Writing a good cover letter may not be the key to landing the job but it is the essential to getting the interview. Cover letters that accompany your resume can destroy your job search if they are poorly written and constructed.
Most people have difficulty writing an effective cover letter because they are uncomfortable telling people about their own strengths and the benefits that they bring to the company. Other things that make letters fail are selling too much were coming on too strong. A cover letter is meant to "sell" you but should be done by informing your future employer and not over selling them on your behalf.
Remember that professionalism is first perception. This means that your potential employer will make a judgment about you based on the initial communication they receive. This means that quickly scribbling a cover letter and attaching it to your flawless resume will blow your chance for an interview.
The best cover letter you can produce will explain how he your unique set of skills and experience make you the right person for the posted position. This is the place to demonstrate your personality and passion for the position and not in a resume.
The first thing to remember about writing a compelling cover letter is research. If you don't know anything about the company to which you are applying then you can't write a letter that makes sense to your future employer. Visit the company's website and find out what they do. Are they a large company or a small company? What impression does a website or job description give you? For instance, if it's a small company you can stress your interpersonal skills and flexibility on the job while at a large company you can stress your effective multitasking abilities.
Find out the hiring manager's name by looking through the website or calling the front desk. Have a good understanding of what the potential job may entail so that your cover letter can address those skills from your perspective.
The letter itself should not need a clever or witty introduction but the opening statement should grab the attention of the reader. If you have been referred by a third party then make that connection clear right away. Name dropping may not be appropriate in other situations but mentioning an individual who the manager knows and respects will get their attention and prompt them to keep reading.
The first paragraph should state the purpose of your letter and tell the manager what position you are applying for and why it interests you. If you're responding to a job posting, mention where you saw it.
In the second paragraph is most important to summarize your credentials but don't reiterate your resume. You can discuss your most relevant accomplishments and emphasize your qualifications. Here is where it is important to keep the most salient points above the fold. In other words be sure that the information you want read is in the first paragraph before the manager is distracted or sets your résumé aside in a pile of others.
Be specific as possible in your letter. Be brief but very thorough and use as much specificity as possible. In other words, discuss your accomplishments in measurable terms such as "I increased revenue by 40% through. . ."
Be sure to include industry-specific key words. If you are applying in the medical profession then the terminology used should match the job. Hiring managers will often notice if the letters and e-mails they receive appear to come from people who work in the industry. It is a good idea to include some industry buzzwords in your cover letter as a way of increasing the chances that your resume will be read.
At the close of your cover letter leave a call for action. This means that instead of saying "thank you for your consideration," you directly tell them what to do. For example, you might say "I will follow up with you in a few days to inquire about setting up a meeting to discuss this further."
Before sending your cover letter and resume go over it for grammatical and punctuation errors. It is a sad indictment of your education and your intelligence if you send an application for employment with a poor understanding and use of grammar and punctuation. Many applicants fall at the first hurdle because their cover letters are full of errors. Remember that the first impression your potential employer will get is your cover letter and resume.
If you are sending a cover letter and resume via e-mail then it is also important to send it through the postal service as well. When sending a cover letter and resume in an e-mail try to ascertain from the company website if the information should be attached or in the body of the e-mail. If you are unable to find out how the company would like information to be transmitted then it is a good idea to send a cover letter and resume both in the body of the e-mail and as attachments.
The hiring managers should also have a hard copy of your resume and cover letter delivered to them via the postal service. Although we live in a digital age unless the job for which you are applying is in information technologies most managers continue to want a paper trail.
Long or Short - how long should your cover letter be? Check out this link for more information.
Best Cover Letter EVER!
http://blogs.hbr.org/silverman/2009/06/the-best-cover-letter.html
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