Cover Letters 101

Back To The Basics Of Writing a Letter to Accompany Your Resume

Mar 10, 2008 Paym Bergson

Ensure your Cover Letter meets the standards! Follow these guidelines.

You've worked hard on your Resume, but what about the Cover Letter? Follow these simple guidelines for a successful Cover Letter - one that gets you that interview.

Read The Ad - Provide Feedback

Make sure you do put in all the qualifications that are listed - assuming you do have them. Recruiters and scanners often filter for those letters with and without the necessary keywords. Do not just list them, but try and use them in explaining why you're a candidate for an interview.

Expand

Your Cover Letter is not to reiterate what's on your Resume, nor to repeat the job advertised. The Cover Letter is used to expand on your Resume, and show how you relate to the job with your skills, experience and ability. In other words, expand on what you can do for the job, and why. Relate your experience back to the job - why it fits, why you are the person for that job!

Think In Terms Of The Company

If your letter is filled with too many "I's" - then it comes across as a braggart without substance. Try to rewrite the sentence from the company's point of view. Think in terms of what can you do for the company, not what the company can do for you. They know this job is a great opportunity for someone, why should they hire you - what will you bring to the company that will help make the company a success?

Tidy It Up

This means ensure the position you are applying for is clearly marked - the best way to do this is to have a RE: line quickly stating the position applied for. Yes, you can (and should) repeat this information in the first paragraph, but having it on its own line before the bulk of your letter ensures the reader knows what job you are applying for, without having to re-read the letter. It also shows you are organized and aware of the reader, not just yourself.

Error Free

Not one error, typo or spelling mistake. Do not just trust your spellchecker - read the letter out loud to yourself. Then have someone else read it over to catch any other potential mistakes - be it in spelling, grammar, or even logic and flow of the letter. Make sure your letter IS set up as a letter - that means with a Date, Opening Address, Salutation, Body, Closing and of course a line regarding any attachments.

Following these simple guidelines will help ensure you do get that interview!

For more information check out this Suite course:

Writing Letters/Resumes

And this article:

Cover Letters and Job Searches

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Write A Winning Cover Letter