Employers tend to use language appropriate to their organizational contexts. If you have many of the skills an employer is looking for, make them aware of your suitability. Make sure that you link your skills to the job you apply for and show that you understand the business of the potential employer.
The following list will help you to 'translate' your cover letter into the language of the appropriate sector.
Organizing and planning
Balancing long- and short-term goals
Fulfilling obligations
Meeting deadlines
UK prioritising /US prioritizing
Time management
Multi-tasking
Creativity
Project and people management
Handling complex issues
Lateral thinking
Flexibility/versatility
Collaboration
Leading a multinational/multidisciplinary team
Heading preparation
Negotiating compromises
Keeping up morale
Ensuring all interests are represented
Providing informal/long-distance support to
Persistence and patience
Determination
Coping with repetition/competitiveness/ ambiguity/ uncertainty
Independence/ self-sufficiency/ self-reliance
Self-discipline
Ability to work in an unstructured environment
Enjoy variety and change
International outlook
Drive
Infectious enthusiasm
Self-motivation
(Physical) stamina
Resilience, coping with no results
Integrity
Pragmatism
Commitment
Identifying and solving problems
Investigating
Evaluating options
Applying robust/rigorous analysis to problems
Applying qualitative/quantitative methods
Information synthesis
Methodical/meticulous attention to detail
Data management/ analysis
Rapid learning/ absorption of material
Quick penetration of unfamiliar fields
Ability to process large quantities of data
Experimental/survey design
Conducting interviews
Identifying relevance
Taking decisions about material
Thoroughness/ accuracy
Critiquing the work of others
Appraising/assessing
Continual scrutiny
Quality assurance
Fostering research
Writing reports/publications
Public speaking
Presenting and summarizing results
Justifying one’s topic
Networking