Writing Cover Letters Made Easy
For every single job posting a company lists, the employer can receive hundreds of applicants. Sometimes there are so many applicants, many resumes and applications are overlooked or never thoroughly reviewed at all. The best introduction to a recruiter and a great way to get your foot in the door is with effective, eye-catching cover letters. Here are tips for successful components of an effective cover letter.
There are a few rules of thumb in writing a good cover letter. The first step is to keep it to one page. Many employers don’t want to take time to read in-depth information. They want to scan quickly to see if the applicant has any unique characteristics for the position they have posted.
Start your cover letters with your contact information. If you have the name of the Hiring Manager, address it to them specifically. Be sure to include the job title and any other reference information that was included in the job posting. The second step is to tailor your cover letters to the specific position you are applying for.
Then you’ll need an introduction. This describes your interest in the position, how it fits into future goals and why you’ll be an asset to the organization. This should be a short paragraph with 2 to 3 sentences.
The tricky part is the next area. Here’s where you have to sell your credentials, taking up as little space as possible. The catch here is to key in on areas of experience and successes that you have that tie directly to the qualifications, experience and requirements listed in the job posting that you are applying for. Responsibilities and successful accomplishments will be intriguing.
The fourth step would be your closing paragraph. Here you thank them for reviewing your qualifications, you look forward to discussing your credentials further, answer any questions they may have and look forward to discussing an opportunity to work in their organization at their earliest convenience. Include the best time that you can be reached. End it with a standard business closure, best regards and your name, and that your resume is attached.
The final phase of creating effective cover letters is to read it to make sure all the details are communicated the way you meant for them to be. Catch and correct any mistakes so that you won’t deliver a letter that has mistakes as this will pretty much immediately eliminate you showing that you don’t have attention to detail and are not thorough. A good rule of thumb is not to mention pay rates expected. Have a relative review it and share their opinions.
By following steps and taking time to carefully portray yourself briefly outlining your experience as it relates to the job, you’ll successfully gain the employers attention. One thing to avoid is repeating things that are contained in the resume. The cover letters should be personalized and unique promoting elements that can’t be uncovered in the resume. If you do this, you will be successful landing a job.