The cover letter can be one of the most daunting tasks of the job search, especially since you should customize it to each opportunity you apply for. Nowadays, most cover letters are sent in the form of emails which make them slightly different from the print versions of the past. Here are a few things that you should make sure your cover letter includes before you hit send.
Personalization – Be sure to include the name of the person you are sending it to. Don’t know? In the age of the internet, that’s not an excuse! Hit the search engines or call the company to find out the name of the person who does the hiring.
Detail – Don’t just put your resume in paragraph form. Give them something more. Let them know what sets you apart from other candidates. Share a quick story about an achievement you made or explain how you use certain skill sets in your day-to-day work. The goal is to give them a more complete picture of you as a person.
Enthusiasm – Your cover letter should be professional, but that doesn’t mean you can’t express the many reasons why you are interested in the position and your field. Explain why the position is the perfect match for you, as well as why you are a perfect match for the position.
Sincerity – It can be tempting to simply throw together some generic accolades and hit send, but consider it from the reader’s end. Every other cover letter reads the same. Instead, find something specific or personal to say about the position or the company.
Brevity – A cover letter that is too long won’t be read. In fact, even if you write a short one, it will likely be skimmed. You can help to keep things easy to read by using bullet points and making your paragraphs short.
Contact Information – Yes, they obviously now have your email address, but it is customary to include a phone number as well. A formal header is not always necessary via email.
A Good Email Subject – If you submit a job posting to any major website, you’re bound to receive dozens of applicants within a few hours. Often, you simply start from the top and work until you find enough qualified applicants to interview. How can you increase your chances of being one of these applicants? Write a subject line that will catch their eye. Instead of simply listing the job title, use this as another opportunity to sell your skills.
Links – Do you have a professional website that showcases your past work? What about a Linked In account? Or maybe a Twitter feed related to the industry? Never share personal websites or profiles, but anything that shows that you are active and engaged in your field can help put you ahead of the rest.
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I like these. I'd also suggest to job seekers to gauge the tone/culture of the company and structure the cover letter in a way that speaks directly to the personality of the company. If you can push it a little with humor and/or irreverance? I'd go for it. Certainly the name of the game is setting yourself apart in today's job market. Don't err on the side of goofball, but if it's a fun, energetic company, for heavens sakes, don't throw a droll, boring cover letter their way!
Lora Stokes
Thanks for sharing. Cover letters always seem to be a great mystery. The tips you have shared are very useful and I will be sure to put them to good use!!!
Markfscpa
Thanks for the assistance! Too often I've "cut and pasted" a letter without giving it more concern.-Mark
Anvourl
I think nowadays, cover letter should be extremely short.
When you get to the selling part - you know - outlining your skills and knowledge against the selection criteria my suggestion for an introductory sentence in this part of your letter is "To enable you to evaluate my suitability for this role, following is a summary of my skills, experience and qualifications" Then insert underlined headings which directly relate to the selection criteria with your supporting dot points under each heading. The reader can then see at a glance how you relate to their requirements.
Though some may contend that your suggestions are obvious, many is the time when those are exactly the points that job seekers neglect. Thank you from us all for a salient post.
thanks for the great tips, i'll be sure to implement them soon.
Finding the hiring manager is a little more tricky than a web search or a call to the company, Where I used to work, we were not allowed to disclose other staff member information. This is where your LinkedIn contacts can be very helpful!
