So What’s the Deal with Cover Letters?
Thank you all for your feedback on Friday’s posting that dealt with resume writing! Stay tuned to the blog this week for answers to your questions and further resume information!
For today’s post, let’s focus on cover letters. While there are some that insist cover letters are useless, there are many (including myself) that will disagree. Every job I ever landed involved a great cover letter. After all, a cover letter is not just a listing of your work experience, education experience and accomplishments. It’s outright informing the employer/client of why you are the best for the job through a short, personally, yet professionally crafted letter or email. Always keep in mind that the cover letter you submit is one of the most important factors considered by employer/client reviewing your application.
You are bound to find tons of information on cover letters on the net, but let me just summarize here for you what makes a great cover letter. When writing the cover letter:
1.) State why you are interested in the job opening (obviously excluding the reason that you want the money and/or new work!) and why you would be a great match.
2.) Make a short list of your skills that are particularly relevant to this job opening.
3.) Provide examples or links to relevant projects you have completed. (And in my experience, you CAN attach files unless the employer/client advises applicants NOT to in their job ad/posting.)
4.) Indicate your availability, as well as the best time and method to contact you.
5.) ALWAYS provide the information asked for in the job posting (some employers/clients will disregard ANY applications that don’t follow what they asked for in the job ad.)
6.) Use clear and polite language, and always do a grammar and spell-check. First impressions really do count!
7.) Avoid TOO LONG of a cover letter - four short paragraphs should do the trick. Short, concise, yet effective cover letters are best.
If you have any additional thoughts, questions, etc. on the COVER LETTER (I realize everyone may have different opinions), be sure to let me know! Stay tuned for more help with resumes (hence GETTING THE JOB YOU WANT) this week!
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The awesome job I have now is a product, I believe, of a great cover letter. It was the best sales job I ever did! That cover letter bordered on cocky, but I wanted a job that would challenge me, and I sure got it!
Rock on Sabrina, that’s awesome!!
Jan 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
[...] of your resume with each objective statement tailored to the job you want. Also keep in mind that a cover letter that accompanies your resume can be used to state your career goals in lieu of the objective [...]