Seven Secrets to a Great Cover Letter
* from CareerBuilder.com
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Aside from a resume, your cover
letter is the most important job searching tool you must develop. A cover
letter introduces you to potential employers and gives you the opportunity to
draw the reader's attention to particular skills and experiences. Done right, a
cover letter can move your resume to the top of the pile. If you are not sure
how to make your cover letter stand out, here are seven secrets that will get
you started in the right direction.
1. Make it personal.
Do not address a cover letter to a generic being, such as "hiring
manager." While finding the correct addressee might take a little work,
finding that person is well worth the effort. Call the company and ask to whom
to send your resume. If the company will not give you a name, try to find out
through other means, such as current employees or corporate Web site. Putting a
real name on your letter will make it look more like an important piece of
correspondence and less like junk mail.
2. Get to the point.
Your cover letter should never be more than one page, and once you include your
return address and the company address, you do not have much space. That is why
you need to let the reader know why you are writing immediately. If you are
responding to an ad for an open position, mention that ad and position in the
first line or two. If you have been referred by another individual, let the
reader know that right up front.
3. Show off your company knowledge. One way to get a hiring manager's attention is by
demonstrating that you have done your homework. Before you start writing your
letter, research the company to learn about recent news and events, its
financial status or any mergers or acquisitions. You can then incorporate this
knowledge into your letter, particularly in the first paragraph. For example,
you might start by mentioning a recent story you read about the company's
success expanding into an international market, and express your interest in
utilizing your past experience in international business relations to help
further the company's position overseas.
4. Answer their prayers. You can and should use your letter to give the company
exactly what it is looking for. This means paying attention to job postings and
descriptions and advising that you have the desired skills and qualifications.
If the company has indicated it is seeking candidates with budget management
experience, make sure you talk specifically about your experience, such as
"I have experience in managing budgets of approximately $5 million and
consistently achieving departmental financial goals." Use your cover
letter to point out exactly why you are a good fit. The best way to do this is
by making it easy for the reader to come to the same conclusion.
5. Show, don't just tell. One mistake many people make on cover letters is saying
they have certain qualifications without including any evidence to back up
their claims. Are you positioning yourself as an individual with strong
customer service skills? Include specific examples that speak to those skills.
This may mean pulling out one or two accomplishments throughout your career and
writing about them in detail in the second or third paragraph.
6. Promise to take action. A cover letter is like any other aspect of job hunting –
the squeaky wheel always gets the oil. Wrap up your cover letter with a promise
to contact the company, and then back up your statement with action. Your cover
letter is too important to end by just saying "I look forward to hearing
from you." Take the initiative by telling the reader, "I will follow
up with you in the next week to schedule a convenient time for us to
meet."
7. Read and read again. Are you tired of working on your cover letter? Do you feel like you
have read it 100 times already? It's always a good idea to read it just a
couple more times to ensure that you do not have any typos, spelling or
grammatical errors. Once you have exhausted yourself in the editing process,
give the letter to a friend or family member to read. Sometimes, a fresh set of
eyes can pick up on things that have been missed for ages.