Tips: Cover Letter
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
The cover letter is your chance to sell yourself to a potential employer as the best candidate for a specific position. As such, it's as just as important as your resume. Never send out a resume without one. Yet, you must remember not to repeat details of your resume and treat cover letter separately.
Simply put: the resume is about you, your experience and your skills, and the cover letter is about what you can do for the employer.
An effective cover letter should accomplish 3 things:
1. Introduce yourself and your reason for writing
The first paragraph needs to grab the hiring manager's attention. Say exactly why you have sent the resume: you are interested in the company and you want to fill a need they have.
If you were referred to the company by a mutual friend or associate, mention them; the hiring manager may feel more obligated to respond to your letter.
2. Sell yourself
In the second part of the letter state (briefly) the skills you bring to the table that will specifically meet the employer's needs. There is no need to go into great detail; your resume should take care of that.
Use this section to highlight how you will use your talents and experience to benefit the company.
3. Make a plan
Close the letter by indicating what you would like to happen next. Don't leave the ball in the employer's court; take action! Tell the potential employer where you can be reached, either by phone or e-mail. Indicate if you did not hear from them within a few days, you will follow-up with a phone call to make sure your resume and cover letter have reached the intended recipient, and to arrange a face to face interview.
Be assertive but polite.
Writing Tips
1. Personalize the letter - address to the individual responsible of filling the position
2. Be natural - be simple, uncomplicated language and sentence structure
3. Be specific and get to the point - an introduction to your resume
4. Be positive - don't complain about your previous boss and don't sound like you are begging for a job
5. Be confident, but not arrogant - don't be negative or too humble either
6. Be polite and professional - treat your future employer with respect.
7. Be efficient - don't waste the reader's time on unneccesary details
8. Type your letter & remember to personalize it
9. Be available - remember to tell the employer how to reach you
10. Proof-read - check carefully for grammar and spelling mistakes
11. Sign it
12. Package it nicely - print resume and cover letter on the same paper stock; the uniformity will look professional
13. Keep one for yourself - make a copy of each letter for future reference
Check out some samples of cover letters HERE , HERE and HERE
