The Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters
by
Linda Matias
As a job seeker, you shouldn’t overlook the importance
of a cover letter. If written strategically, a cover letter increases your
chances for consideration, and provides an opportunity to highlight your
individuality.
A cover letter is much more than just a letter stating,
“I read the job announcement in Sunday’s classified, please accept this
letter as an application of interest”. It is a statement that tells the
reader what they can expect from you if hired.
The challenging part of writing a cover letter is
determining what information to include. After all, all the juicy
information was included in the resume. What could you possibly add to the
cover letter that will add substance to your qualifications?
Keep in mind that the resume and cover letter have
different purposes. A resume demonstrates that you can do the job, it
highlights your past accomplishments, while a cover letter points out the
extent to which you match the job requirements for a specific a company
and how you will fit in.
A well-written cover letter gives you an advantage over
your competition because it provides another opportunity to showcase your
experience and qualifications.
Cover letter basics can be mastered by following the
pointers below.
Sell! Sell! Sell!
A cover letter is more than just a business letter; it is a sales letter.
Begin with a strong introduction, layout the benefits you offer, and
establish credibility by showcasing your accomplishments.
Write as you speak.
The cover letter should have a professional conversational tone, but sound
as though a real person wrote it. Many people fall in the trap of using
big word to communicate their message. Instead, write in a straightforward
manner that entices the reader to review the resume. The words you choose
should demonstrate enthusiasm for the position, company and industry.
Write from the reader’s perspective.
Action words should not be reserved for the resume. Begin each sentence
with a power word. Don’t use a passive voice. Avoid starting sentences
with the word “I.” Like the resume, the cover letter’s focus is on the
hiring company, and beginning too many sentences with “I” puts the
spotlight too much on you.
Don’t rehash your resume.
Be creative when presenting your qualifications and accomplishments. You
don’t want to bore the reader by simply repeating the information you
included in your resume. Find different ways to communicate the same
message. The best way to do this is by selecting
three to five major selling points and highlighting them in the body of
the cover letter. Doing so will entice the reader to do more than just
glance at your resume.
Ask for an interview.
Be proactive. In the last paragraph tell the reader that you will be
contacting him or her to setup a meeting time. After all, the purpose of
applying for a job is to be invited in for an interview, so don’t be shy,
go for it.
You should use every tool at your disposal to secure an
interview. Targeted cover letters add to your portfolio of qualifications
and deserve as much consideration as a resume.
Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a
wealth of experience to the career services field. She has been sought out
for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search
strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of
times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com.
She is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers’
Association. Visit her website at
http://www.careerstrides.com/ or email her at
linda@careerstrides.com.
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