Many job seekers are aware of the importance of a well-constructed, properly formatted resume, but they often forget the resume’s equally essential counterpart, the cover letter. Viewing the cover letter as an important resume accessory, tailored to each job position you apply for, will greatly improve your chances of getting an employer’s attention.
What is a Cover Letter?
Your cover letter is your introduction to your resume. It gives an employer a reason to consider you for a position even before getting to your resume. It’s also an ideal place to showcase any experience or skill that, for one reason or another, was not included on your resume. An applicant with limited work experience can often use a cover letter to stress relevant life experience to compensate.
Basic Cover Letter Format
Whether you’re inquiring about a job position via email or postal mail, you should format your cover letter as you would any other standard business letter with the company’s full contact information as well as your own at the top. Your letter should be single spaced, aligned left and have an extra space between paragraphs. Keep your cover letter to one page. The ideal cover letter is between two and three paragraphs long and contains four parts, the salutation, opening, body and conclusion. Be professional and use spell check.
Salutation
You should make every attempt to address your cover letter to a specific person. If you’re unsure, call the company and ask who is in charge of hiring. Verify the correct spelling and whether to use Mr., Mrs., or Ms., as many names aren’t always gender specific. Place a colon and not a comma after the name.
Opening
In just a couple of sentences, tell your intended recipient which position you’re applying for. Explain whether you’re responding to a specific job posting or if you were referred by someone. Doing a bit of research beforehand gives you a better understanding of what the company does and what skills you have to contribute. Find a way to identify with the company, but don’t overdo it. A good cover letter will leave information to be discussed at the interview.
Body
Here’s where you briefly explain your qualifications. Don’t repeat what’s already on your resume, however. Summarize your basic skills, experience and background or provide details on relevant work, school or personal projects that were not listed on your resume. Specifically address the needs of the company. Tell them how your knowledge and experience will be an asset to their business.
The body of your cover letter also allows you to explain any gaps in work history or any other problems that may exist on your resume. However, don’t volunteer any negative information. Your cover letter should maintain a positive, upbeat tone throughout.
Closing
Conclude your cover letter by thanking the recipient and requesting an interview at their earliest convenience. Let the recipient know you will be calling in a few days to follow up and then make sure you call. This aggressive tactic ensures you’ll stay fresh in the employer’s mind and helps you stand out among other applicants.
Remember, chances are, each job you apply for will have different skills and experience requirements. For this reason, it’s important to customize your cover letter every time you apply for a job position. If you don’t feel confident in your writing skills to prepare your own cover letter you can ask a friend for help. You could also hire a resume writer to prepare your resume and cover letter for you.
Susan Barton - Susan Barton writes articles, Web content and more. Please visit her at http://www.lovesleftovers.com and ...
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