create a resume and a cover letter for the job fair

Cover Letter For a Job Fair: Examples and Tips

One of the best ways to land a job, especially your first job, is to connect to as many employers as you can. There’s no better place to do that than a job fair. Of course, you need to show up armed with a professional appearance, outgoing personality, resume, and cover letter. 

But the question is, how do you write a cover letter for job fair events? It’s a bit different than sending one for a dedicated job application, but it’s something anyone can do with a little help. Start by reading the example letter here and checking out some great tips.

Cover Letter Sample For Job Fair in .docx Format

Here is a great example of a cover letter that a student might take to a university-sponsored job fair.

Download example (Word version)

Cover Letter Example For Job Fair – Text Format

Dear Hiring Manager,

My name is Keith Ninja. I came to the University of Danville Student Job Fair in hopes of connecting with a variety of employers. Ultimately, my goal is to find a part-time job that will allow me to apply and develop my existing instructional skills and make a valuable contribution to the business that hires me. I’ve attached my resume with more details about my education and experience. Now, I’d like to share a bit more about what I think I bring to the table.

I am currently a Junior at the University of Danville. I am studying Art Education and psychology, and plan to pursue my MFA in Music Therapy after I graduate. Eventually, I plan to work with people who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries. When I’m not in school, I have worked summers at a local movie theater. There, I sell tickets, work the concession stand, and do my part to keep things clean and safe. This job has helped me develop the following skills:

• Cash handling
• Point of Sales machine operation
• Customer service
• Problem-solving 

I’m grateful to have held this job for more than four years, but now I need to work in the Danville metro area so that I am closer to school.

Are you looking for someone who is personable, motivated, and a fast learner? If yes, I think I would be a great fit for your company. Maybe we can meet in the next week or two?

Kind Regards,

Keith Ninja

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job Fair: Tips

As you can see, this cover letter is a bit different from other cover letter examples we provide for specific positions. 

That’s because you are not really sure whom you’d click with during the fair. So how do you write a generic cover letter that still makes a solid impression? Here are our tips. 

Start With a Generic Outline

Go to the job fair with an open mind. You never know. A company you’ve never heard of turns out to be the perfect match for you. Of course, since you’re casting so wide, it’s hard to be specific. 

In any other case, you would write a cover letter that was specifically tailored for a single company. When you attend a job fair, you’ll be meeting a range of people and sharing your cover letters and resumes with many different companies. So, personalization really won’t work. Instead, you’ll need to write a one-size-fits-all cover letter.

Start with a general outline:

• Think about a certain industry you plan to target 
• Consider which of your skills and experiences will be the most stand-out 
• Put down a high-level overview of these 
• Add a punchy cover letter opening 
• Round up with a concluding paragraph, offering to check your resume, connect on LinkedIn, or contact you for more details. 

Show Your Personality

There may be hundreds, even thousands of attendees at a job fair. Chances are, the hiring managers accepting applications will probably not remember you. That’s why you have to stand out. 

Write in a way that is friendly and personable. Talk about your work style, and discuss your ideal work environment. Show how you would be a desirable employee and colleague. Share a unique personal fact or two to really make a mark. 

List Your Skills

Think of your hard and soft skills that will be valuable to any employer in a range of Industries. Make a list of those and add them to your cover letter. Use bullet points to make them stand out similarly to how the writer did in the sample above. 

Use Impeccable Spelling and Grammar

Once again, a job fair may generate hundreds of applicants for any position. Use your professionalism and attention to detail to stand out. Your cover letter should be painstakingly edited so there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Take your time doing this. Invest in grammar and spell-check app.

Final Tip: Do Some Preliminary Research

Don’t lose your house to attend a job fair without learning as much as possible about the attending companies. If you can identify which employers are most interesting to you beforehand, you can better plan your time at the job fair. You may be able to find some information about the companies that will be present on the job fair’s website, as well as any specific schedules for other activities and events. 

New to the Workforce? Check Other Entry-Level Cover Letters

• Sample cover letter with no experience
• High school student cover letter example
• Part-time cover letter example
• Internship cover letter example

Other Cover Letter Samples

A detailed business analyst cover letter example with writing tips, a memorable receptionist cover letter example, cover letter for maintenance technician: example + tips, event coordinator cover letter example.

A huge collection of cover letters created by a ninja team of writers and career advisors. Learn how to write, style and file cover letters that employers actually enjoy reading.

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How to Write an Effective Cover Letter for a Career Fair

Published: Jan 3rd, 2024

Are you attending a career fair and looking to make a strong impression on potential employers? One key element of your job application that you shouldn't overlook is your cover letter. In this article, we will discuss the importance of a cover letter at a career fair and how to write an effective one that highlights your skills and experiences.

Understanding the Importance of a Cover Letter

Before we dive into the details of writing a cover letter specifically for a career fair, let's first understand why cover letters are important in job applications in general. A cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the hiring manager, showcase your qualifications, and express your enthusiasm for the position.

The Role of a Cover Letter in Job Applications

A cover letter serves as a personal introduction and allows you to present yourself beyond just your resume. It gives you the chance to explain why you are interested in the company and how your skills align with the job requirements. A well-crafted cover letter can make you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of getting an interview.

Why Career Fairs Require Special Attention

Career fairs are unique environments where you have the opportunity to meet multiple employers in a short amount of time. As you navigate through different booths and engage in conversations with recruiters, your cover letter can serve as a tool to make a memorable impression. It helps you demonstrate your professionalism, research skills, and interest in the specific companies you are targeting.

When attending a career fair, it's important to remember that recruiters often meet hundreds of candidates in a single day. They are bombarded with resumes and brief interactions, making it challenging for them to remember each individual. This is where a well-crafted cover letter can truly make a difference.

By including a cover letter with your resume, you are providing the recruiter with additional information about yourself and your qualifications. It shows that you have taken the time to research the company and tailor your application specifically for them. This level of effort and attention to detail can set you apart from other candidates who may have simply submitted a resume.

Furthermore, a cover letter allows you to highlight specific experiences or skills that may not be immediately evident from your resume alone. It gives you the opportunity to provide context and explain how your background aligns with the company's values and needs. This can be particularly beneficial if you are transitioning into a new industry or have a non-traditional career path.

During a career fair, recruiters are often looking for candidates who not only meet the basic qualifications for the job but also demonstrate a genuine interest in the company. By including a cover letter, you can showcase your enthusiasm and passion for the role, which can leave a lasting impression on the recruiter.

Additionally, a cover letter can help you establish a connection with the recruiter. By addressing the letter to a specific individual and mentioning any mutual connections or shared interests, you can create a sense of familiarity and rapport. This personal touch can make your application more memorable and increase the likelihood of being invited for an interview.

Overall, a well-written cover letter can significantly enhance your chances of success at a career fair. It allows you to go beyond the limitations of a resume and present yourself as a qualified and enthusiastic candidate. So, take the time to craft a compelling cover letter that highlights your skills, aligns with the company's needs, and leaves a lasting impression on the recruiters you meet.

Key Elements of an Effective Cover Letter

Now that you understand the importance of a cover letter in the context of a career fair, let's explore the key elements that make a cover letter effective.

When it comes to structuring your cover letter, it's important to keep it concise, clear, and well-organized. Start with a strong opening paragraph that introduces yourself and expresses your interest in the company. In the body paragraphs, highlight your relevant skills and experiences, and explain how they align with the job requirements. Finally, end your cover letter with a strong closing paragraph that reiterates your enthusiasm and includes a call-to-action.

One of the main purposes of a cover letter is to showcase your skills and experience that make you a strong fit for the position. Avoid simply restating what is on your resume. Instead, focus on specific examples and achievements that demonstrate your qualifications for the job. Use bullet points or subheadings to make it easy for the reader to scan and understand your key points.

Each cover letter should be tailored to the specific company you are applying to. Take the time to research the company's values, mission, and culture, and incorporate this information into your cover letter. By showing that you have done your homework and understand the company's needs and goals, you will make a stronger impression on the hiring manager.

Furthermore, when structuring your cover letter, consider the use of paragraphs to break up the text and make it more readable. This not only helps the hiring manager navigate through your cover letter, but it also adds visual appeal and makes it easier for them to find the information they are looking for.

In addition to highlighting your skills and experience, consider including relevant anecdotes or stories that demonstrate your abilities. This can help bring your cover letter to life and make it more engaging for the reader. For example, if you are applying for a marketing position, you could share a story about a successful campaign you led and the impact it had on the company's bottom line.

Another important element to consider when tailoring your cover letter is the use of keywords. Many companies use applicant tracking systems to scan cover letters and resumes for specific keywords related to the job requirements. By incorporating these keywords into your cover letter, you increase your chances of getting noticed by the hiring manager.

Writing a Cover Letter for a Career Fair

Now that you have a solid understanding of the key elements of an effective cover letter, let's discuss how to write one specifically for a career fair.

Researching the Companies at the Fair

Prior to attending the career fair, research the companies that will be present. Visit their websites, read about their current projects, and learn about their hiring needs. This information will allow you to tailor your cover letter for each company, demonstrating your specific interest and understanding of their business.

Addressing Multiple Potential Employers

It's common to meet multiple potential employers at a career fair. In your cover letter, make sure to address each employer individually. Avoid using a generic cover letter template and instead customize each one based on the specific company and position you are interested in.

Making Your Cover Letter Stand Out

In a busy career fair environment, it's important to make your cover letter stand out. Consider using a visually appealing template or design, while still maintaining a professional look. Use concise and energetic language to capture the reader's attention and showcase your enthusiasm for the job. Additionally, proofread your cover letter carefully to avoid any typos or grammatical errors that could detract from your professionalism.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Cover Letter

As you work on writing an effective cover letter for a career fair, it's important to be aware of common mistakes to avoid.

Avoiding Generic Language

Avoid using generic language in your cover letter. Instead, use specific examples and concrete details to illustrate your qualifications. Stay away from cliches and overused phrases that could make your cover letter sound unoriginal or insincere.

Overlooking Proofreading

Proofreading is crucial to ensure your cover letter is error-free. Spelling mistakes, typos, and grammatical errors can create a negative impression and undermine your professionalism. Take the time to carefully proofread your cover letter multiple times, and consider having a trusted friend or family member check it as well.

Neglecting to Follow Instructions

Make sure to carefully read and follow the instructions provided by the employers at the career fair. Some companies may request specific information or require you to complete an online application in addition to submitting a cover letter. Failing to follow these instructions could result in your application being disregarded.

In conclusion, writing an effective cover letter is essential when attending a career fair. By understanding the importance of a cover letter, structuring it properly, highlighting your skills and experiences, and tailoring it to each company, you can make a strong impression on potential employers. Avoid common mistakes, such as using generic language, overlooking proofreading, and failing to follow instructions. With these tips and strategies in mind, you can write an effective cover letter and  increase your chances of landing your dream job .

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How to Make Your Cover Letter General for Career Fairs

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The Best Career Objectives to List on a Resume

Example of a cover letter for a career portfolio, curriculum vitae for the pharmaceutical industry.

• Cover Letter for Reentering the Workforce
• How to Ask for an Internship by Email

Writing a cover letter that accompanies your resume for a specific position usually states your interest in the job as well as a statement or two that shows you've studied the organization and respect its work or reputation. However, a career fair cover letter is akin to a letter of introduction that contains specific information about you and your career but doesn't include company-specific information. Reviewing some cover letter examples for career fair companies will help you craft a stronger submission.

Use an Organized Format

You can create your own application packages for the career fair. It can include copies of your cover letter, resume, list of references, writing samples and portfolio examples to hand to prospective employer representatives. You can put your documents into a simple folder with your contact information on it. Recruiters won't be happy having to lug home a three-ring binder, so keep your packet simple.

Use a Strong General Opening

It's best to start a more generic cover letter with a strong opening sentence that summarizes who are you, professionally. If you know the companies exhibiting in advance, you can write more than one resume, tailored to different industries or jobs, recommends Virginia Tech 's Career and Professional Development department.

For example, you might open with, "I'm an enthusiastic recent graduate of microbiology from the University of Arizona looking for an entry-level career role in research and development. I have significant work expertise through internships with two major research laboratories and am excited about joining an organization that rewards forward-thinking researchers with opportunities for professional development and on-the-job learning. I'm available for relocation anywhere in the United States."

State Why You're There

Don't forget to let potential employers know why you're at the job fair. Write one or two sentences about your attendance at the career fair. Include the precise name of the fair, its date and location. The reason you want to mention this is because many employers track applicants and how they learn about vacancies with their companies.

When you identify that you're a career fair attendee, it's easy for the company to track interest in the organization. In addition, you might receive recognition as a career fair attendee that you might otherwise not have received simply because of the effort to make an in-person appearance instead of simply sitting at home dispatching cover letters and resumes via email.

Provide Some Work Experience Information

Write one to two paragraphs about your functional education, training and experience, recommends jobs website, Indeed.com . If you've worked for organizations with excellent reputations in your industry or field, feel free to include their names. Prospective employers may look twice at applicants who have worked for companies that are known to have strict criteria and a reputation for hiring only the best professionals.

Include Some Accomplishments

Once you've given your abilities, prove your value by listing some accomplishments you've had. Use concrete examples about your work history. If you are a recent graduate, use your internships and college projects to describe your expertise. If you're a mid-career professional, briefly describe how your job skills and expertise have progressed through the years.

For example, an accountant who started in an entry-level position and received promotions to become department leader might describe his work history as, "In the 11 years since I joined my current employer's accounting department as an accounts payable clerk, I completed my undergraduate degree while working full-time. Within two years, I was promoted to junior accountant and given increasingly responsible assignments over the next seven years. Two years ago, I successfully passed the CPA exam and am now the department manager."

Finish With a Strong Summary

Try to make a strong last impression on the readers. Conclude your cover letter with information about your career interests. Research the career fair to determine if a particular industry will be represented. For example, some of the Big Four accounting firms recruit during college campus career fairs.

Other career fairs might focus on federal government employers or industry-specific areas such as food and beverage, hospitality or engineering. If you're attending a targeted career fair, state your interest in the industry and ask for favorable consideration of your qualifications.

• Virginia Tech: How to Prepare for Career Fairs
• Indeed: Writing a General Purpose Cover Letter: Tips, Template and Examples
• Create your own application packages for the career fair. Make several copies of your cover letter, resume, list of references, writing samples and portfolio examples to hand to prospective employer representatives.
• Dress for the career fair as you would for an interview. Many companies send their recruiters and hiring managers to conduct on-the-spot interviews. Use your appearance and application materials to convey a message to recruiters and hiring managers that you're prepared to accept a position.

Ruth Mayhew has been writing since the mid-1980s, and she has been an HR subject matter expert since 1995. Her work appears in "The Multi-Generational Workforce in the Health Care Industry," and she has been cited in numerous publications, including journals and textbooks that focus on human resources management practices. She holds a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ruth resides in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.

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Cover Letter Templates

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Looking to create a cover letter that will help you stand out from the crowd? Try one of our 16 professional cover letter templates, each created to match our resume and CV templates. Pick a cover letter template that suits your needs and impress the hiring manager with a flawless job application!

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Learn More About Cover Letters

How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024 + Examples

Cover Letter Format (w/ Examples & Free Templates)

Free Cover Letter Sample to Copy and Use

Subject Line: Cover Letter for [Position], [Candidate Name]

[Company Address]

[Company City, State]

[Hiring Manager Email]

Introduction:

Introduce yourself, give a brief professional summary, and optionally, a top achievement. E.g. “My name is [Name] and I’m a [Role] with over X years of experience in [Activity]. Over the past years, I’ve helped X companies achieve [Goals]”

Express your interest in joining their firm. E.g. “I’m looking to join [Company] as [Role] and I’m very excited to help you with [Activity]”

Optionally, if you were referred or you just know someone at the firm, you can mention this here. E.g. “I learned about [Company] from a friend that’s currently working there as [Role], [Friend’s name]. I really like everything I’ve heard about the company and I think I would make a good fit.”

This is where you talk about your work experience and achievements at length. Mention how you excelled at your previous roles, what your most important responsibilities were, and so on.

Look at this as an opportunity to expand on whatever you wrote in your resume, and give the reader a better picture of what kind of tasks you worked on, what you accomplished, and so on. E.g “At my previous jobs as [Role], my duties were [Major 3 duties], and I specifically excelled at [Top accomplishment]. This accomplishment helped the company [Results driven].”

Want to really impress the hiring manager? You can mention what you know about the company and its culture here. E.g. “I’ve read a lot about [Company] and I really think I’d enjoy your democratic leadership style.”

Optionally, you can include a bulleted list of your top 3 accomplishments. For example:

[Example Box]

Some of my top achievements in recent years include:

Launching a successful online ads marketing campaign, driving 100+ leads within 2 months.

Overhauled a client’s advertising account, improving conversion rates and driving 15% higher revenue.

Improved the agency’s framework for ad account audits and created new standard operating procedures.

Conclusion & Call to Action:

Re-affirm your desire to join the company, as well as how you can contribute. E.g. “I’d love to become a part of [Company] as a [Role]. I believe that my skills in [Field] can help the company with [Goals].”

Thank the hiring manager for reading the cover letter and then wrap it all up with a call to action. E.g. “Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing back from you and learning more about the position. Sincerely, [Name].”

Match Your Resume & Cover Letter

Want your application to stand out?

Match your cover letter with your resume & catch the recruiter’s attention!

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Matching Cover Letters

To keep your job application consistent and professional, our Cover Letter templates perfectly match the resume templates.

Creative & Standard Templates

Whether you apply for a conservative industry like banking or a hype start-up, you can tailor our cover letter templates to fit your exact needs.

Expert Reviews

Oana Vintila

Career Counselor

Cover Letters are usually synonymous with formal and bland rambling that you write down hoping for an invite to a job interview. I just love it how Novorésumé has enhanced that and is offering you a tool to build proper arguments and structured discourse about who YOU ARE and what YOU CAN DO.

A real confidence booster, I tell you, seeing your motivation eloquently written!

Gabriela Tardea

Career Strategist, Coach & Trainer

The best thing about this platform when creating a Cover Letter as an addition to your resume is that the documents will match each other's design and font, creating eye-catching documents that recruiters/hiring managers will love.

You will be initially judged based on your papers, so why not make a first great impression?

Cover Letters Resources

What is a cover letter.

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit alongside your resume or CV for your job application.

The main purpose of your cover letter is to:

Show your motivation for working at the company

Bring special attention to the most important parts of your work history

Explain how your work experience fits whatever the company is looking for

What your cover letter is NOT about , is rehashing whatever you already mentioned in your resume. Sure, you should mention the most important bits, but it should NOT be a literal copy-paste.

Keep in mind that recruiters will usually read your cover letter after scanning your resume and deciding if you’re qualified for the position.

Our cover letter templates match both our resume templates and our CV templates ! Make sure to check them out, too.

Why Use a Cover Letter Template?

A cover letter can complement your resume and increase your chances of getting hired.

But that's only if it's done right.

If your cover letter isn't the right length, is structured the wrong way, or doesn't match the style of your resume, it might do the opposite and hurt your application.

By using a cover letter template, you get a pre-formatted, professional, and recruiter-friendly document that’s ready to go. All YOU have to do is fill in the contents, and you’re all set.

What to Include in Your Cover Letter?

Every good cover letter has the following sections:

Header . Start your cover letter by writing down your own contact information, as well as the recruiter’s (recruiter name, company name, company address, etc…).

Greeting . Preferably, you want to address the recruiter by their last name (e.g. Dear Mr. Brown) or their full name, in case you’re not sure what their pronouns are (e.g. Dear Alex Brown). formal greeting for the recruiter.

Opening paragraph . This is the introduction to your resume. Here, you summarize your background info (“a financial analyst with X+ years of experience”), state your intent (“looking for X position at Company Y”), and summarize your top achievements to get the recruiter hooked.

Second paragraph . In the second paragraph, you explain how you’re qualified for the position by mentioning your skills, awards, certifications, etc., and why the recruiter should pick YOU.

Third paragraph . You talk about why you’re a good match for the company. Do you share common values? Is the company working on projects you’re interested in? Has this position always been your dream role?

Formal closing . Finally, you end the cover letter with a quick summary and a call to action (“I’m super excited to work with Company X. Looking forward to hearing from you!”).

How to Write a Great Cover Letter?

There’s a lot that goes into writing a great cover letter. If you want to get the full picture, you can check out our guide on how to write a cover letter .

For a quick summary, though, here are our top 4 cover letter tips :

Avoid Fluff . You want to be as specific as possible with your cover letter. Avoid vague statements like “I’m a good fit for the company because I’m a good critical thinker!”

Do Your Research. Most companies don’t like people who “spray and pray” - applying for dozens of jobs without giving them much thought. What they ARE looking for is someone who’s passionate about their field, the position, and even the company. So, research the companies you apply for as much as you can and show off your knowledge in your cover letter.

Don’t Use a One-Fits-All Cover Letter . As much as you can, try to tailor your cover letter to the job you’re applying for. Even if it’s something small, like addressing the hiring manager by their last name instead of “Dear Sir/Madam,” or mentioning something specific about the role or the company that you’re passionate about, it can help you prove that you’re not using the same generic cover letter to apply to dozens of jobs.

Back-Up Your Achievements with Data . When possible, back up your experience with data. Instead of saying, “I improved company revenue”, say “I managed to hit and exceed sales KPIs for 5 months in a row.”

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

Most recruiters agree that a cover letter should be brief and concise .

Optimally, that’s about half a page to one full page, and between 250 to 400 words long.

How Can I Write a Student Cover Letter?

You should write a student cover letter pretty much the same way you’d write a regular cover letter, with one key difference.

To make up for your lack of work experience, you should talk about the following:

Why do you want to work for the company and the position you’re applying for.

How your educational background has prepared you for the job.

How your skill set can help you stand out and excel at the job.

You also want to mention anything else that’s relevant to the job and that can prove your abilities, such as any internships, awards, honors, and the like.

In case you’re writing a cover letter for an internship , make sure to check out our guide.

How Can I Write a Cover Letter With No Experience?

If you’re an entry-level candidate, writing a cover letter might seem super scary. If you don’t have any work experience and professional accomplishments, what are you supposed to talk about in your cover letter?

Here’s some good news—you can focus on these topics instead:

Education highlights

Relevant skills

Independent projects

Volunteering experience

Extracurricular activities

Passion to learn and grow as a candidate

For a complete guide on how to write an entry-level cover letter , check out our guide.

How to Format a Cover Letter?

Here’s what you need to know on how to format a cover letter the right way:

Choose the right cover letter template for your industry . The better fit the cover letter, the less you’ll have to play with the layout and format.

Use colors sparingly . Don’t go overboard with creativity unless you work in an industry where that’s valued (marketing, advertising, design, and the like).

Select professional font styles and sizes.

Set the margins to 1 inch on each side to make sure there is enough white space and the document doesn’t look crowded with text.

Get Inspired with Our Cover Letter Examples

Cover letter templates faq, do i need a different cover letter for every job.

While you don’t need to write a different cover letter from scratch for every single job you apply for, it’s good to tailor your cover letter contents as much as you can to the company and position you’re applying for.

Hiring managers will always go for an applicant who’s interested in their specific position over a candidate that’s sending the same application to dozens of roles.

If you tailor your cover letter to the position, even if it’s something small like addressing the hiring manager by their name or explaining how you possess the right skills for the specific job, your chances of getting hired are going to be much better!

How to Make a Simple Cover Letter for Your Resume?

Simply pick one of our 16 effective cover letter templates above to get started.

We’d recommend matching your cover letter template to the resume template you picked.

Not only will it make your application package look more sophisticated and professional, but it will also make you more memorable for the recruiter who’ll go over your application.

Who Created These Cover Letter Templates?

Novoresume cover letter templates were created in cooperation with professional recruiters and hiring managers.

This means they’re up to date with the latest industry trends and job market requirements. With a Novoresume cover letter template, you can rest assured that your cover letter will look professional and modern at the same time.

When Should I Email My Cover Letter Instead of Using a Template?

As a rule of thumb, it’s always better to use a cover letter template instead of including it in the body of your email as plain text. By using a well-designed and effective cover letter template, you’re guaranteed to look like a more serious and professional candidate.

So, you should only email your cover letter if the job ad specifically asks you to.

Should I Use a PDF or Word Cover Letter Template?

We recommend going for a PDF cover letter template instead of Word.

All types of Operating Systems and devices can open PDF formats without ruining the formatting, design, or layout.

The same, however, cannot be said for Word templates. If, for example, you’ve used a 2021 Word cover letter template and the hiring manager opens it using an MS Word 2016 software version, there’s a chance your formatting will get messed up, or that your font will be unreadable.

To err on the side of caution, we always advise using a PDF cover letter template.

What is the Best Cover Letter Template in 2024?

There’s no such thing as the “best cover letter template.”

After all, every single recruiter has their own personal taste. Some might like a shiny and flashy cover letter template, while others might think it’s tacky. As a rule of thumb, though, we usually recommend customizing each cover letter for the company you’re sending it to.

Do I Really Need a Cover Letter in 2024?

Yes, you definitely need to submit a cover letter with your resume in 2024.

Even if the hiring manager never reads your cover letter or if the job description doesn’t specifically ask for one, a cover letter can still help strengthen your application and make you look like a more serious and proactive candidate.

As such, it’s always a good idea to include a cover letter with your resume.

#4. How to Make a Simple Cover Letter for Your Resume?

How to Make a Cover Letter With Novoresume?

To make a cover letter with Novoresume, simply scroll up and pick a template that you like best. Then, register or log in to your Novoresume account. From there, you can add your cover letter contents, as well as personalize and edit them as you see fit.

The Novoresume builder is very intuitive and user-friendly, allowing you to create your cover letter lightning-fast.

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Get More Quality Hires With an Effective Candidate Follow-up Strategy

• April 3, 2024

When you engage in a career fair, you’re going to run into eager candidates of all styles, stripes, and banners. But the candidates that stand out are always sharp, informed, and engaging. If you’re going to get those candidates, you’ll need recruiters who are prepared to tackle any questions and problems presented to them.

Check out this detailed job fair planning checklist to make the most out of the campus recruiting event. Combined with solutions such as Rakuna’s  Mobile Recruiting App , a modern recruiting team can quickly develop and execute their career fair recruitment strategy and attract suitable candidates without breaking a sweat.

Pre-Event Checklist

• Early Registration is Key : Register for the career fair well in advance to secure your spot and take advantage of any early-bird rates the sponsoring organization offers. This ensures your presence and helps you save on costs.
• Confirm Attendees : Before the career fair, confirm the attendance of your recruitment team and support staff. Knowing who will be there allows you to ensure comprehensive representation, with everyone on the same page.
• Travel Arrangements : If your team needs to travel to the career fair location, make travel arrangements early. Booking flights, accommodations, and transportation in advance ensures a smooth and hassle-free experience.
• Order Essential Materials : Prepare by ordering all necessary company materials in advance. This includes brochures, pens, giveaways, and benefits brochures that will help convey your message to potential candidates.
• Marketing Materials : Order any company display or marketing items that will set your booth apart. Attracting attention with eye-catching materials and displays is essential for a successful career fair.
• Coordinate with the Organizer : Reach out to the sponsoring organization to coordinate any pre-fair events that come with your package. This may include advertising, meet-and-greets, sponsorship of giveaways, and on-site interviews.
• Special Invitations : Extend special invitations to pre-registered candidates or those with unique connections or interests. This personal touch can increase attendance and engagement, maximizing the value of your presence at the fair.
• Prepare Your Team : Gather your recruiters and brand ambassadors before the event. Brief them on their roles, discuss expectations, answer questions, and equip them with the tools and forms necessary for collecting critical data. Recruiters also need to prepare a  post-career fair communication  to guarantee positive candidate experience and give you an upper hand in winning top talents.
• Host a Seminar : Consider hosting a seminar for your recruitment team to address contemporary labor and job market topics. Cover issues such as hiring employees, retraining, and addressing the concerns of the current Gen Z workforce to stay ahead.
• Highlight Added Perks : Communicate any additional benefits or perks to pre-registered candidates, such as exclusive workshops for screened job seekers. These offerings can make your company stand out and attract top talent.
• Venue Readiness : Inspect the event venue ahead of time. Ensure it is clean, organized, and ready to welcome attendees. A well-prepared venue sets the stage for a professional and positive experience.
• Optimize Booth Placement : Fine-tune the placement and arrangement of your booths and tables. Strategic positioning ensures maximum visibility and access, making it easier for attendees to engage with your team.
• Interview Spaces : Optionally, designate quieter interview locations away from the noise and activity of the career fair. These private spaces facilitate focused discussions and interviews with potential candidates.
• Strategic Staff Placement : Determine strategic locations for your job fair staff. Placing them strategically allows them to efficiently assist job seekers and employers, enhancing the overall event experience.
• Recruitment Materials : Ensure that your recruitment team has all the necessary materials on hand, including name tags, merchandise, and informational pamphlets. Equipped with these tools, they can engage with candidates effectively.
• Staff Training : Provide clear instructions to your staff, covering tasks such as greeting attendees, providing directions, and answering inquiries. A well-trained team enhances the professional atmosphere and ensures that attendees have a positive experience.
• Announce Vacancies : Make job vacancy announcements highly visible. Post them at accessible locations within the career fair or on your company’s landing page. This enables participants to quickly locate the job opportunities they are seeking.
• Pre-Event Reminder : A week before the event, send a reminder to all company representatives participating in the career fair. This ensures that everyone is well-prepared and that your team is aligned and ready for the event.

Want more details on  Campus Recruiting Strategy ? Check out our detailed guide on the topic!

Event Day Checklist

Early Arrival: Arrive at least one hour before the career fair starts. This ensures you have ample time for setup, making your booth and materials ready for attendees.

• Welcome Team : Place volunteers at the entrance to greet and guide participants. If possible, have them escort attendees to your booth or distribute evaluation forms during the fair.
• Special Interest Representatives : Assign representatives for special interest groups like alumni brand ambassadors and diversity & inclusion members. They can connect with attendees who share these affiliations, creating a personalized experience.
• Streamlined Applications : Simplify the application process by setting up laptops connected to your company’s online application page or using Rakuna’s Campus & Event Recruiting Kiosk Mode. This makes applying for positions convenient for attendees.
• Stay Throughout : Be present for the entire duration of the career fair. Coordinate breaks with your team, ensuring that recruiters who can’t take a break are comfortable and supported.
• Engagement Options : Allow attendees not yet ready to apply to sign up for recruiting information or provide their resume details, if appropriate. This keeps the door open for potential future interactions.
• Capture Memories : Take photos or videos of the job fair. These visuals can be valuable for subsequent promotional materials or training, showcasing your participation and success.
• Post-Event Wrap-Up : After the event, break down your career fair table and displays. If needed, make arrangements for shipping items back to the office, ensuring a smooth post-event transition and follow-up activities.
• Data Collection : Gather data on the number of candidates you engaged with, applications and resumes received, qualified applications, interviews scheduled, resulting hires, and any other pertinent information. This data is critical for post-fair analysis.  Rakuna’s Campus & Event Recruiting Solution  can help you manage all that data better. You can quickly qualify applicants and prepare a follow-up plan in much less time than you would with stacks of paper resumes.

After the Fair

• Resume Review and Response : Review all resumes collected at the career fair and respond to applicants promptly. If no resumes were obtained, check your company’s applicant tracking system, event landing page, or event email for new applications resulting from the fair.

Rakuna Student Survey  reveals valuable insights:

90% of respondents prefer to use email and phone as their favorite professional communication channels and hear from recruiters within one week after the first interaction.

• Thank You Letters : If applicable, send thank you letters or appropriate correspondence to individuals who attended meet-and-greets, on-site interviews, or other significant interactions. Express gratitude and maintain professional connections.
• Document Management : Organize and store documents and materials for future job fairs. This includes budgets, forms, letters, lists, memos, signs, posters, templates, press releases, advertising materials, and all relevant planning documents.
• Evaluation Summary : Summarize feedback from your recruiters and participant evaluation forms. Provide summarized comments and report this information to management. Compare the data with results from previous career fair events for insights.
• Post-Event Debrief : Within 10 days after the fair, gather your recruiters and brand ambassadors. Collect their data, discuss their experiences, and welcome their suggestions for improvements. This debriefing helps fine-tune your approach for the next event.
• Future Fair Consideration : Decide whether your company will attend the career fair again. If so, make arrangements to include expenses in the following year’s budget if applicable. Planning ahead ensures that your participation is well-prepared and budgeted for.
• Continuous Improvement : Lastly, incorporate feedback and suggestions into the planning of the next job fair. Strive to improve each event, refining your strategies, and enhancing the overall experience for both recruiters and candidates.

To Conclude

And that’s 34 points in a career fair checklist, from what to prepare pre-event, to post-event actions. We hope that we have provided you with productive ideas when it comes to streamlining your recruiting strategy – candidate management, event management, and communication plans!

About Rakuna Event & Campus Recruiting Solution

Whether it is in-person or virtual recruiting events, we always have your back covered. Streamline your event recruiting operations seamlessly on one single platform.

With Rakuna’s Event & Campus Recruiting Solution, you can: 

• Impress your candidates with paperless technology at recruiting events. Let Rakuna’s Mobile Recruiting App handle the data collection while your team converse and forge authentic connections, taking full advantage of face-to-face interactions.
• Leverage the Rakuna dashboard to plan, track, and promote all recruiting events, review candidates’ data and recruiters’ evaluations, collaborate with hiring managers, and automate communication with candidates pre and post-events.
• Have a complete view of all existing events’ results, whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid, to analyze past performance and allocate resources accordingly. Focus on delivering results rather than busy the mind with administrative burdens.

Want to see Rakuna in action?  Book a FREE demo with us !

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5 Easy-to-Use Online Resume Tools to Make Better CVs and Land Jobs

T he first step to landing your dream job is to make a resume that will impress any recruiter. From open-source and privacy-friendly online CV makers to AI-assisted cover letters, these free tools make it easier than ever to create a resume that will stand out from the crowd.

1. OpenResume (Web): Open Source, 100% Free and Ad-Free, Privacy-Friendly

A common issue with several online resume builders is that even though they tout they are free, there are several hidden clauses. They'll have ads, or ask you to sign up to store your personal and professional information on their servers or ask for a fee to remove watermarks when downloading the final PDF. OpenResume is an attempt to solve all those issues by building an open-source, completely free, and ad-free online resume builder which also protects your privacy.

OpenResume guides first-time resume makers to create a new CV with a template that relies on best standards and practices. Simply fill the data in the boxes as asked, and you'll see the resume updating in real-time in the preview. You can tweak colors, fonts, and paper size at any time.

The app works in your browser cache, so you won't be sending any of this data to the internet, keeping your information private and safe. OpenResume also includes a parser to check how ATS systems will read your CV, letting you then write an ATS-friendly resume .

2. Leet Resumes (Web): AI Analyzes and Upgrades Your Current Resume

After using writers to create thousands of free resumes for job applicants, Leet Resumes has trained an AI to analyze those resumes and use those learnings to make changes to your existing resume. It's completely free too.

Start by uploading your current resume as a PDF or DOC file. Leet Resumes will then take you through a series of steps to spruce up the CV. It will determine what your next job positions could be, suggest words and skills to add to your current resume, and coax information from you through pointed questions. Once you finish the questionnaire, Leet Resumes will create a new CV for you with all this information.

You can download the resume for free and then even tweak it if you want to make changes. Leet Resumes follows only one resume template design, but it's a standard recommended by founder Marc Cenedella, an expert in recruiting who has also written multiple books on how to write winning resumes.

3. Chat Career (Web): AI-Crafted Resume Tailored for Job Postings

One of the essential tips for a winning resume is to tweak it slightly for each job that you're applying for. It shows you have read the job posting and understood the requirements. Chat Career uses AI to help you make such tailored resumes.

When you start the app, you'll need to add the job description from the company's posting. Then, you can either upload your current CV, give it access to your LinkedIn bio, or craft a new resume from scratch. Chat Career will then review whether you are fit for the job. The AI asks questions in a chat window, much like using ChatGPT. Answer questions in plain English, and provide as many details as you want.

It will brainstorm with you about how you should highlight your experience and qualifications and even suggests how to add missing elements for maximum job fit. Once the process is done, you'll get a new resume, ready to send to this job. And if you save your profile, you can then use Chat Career to quickly generate tailored resumes for any future job postings.

4. CoverLetterGPT (Web): Generate Cover Letters Quickly With ChatGPT

Much like tailoring your CV for the job description, it's good practice to write a cover letter that addresses the hiring manager directly. The key to writing a good cover letter is to succinctly explain why you are the right fit for the job, how your resume will reflect that, and to display your personality through your words. A lot of people struggle with it, but the whole process is much smoother when AI assists you.

As the name suggests, CoverLetterGPT will help you write a cover letter using ChatGPT without needing to learn ChatGPT prompts or even create an OpenAI account. Add the job title, company, job description, and upload your current CV. Once CoverLetterGPT analyzes this input, it'll spit out a cover letter in a few seconds that you can copy-paste into a document.

CoverLetterGPT also lets you easily prompt ChatGPT to change any sentence or paragraph in the cover letter it has generated. Highlight the text, and you'll get an option to ask ChatGPT to make it more concise, detailed, professional, or informal. You can also ask for a whimsical sign-off to add a little fun to your letter.

5. SwiftCV (Web): Free, Beautiful Personal Online Resume Web Page

Can you really afford to apply for a job in the 2020s without an online CV? And it needs to look a little better than a basic web page where you've uploaded your resume as a PDF. SwiftCV makes it easy for anyone with no knowledge of creating websites to make a beautiful online resume that you can share with recruiters.

Create an account, and you can start adding details in different sections, as prompted by SwiftCV. You can also import your LinkedIn profile to quickly populate your online CV. The app makes good use of company logos, font colors, sizes, and other icons to make a resume that looks modern and professional. It also follows a responsive design, so your CV can be read on a computer or phone.

In the end, you'll get an online CV with a custom URL for you. SwiftCV also shows you analytics data of people who viewed your profile, so you can track who is interested. The free version has a few limitations (such as the downloadable PDF and website having SwiftCV branding), but most job-seekers probably don't need to pay for the premium version.

Don't Rely on AI Alone

It's amazing how AI is helping users to create better resumes and CVs, especially for those who don't have senior professionals to guide them through the process. But you do run the risk of not standing out from the crowd if you over-rely on AI. To add a personal touch, use the AI suggestions as a starting block, and edit it to infuse your personality into the resume or cover letter.