Cover Letters
Never send a resume without a cover letter. A cover letter may determine whether or not you get the interview. Never under estimate the power of a good cover letter. Take plenty of time to format and develop your content in your letter.
When organizing your cover letter remember the purpose of the cover letter is to get the potential employer to read your resume. Here are some steps to help you format and develop the perfect cover letter.
1. The first paragraph should explain why you are sending the resume; tell them what position you are applying for. Use job announcement numbers or specific job titles.
2. Tell them how you’ve learned about the position. For example, you saw the opening on their web site, you are answering an newspaper ad ect…. Be specific, give dates, names of website or newspaper. Most employer place ad on more than one site and sometime ads are place in more than one paper. Tell the employer where you saw the opening.
3. After you’ve clarified that information, it’s time the sell yourself. Immediately address how you'll meet the employer's needs. The technique begins your letter with a strong opening sentence that emphasizes the major selling points and skills you'd bring to the job. It offers actions and results -- the winning formula that really has employers taking notice. Convince them to look at your resume, Do this by providing them with your job skills and work experience. Never be afraid to tell them that you have five years experience in the field that they are looking for. Tell them about your college education or any certifications you might have. Make your letter sound excited. Covey your motivation through your words. Use words like “excited” looking forward”
4. The last paragraph should indicate what you would do to follow-up. Tell the when you plan to call and check up on the hiring process.
Things to remember about cover letters:
Never start your cover letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” or "To whom it may concern. "
Call the company and find out the name of the person during the interviewing. Remember the person during the interviewing might not be the person doing the hiring. Your cover letter must be address to the interviewer. He or she will see your resume first. The step will set you apart from most applicants. You are already ahead of the others job seekers.
Don’t waste your space on telling the potential employer that you are a hard worker. Show the you are a hard working by informing them that you increase sales by 50% over last year or tell them that you won the sale award three years straight. By giving the employer facts, this will tell them that your are a high achiever and a hard worker.
Make sure you organize your thought and try to still to one page. Remember the employee will have plenty of cover letters and resume on their desk. So stick to the point and keep it simple. Write the cover letter with an opening paragraph telling why you are writing. Use the second paragraph for fact-filled bullet points that will hold the reader’s interest, and use the closing paragraph to inform the reader about your follow-up potential.
Have two or three people read your cover letter. Listen to their advice make changes if necessary and good luck!
Sample Cover Letters