04 Sep 08 Write a Killer Cover Letter
The cover letter can usually seem like dead weight when you’re looking to land a job. After all, a cover letter is basically a single page’s worth of business babble to be filed away by businesses and never seen again. While the cover letter can be all that and less, it’s still better for individuals serious about becoming employed to look at this task as an opportunity rather than a burden. What you do with a cover letter is entirely up to you, and the right attitude will go a long way in writing a cover letter.
Speaking of attitudes, the first thing you want a cover letter to convey is your personal attitude, even though you’re also trying to introduce yourself to a potential employer and set the stage for your resume at the same time. Of course, this is no mean feat when you’re trying to confine the cover letter to one single page in length. Consider the attitude you want to convey from the start, and then set out to write the cover letter in that mindset.
The first parts of a cover letter are simple. Your name, address, and contact information are centered at the top and should be easily visible. The date, as well as the name, title, organization and business address of the person you’re sending the cover letter to goes below that, aligned to the left (as will be the rest of the cover letter). Below that information, open your covering letter with a simple “Dear Mr. or Ms. (last name of your employer here),” as per any normal letter you would send. There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?
After that, you’ll want to open your cover letter with something that will grab the reader’s attention from the start. This attention-grabber is the lead-in for a short paragraph of three to four sentences, in which you establish a connection with your reader, as well as telling the reader what position you’re applying for and where you heard of the employment opportunity. Catching and holding a reader’s interest is a task of the most utmost importance, as a bored reader will quickly move on to something else and you’ll lose your chance. Keep in mind, though, that you need to also show your professionalism and avoid writing anything that may turn the reader off completely.
Now that you’ve established a rapport with your reader and potential employer, it’s time to write the mid-section of the letter. This mid-section should carry on for about one or two short paragraphs at most. Remember, individuals today don’t have much time and the world is a fast-paced place. Traditionally, this mid-section of the cover letter is where you discuss your qualifications, but another quirk of the business world is that you’re not supposed to sum up your resume. Highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job and describe your intangible qualifications, such as enjoying working with people or your love of an intellectual challenge.
The final step that requires serious thought is the last paragraph of your cover letter, where you explain to the reader what you’ll be doing to follow up on your submitted resume and job application (such as contacting your potential employer), or ask that your reader take a specific action (such as contacting you). Always be very clear so that there is no possibility of miscommunication. This section, more than any other part of the cover letter, needs to show you’re as self-confidant and assertive as you can be while still sounding friendly.
When you’ve finished your cover letter, add “Sincerely yours,” leave yourself some space for a signature, add your name, and then the phrase “Enclosure: Resume” at the bottom of the page. Should your cover letter be longer than a single page, go back and edit it until you have everything you need on one page – remember that clear and concise is best. While you may not land this job with your cover letter and might have to write many more, consider each letter a task that brings you one step closer to the job that you really want to have.
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