  
Cover Letters Tips
Job seekers often
spend countless hours developing their resumes and then treat their
cover letters as an afterthought. This can be a critical mistake;
the cover letter can help your resume get noticed.
Think of the cover
letter as your résumé's cheerleading section. To make the best
impression, follow these etiquette rules:
Say No
to the Cover Letter Cop-Out
The first rule of
cover letter etiquette is to send a cover letter -- always. It
doesn't matter if the hiring manager didn't ask for it or you're too
busy to write one. It's proper business etiquette to accompany a
resume with a cover letter, and it gives you the opportunity to help
sell yourself for the position.
Be Concise
Busy hiring managers
don't have time to wade through letters that could pass for
dissertations. Get to the point as expeditiously as possible, and
break any paragraphs seven lines or longer into short, easily
digestible ones.
When emailing your
cover letter, brevity is even more important. The nature of email
calls for concise communication, in part because it's harder to read
on screen than on paper. However, don't fall prey to the one-line
cover letter that some job seekers try to pass off. It goes
something like this: “Please see attached resume, and thank you for
your time and consideration.” You should be able to write a
convincing cover letter in a few brief paragraphs.
Keep It Professional But Friendly
While a resume is
generally a formal document, cover letters give you a chance to
reveal your personality. Not only do you want to show that you're a
good fit for the position, but you also want the reader to like you.
Appropriate use of humor, combined with a friendly and professional
tone, can help endear you to the hiring manager.
Get Personal
Whenever
possible, address your letter to a specific person. If a job posting
doesn't include a person's name, do some research to find out who
the correct person is. Try calling the employer (but do respect ads
that state “no phone calls”), and ask a receptionist for the hiring
manager's name. Keep the salutation professional by using “Dear Mr.
Jones,” not “Dear Jim.”
Focus on the Employer's Needs
If every other
sentence of your letter begins with “I” or “my,” you need to change
the focus. Research the employer and find out what types of problems
managers there are facing, qualities they look for in employees and
their future goals. Then use your letter to prove that you are the
answer to their problems. The most compelling letters demonstrate
what you can do for the employer, not what the employer can do for
you.
Be Original
Your cover letter
will stand out if you employ some creativity. For example, you could
include a brief summary of your toughest sale or most challenging
project. You could incorporate excerpts of performance reviews to
highlight your record of success. Or, you could create two columns
in your letter to demonstrate precisely how you meet the employer's
requirements:
Your ad specifies…
Five years' experience direct sales |
…and I deliver…
Six years of sales budget achievement in
direct sales |
Proofread
Cover letters should
be free of errors, so thoroughly proofread them before sending. If
proofreading is not your strong suit, get help from someone with
meticulous proofreading skills. If you're customizing a cover letter
that you use for many positions, remove any placeholders; this will
prevent embarrassing errors such as “I would be delighted to be your
next
.” And one last tip: whatever you do,
please spell the hiring manager's name correctly.
Following cover
letter etiquette can be time intensive, but the reward is worth it:
More calls for interviews and a greater chance of securing a new
position.
How to out it all together
Today’s date
Your addressee’s name
Professional title
Organization name
Mailing address
City, state and zip
Dear Mr. (or Ms.) last name,
Start your letter with a grabber—a statement that establishes a
connection with your reader, a probing question, or a quotable
quote. Briefly say what job you are applying for.
The mid-section of your letter should be one or two short
paragraphs that make relevant points about your qualifications.
You should not summarize your resume! You may incorporate a column
or bullet point format here.
Your last paragraph should initiate action by explaining what you
will do next (e.g., call the employer) or instigate the reader to
contact you to set up an interview. Close by saying “thank you.”
Sincerely yours,
Your handwritten signature
Your name (typed)
Enclosure: resume
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