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Thursday 17th May 2012

How to Write a Cover Letter

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How to Write a Cover Letter

Posted by Maggie Berry 05 January 2012 Business |  Careers |  Graduates |  Miscellaneous |  Technology |  Training |  Women No matter how impressive your resume may be, few employers will bother to look at it unless your cover letter catches their interest. Writing a stellar cover letter is an achievable goal for anyone that is willing to put in the time and effort it takes to hone a few short introductory paragraphs to perfection.

A cover letter should express your interest in the position offered, should convince your prospective employer that you are qualified for the job, and should somehow set you apart from your competition. Here are a few tips to make each individual element of your cover letter effective:

Introductory Paragraph

In the introduction of your cover letter, your goal is to let your prospective employer know exactly why you are writing. Of course, you are writing to be considered for a position. But you need to get more specific than that to capture your reader’s attention. Here are some of the most common reasons a person applies for a particular job:

1. Referral – If a friend, family member, or acquaintance told you about an open position at a particular company, make sure to mention this person by name at the very beginning of your letter. If this individual has a good reputation within the company, you already have a major advantage over the numerous others applying for the same position without a inside contact.

2. Job Board – If you saw an ad for a job position on craigslist or another local classified ad board, state this fact in the first sentence of your introductory paragraph. This way, your reader knows which outreach methods are successfully bringing in applicants. By helping your prospective employer in this manner, you are helping your own application to stand out.

3. Company Reputation – If you are “cold call” applying for a job, begin by stating that this particular company’s reputation precedes it. Say that you are so impressed with the company’s products or services that you had to write and see if they might have an opening to match your expertise. Flattery is only bad if it’s not sincere. If you really do love the company, go ahead and gush a bit. They’ll like it.

Two Middle Paragraphs

The actual body of your cover letter should consist of about two succinct paragraphs. Do not use these precious few sentences to regurgitate information that is already on your resume. Instead, illustrate how your particular skills and experience can benefit the company to which you are applying.   You can also look at cover letter examples to get a better idea for what is typically written.  Here are a few ways to effectively convince your reader to peruse your resume:

1. Showcase your Talents – Are you an unusually savvy researcher or planner? Say so in the body of your cover letter. Can you effectively lead a team or create new systems? Show in a few words how this talent can help you fulfill the vision of the company for which you are applying.

2. Show you Fit – A company generally publishes a list of specific qualifications for any position they are attempting to fill. Use a few sentences to show how you are particularly qualified to shine in the specific role you are looking to fill. Certifications, degrees, and specialized experience should all be mentioned.

3. Short Anecdote – Do you have a personal story that illustrates your ability to execute the skill set required to shine in the position for which you are applying? If so, tell that story in about one to two sentences. Then add another short sentence to drive home how your anecdote proves you are the perfect fit for the company’s job opening.

Conclusion Paragraph

Use the last paragraph of your cover letter to reiterate your desire to be considered for the position for which you are applying. Also provide a reliable telephone number and email address for contact information, or inform the reader that you will be contacting the company directly in the next few days to speak with a hiring representative.

A Final Word

A terrific cover letter can be the difference between scoring an in-person interview (see How to Ace the Interview eBook), or being passed over for yet another position. Take time to draft, re-draft, and fine-tune your cover letter. Spending time on crafting a stellar letter will greatly improve your chances of receiving a call back for the job of your dreams.
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