Writing a Cover Letter
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About Writing a Cover Letter
Hiring managers routinely receive responses from hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of applicants for any given job.
To avoid having your resume sink in this sea of paper, it's imperative
that, when writing your cover letter, you make it stand out from
the crowd and create a good first impression.
A compelling cover letter that follows the five essential rules
below will convince a hiring manager to read your resume.
Rule #1: Cover Letter and Resume Appearance
Your cover letter and resume must be aesthetically pleasing and
consistent in appearance. Use the same fonts and name and contact
heading in each. Print both on a high-quality printer and the same
paper, such as 20 lb, white, bond paper. Always use standard letter-size
paper. When snail-mailing your resume and cover letter, use an
envelope that matches the paper for a professional look.
Rule #2: Target Your Audience
A cover letter with a salutation of "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To
Whom it May Concern" has about the same appeal as junk mail
with a salutation of "Dear Occupant".
Instead, write the job contact's name in the salutation of your
cover letter and address it to same. If the contact's name isn't
provided in the job posting, call the HR department and ask to
whom to address your cover letter. You can likely find the phone
number on the company's Website, if not in the local phone directory.
Rule #3: Create a Strong Opening
When writing your cover letter, a dynamic opening paragraph is
essential to capture and retain a hiring manager's interest. Pare
it down to basics for a quick and effective read, by including
a reference to the position you seek and a brief statement as to
why you are qualified for the job.
Always place emphasis on what you can do for the company when
writing your cover letter, while also providing quantifiable proof.
Rule #4: Showcase Your Accomplishments
Include bullet lists (•) to emphasize your accomplishments that
are pertinent to the job. Not only does this break up large blocks
of text that a hiring manager might find daunting, but it also
draws his or her eye towards the most important part of your cover
letter: what you can do for the company.
Rule #5: Create a Proactive Closing
A proactive closing indicates that you will call within a few
days to schedule an interview. To wait for a hiring manager to
take that first step is to risk losing the opportunity to another
candidate.
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