreader or editor, then ask them to email or call you back for an interview.
If you don’t know where to start, try our samples above. Choose from the two cover letter templates to ensure your letter matches your resume.