Cover Letters

How to Write a Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter often seems like a particularly daunting task. However, if you take it one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing cover letters to send with your resume.

A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out. Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and having your resume ignored, so it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective cover letters.

A cover letter should complement, not duplicate, your resume. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual resume and add a personal touch. A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression.

There are three general types of cover letters:

• The application letter which responds to a known job opening
• The prospecting letter which inquires about possible positions
• The networking letter which requests information and assistance in your job search 

Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each purpose outlined above as well as for each position you seek. Do not design a form letter and send it to every potential employer (you know what you do with junk mail!).

Effective cover letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences (remember, relevance is determined by the employer's self-interest). They should express a high level of interest and knowledge about the position.

How to Write a Cover Letter

How to write a cover letter for a job application. Tips on how to write an effective cover letter to apply for a job.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: One Hour

Here's How:

1. Take the time to write a targeted cover letter for each employer. This means customizing each cover letter you write, so it specifically relates your skills to the job you are applying for:
   
2. State why you are writing, indicating your interest in the job:
   
3. State where you learned of the position and the title of the position you are applying for. This way the person reading your cover letter will know which job you are interested in.
4. Explain the reasons for your interest in the organization. Let the cover letter reviewer know why you are interested in the company.
5. Express your enthusiasm for the job.
6. Identify your most relevant skills and experiences. Don't just duplicate your resume. Rather, include the skills that most match the job.
7. Refer to the qualifications for the position and illustrate how your abilities relate.
8. Communicate your interest, motivation, and strengths.
9. Emphasize your achievements.
10. Indicate how you will follow-up, typically with a phone call or an email. Thank the company for their consideration.

Tips:

1. Avoid cliches and meaningless or wordy expressions.
2. Your cover letter should complement, not duplicate your resume.
3. Your cover letter is often the first contact with an employer, make sure it creates a good impression.
4. Take the time to target your cover letter to the job you are applying for.

What You Need

• Word processing software
• Spell checker and grammar checker
• Cover letter samples to review

Writing Targeted Cover Letters

What does it take for your resume and cover letter to make an impact when the employer has received hundreds of resumes for the position you have applied for? I've spoken to employers who receive hundreds of resumes for every position they list on a major job site like Monster or CareerBuilder. It seems like an almost impossible task to weed through them to find the best candidates to interview.

Making the Cut

Employers do manage to reduce the pool of cover letters and resumes to a manageable number. How they do it can give you some insight in to how to write cover letters that will make the cut. Because, if your cover letter doesn't pass muster, your resume won't even get a look.

If your cover letter and resume aren't perfect they most likely will end up in the reject pile. And perfect means perfect - there should not be any typos or grammatical errors.

Employers typically won't even consider a candidate that they cannot see is qualified at first glance. That first glance at your cover letter is your one opportunity to make a good impression and make it to the next round.

Targeted Cover Letters

It's certainly easier to write generic or blanket cover letters than it is to write a cover letter specifically targeted to each position you apply for. However, if you don't invest the time in writing cover letters you're probably not going to get the interview, regardless of your qualifications.

Here are some suggestions on how to write cutting edge cover letters that work:

Make a Match

This one takes some time and effort and it's not always easy, but, it's important. Take the job posting and list the criteria the employer is looking for. Then list the skills and experience you have. Either address how your skills match the job in paragraph form or list the criteria and your qualifications.

Sample Job Posting

BOX OFFICE MANAGER. Conduct, oversee subscription and ticket sales for events. Generate and maintain reports, perform accounting activities related to box office revenue, oversee operations. Requires customer service skills and accounting experience.

Cover Letter Example 1: Paragraph

As Box Office Assistant for the Light Opera Company I was responsible for customer service, ticketing patrons, and generating and maintaining box office reports. In addition, I maintained records and accounting reports for all box office transactions.

Cover Letter Example 2: List

Box Office Manager Requirements:

• Conduct, oversee subscription and ticket sales for events
• Generate and maintain reports, perform accounting activities
• Customer service skills and accounting experience

My Skills and Experience:

• Box office management including ticketing, maintenance of records and ticket database management
• Maintain and generate reports
• Box office accounting transaction and reporting
• Customer service, seating, and ticketing patrons

As you can see, in both cases, the candidate has written a detailed cover letter that should pass the first screening. In order to pass that screening, you must specifically address the job ad and state why you are qualified for the position.

Given this competitive job market, it is critically important to target your cover letter and your resume. That way the employer knows exactly why you are qualified for the position and why they should consider you for an interview.

The Right Stuff - Or Not? What to do if you don't have the right stuff? It's a certainty that the person with ten years of child care experience, and no computer experience, who applied for an Oracle programmer position at a colleague's company won't get an interview. I hate to sound pessimistic, but, if your qualifications don't come close to matching the criteria for the job, I would save your time and the company's time and not apply. In most cases, there are too many qualified candidates whose cover letter and resume will make the cut.

Instead, focus on applying for jobs you do qualify for and spend some time gaining the additional skills or education (volunteer, take a class, etc.) you need to prepare to apply for positions that are a rung or two up the ladder.