Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips

Transcription

1 1 Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips By Alison Doyle, About.com Guide When you need to write a cover letter, it's sometimes the small things that make a big difference. Review these tips and techniques for writing top notch cover letters to send with your resume, including format and presentation, choosing a type of cover letter, writing custom cover letters, and examples and templates. Select a Type of Cover Letter When you are job hunting, it's important to choose a type of cover letter that is appropriate for how you are applying for a job or requesting job search assistance. There are three different types of cover letters including application letters, letters of interest, and networking letters. The cover letter you use will be determined by whether you are applying directly for a job or seeking job search help. General Types of Cover Letters Application Letter. An application letter is written to apply for a specific job opening. Referral Cover Letter. A referral cover letter mentions the name of a person who referred you to a job. Letter of Interest. A letter of interest, also known as a prospecting letter, inquires about possible job openings at a company. Networking Letter. Networking letters request job search advice and assistance. Format Your Cover Letter How you format your cover letter, both from a content (the information you include) and a presentation (what your cover letter looks like) perspective is important. Even when applying online or via , your cover letter needs to be properly formatted, readable, and without any mistakes.

2 2 Cover Letter Content First of all, your cover letter needs to include your contact information (name, address, phone, ) so prospective employers can get in touch with you. Your cover letter should include at least three paragraphs: 1. What you are applying for and where you found the job posting - First Paragraph 2. What you have to offer - Middle Paragraph(s) 3. How you will follow-up - Final Paragraph In the first paragraph, if you are writing in response to a job posting, indicate where you learned of the position and the title of the position. More importantly, express your enthusiasm and the likely match between your credentials and the position's qualifications. The second paragraph of your cover letter should refer specifically to the qualifications listed in the job posting and illustrate how your particular abilities and experiences relate to the position for which you are applying. The final paragraph of your letter should reiterate your interest in the job and let the employer know how they can reach you and include your phone number and address. Cover Letter Format Cover letter presentation matters as much as what you include. When writing cover letters it's important to use a basic font that is easy to read. Depending on the hiring process your cover letter may be viewed in an applicant tracking system or other online hiring system. Those systems work best reading simple text rather than fancy formatting. It's also important for the hiring manager to be able to easily read your resume. Using a basic 12 point font will ensure that your cover letter is easy to read. Basic fonts like Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman work well. Don't forget to leave space between paragraphs and to proof your letter before you send or upload it. Do remember that your cover letter fonts should match your resume. Review Cover Letter Examples Take the time to review cover letter examples, then make sure that your letter explains how your skills relate to the criteria listed in the job posting. Start from a Cover letter Template

3 3 A cover letter template can be a good way to get started writing cover letters to send with resumes when you apply for jobs. Use a cover letter template as a starting point for creating your own personalized cover letter. Free Cover Letter Templates Free cover letter templates are available both online (you can download a template to your computer) and from Microsoft Word online. Once you have a template ready to use on your computer, add your information to the cover letter template, then tweak and edit it to personalize your cover letter, so it highlights your qualifications for the job. Start from a Cover Letter Template A cover letter template can be a good way to get started writing cover letters to send with resumes when you apply for jobs. Use a cover letter template as a starting point for creating your own personalized cover letter. Free Cover Letter Templates Free cover letter templates are available both online (you can download a template to your computer) and from Microsoft Word online. Once you have a template ready to use on your computer, add your information to the cover letter template, then tweak and edit it to personalize your cover letter, so it highlights your qualifications for the job. Include Key Words in Your Cover Letter When you are writing a cover letter, it's important to make sure that every word counts. Your cover letters should enhance the employer's appreciation of your qualifications so you can move from applicant to interviewee. Keywords are a vital element of a persuasive cover letter which portrays the candidate as a highly qualified applicant for the job. These words fall into three general categories: skill words, results oriented words, and words which show recognition for achievements. Keywords work in a couple of different ways. First, the keywords you include in your resume and cover letter will be used to match your application with the skills required by the employer. Secondly, keywords that are incorporated into a cover letter will show the hiring manager how and why you are highly qualified for the job.

4 4 Customize Your Cover Letter It is important to customize your cover letter, so it presents your candidacy for employment effectively. Don't be afraid to try switching the format i.e. bulleted accomplishments vs. a paragraph, because the template is just a starting point for creating your own cover letter. Write a new customized cover letter for each job you apply for. Save the original version of your cover letter, before you start making changes, so you can go back and start over, if you need to. Also, that way you'll be able to edit your original cover letter when applying for new jobs. Showcase Your Qualifications Employers typically won't even consider a candidate who doesn't appear to be qualified at first glance. That first glance at your cover letter is your one opportunity to make a good impression and make it to the next round. In order to pass that first round of screening, you must specifically address the job ad and state why you are qualified for the position To write a custom cover letter, take the job posting and list the criteria the employer is looking for. Then list the skills and experience you have. Either address how your skills match the job in paragraph form or list the criteria and your qualifications. Also include skill, results and recognition keywords in your cover letter to increase your chances of getting selected for an interview. Write a Personalized Cover Letter When it comes to cover letters, taking the time to get personal is really important. Find out as much as you can about the company and the hiring manager. Personalize your cover letter and, if you can, address it to the individual responsible for hiring. If need be, research online or make a phone call to find out who the hiring manager is. Mention Who You Know If you know someone at the company, mention their name in your cover letter. Name dropping works - your cover letter will get a closer look if it mentions someone who works at the company. That's important both from your perspective and from the employee's, especially if the company has an Employee Referral Program and is eligible for a bonus. As an aside, be sure to ask your contact if they can recommend you for the job and help get your cover letter and resume a closer look from the hiring manager. Mention how you learned about the job in the first paragraph of your cover letter. The company wants to know how the job was sourced, especially when you found the listing on a job board or other site where they paid to post. That sentence can simply say, for example, "I learned of this position from the posting I read on Monster."

5 5 Take it one step further and mention something about the company, from the mission statement on the company web site, for example, in your cover letter. Send an Cover Letter The most important part of sending an cover letter is to follow the employer's instructions. If the job posting says to include your cover letter and resume as an attachment, attach Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files to your message. Save the files with your name, so they don't get mixed up with other applicant's materials i.e. alisondoyleresume.doc, alisondoylecover.doc. Formatting a Cover Letter When the employers requests a cover letter and resume in the body of an message, paste your cover letter and resume into your message. Use a basic font and remove the formatting. Don't use HTML. You don't know what client the employer is using, so, simple is best because the employer may not see a formatted message the same way you do. Don't Forget the Details Be sure to include a Subject Line in your with the position for which you are applying and your name. For example: Alison Doyle, Social Media Manager Position. Include a signature with all your contact information - name, address, phone, and address, so it's easy for the hiring manager to get in touch with you. Send the message to yourself first to test that the formatting works. If everything looks good, resend to the employer.