What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume in response to an advertised position. It is a letter of introduction that highlights your key achievements and entitles you for a job opening. A cover letter should be tailored to different jobs, different employers. Few employers seriously consider a resume that is not accompanied by a cover letter. Cover letters are typically one-page documents.
What is the purpose of a Cover Letter?
A cover letter reflects your communication skills and your personality. The main purpose of this document is to introduce you in such an interesting manner that the reader will not only continue reading your resume but also be willing to call you in for an interview.
Why is a Cover Letter so important?
A cover letter tells the employer the type of position you are seeking, and exactly how you are qualified for that position. It also tells the hiring manager what caused you to apply: whether an advertisement, the recommendation of a friend who works there, or your own research, etc. This information tells the hiring manager how well you know the firm and position. This alone can encourage the employer to keep reading.This is the first document the reader views, and if it fails to captivate interest your resume might not be viewed at all.Get your resume and cover letter prepared (or edited) at highly affordable prices by our resume and cover letter writing services. Submit your information online and receive your perfect resume and cover letter within 2-3 days.
Cover Letter Writing Tips
*Make your cover letter brief and simple
*Be direct and natural
*Mention the position you are applying for
*Explain how you learned of the position
*Write why you are a perfect candidate for the position
*Propose a meeting
*Tailor your cover letter to different readers
No spelling or typing errors. Not even one.
Address it to the person who can hire you. Resumes sent to the personnel department have a tougher time of it. If you can find out (through networking and researching) exactly who is making the hiring decision, address the letter to that person. Be sure the name is spelled correctly and the title is correct. A touch of formality is good too: address the person as "Mr.," "Ms.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Dr.," or "Professor." (Yes, life is complicated.)
Write it in your own words so that it sounds like you--not like something out of a book. (Electra gets in trouble with libraries when she says things like this.) Employers are looking for knowledge, enthusiasm, focus.
Being "natural" makes many people nervous.
Show that you know something about the company and the industry. This is where your research comes in. Don't go overboard--just make it clear that you didn't pick this company out of the phone book. You know who they are, what they do and you have chosen them!
Use terms and phrases that are meaningful to the employer. (This is where your industry research and networking come in.) If you are applying for an advertised position, use the requirements in the ad and put them in BOLD type.
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