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Your Guide to Avoiding Letter of Interest or Cover Letter Plagiarism When Using  Samples

If you are using samples from the internet, are you doing all you can to prevent letter of interest or cover letter plagiarism? While it’s hard to know if companies check cover letters for plagiarism regularly, it’s vital to make sure that your work is original and unique.

Before we look more closely at plagiarism and cover letters or interest letters, let’s make sure we are clear on the terminology itself.

How a Letter of Interest is Different From a Cover Letter

A cover letter accompanies a resume in a job application. It briefly explains why a candidate is applying for a particular job. The cover letter helps the applicant stand out. It makes the hiring manager interested in reviewing the person’s full resume and contacting them for an informal interview.

While a cover letter communicates why a specific skill set is relevant to a particular position, a letter of interest is a more generalized document that focuses on a person seeking employment at the company and why they would be a good fit.

A letter of interest or pitch letter, (otherwise called a letter of request or a prospecting letter), is sent to organizations that might have employment opportunities but have not indicated openings.

One can use a letter of interest to see whether the organization has any job openings that will be a good fit for them. A person communicates their essential qualifications, skills, experiences, and talents to the company’s hiring manager.

This letter lets the hiring manager know that the person sending it is interested in seeking a position with the business. It also highlights the reasons behind the candidate being a suitable hire for that company by outlining their qualifications and detailing how they see themselves fitting in the company culture and org structure. A letter of interest will often include the required information highlighting why the sender has chosen to reach out to the company.

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Keep a Check on Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the illegal copying of someone else’s work. It is ethically wrong to copy someone else’s work, but severe plagiarism cases can also bring legal troubles to the person accused of plagiarizing. Their entire career can be at stake. It is something that one should not take very lightly.

A particularly good place to avoid plagiarism is when writing cover letters or letters of interest. They are used to apply for jobs or internships by students and graduates. Usually, specific firms want a particular skill set. It is common for many people applying to refer to letter of interest samples to draw from the writing style and experience.

However, referencing a letter of interest or cover letter sample too closely can be counted as plagiarism. The hiring manager and recruiter both want a potential candidate to showcase their skill and not borrow from someone else. A plagiarized letter of interest can harm a person’s chance of getting the job.

If interest and cover letters are checked for plagiarism, and the cover letter checker reveals that the letter is not original, It shows a lack of knowledge and research on the applicants’ part and shows them practically in a bad light. If a candidate cannot express why they are interested in working for a company, their work ethic comes into question. Thus it becomes difficult for them to get the job.

Candidates Can Lose Jobs Due to Plagiarized Letters

Numerous candidates are applying for a job opening; for the hiring manager, options are limitless. They would only want to hire someone whose letter of interest stands out from the rest. The letter’s unique pitch is one of the easiest ways to get their attention and show them that they are willing to work hard for the company.

On the other hand, a letter of interest with duplicate content will give off an impression of being indifferent and commonplace. Similarly, a copy-and-paste cover letter will necessarily fail to demonstrate a candidate’s unique skills and qualifications for a job. 

Either  may discourage the hiring manager at the target company from requesting an interview if they sent your request letter for plagiarism checking. Writing cover letters with original content is essential to secure an interview while applying for a specific job.

It is always essential to check for plagiarism in any letter of interest that a candidate wants to write. It is better to avoid plagiarism altogether, but if someone wants to refer to another letter of interest that has been written for a similar job description, be sure to keep it to a minimum.

How to Write a Letter of Interest

While writing a cover letter or letter of interest, it is essential to follow a basic pattern and email etiquette.

Research About the Company:

It is essential to research the company. Part of the motivation behind a letter of interest is to clarify what makes one such a solid match for the organization. It can help a candidate find the right person in the department who is the most suited for receiving the letter of interest. Typically it is the person in charge of recruitment or the HR department.

Introducing Oneself:

Provide necessary information about one’s background. The job seeker should explain why they are writing the letter of interest

Candidates should mention their skills and experience and highlight how the company’s mission and culture align with that of the candidate. Provide details of previous experience and employment. Include specific works that a person is associated with that fit the current job description.

It shows why one can work there. Refer to the company’s culture, mission statement, and recent accomplishments in the letter to show them that candidates have done their part of the research.

Attach the CV:

The letter should have the résumé attached to it, as a good letter of interest will prompt the company to look into the CV and invite the candidate for an interview.

Personal Contact Information & Formal Greetings:

Make sure to include contact information like name, email address, and contact number. Also, include the social media portfolios or websites, if they are in any way relevant.

Start the letter with ‘Dear Mr. /Ms’ or appropriate salutations with the person’s name being addressed. It makes an impression to address the letter of interest to the right person in the department.

Use a Plagiarism Checker:

Always use a plagiarism checker after completing the letter of interest. The extra effort to ensure that your letter is unique and original may be what sets you ahead of the crowd of other applicants.

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