General Resume Cover Letter Guide
Posted by admin on 04/29/08 in Writing
Cover letters are like the table of contents for your resume. Employers like to see what they can expect from you before even looking at the resume. By knowing how to write a good cover letter you will position yourself in the front running for a job.
When you are writing a cover letter you have to keep in mind that it
is an introduction to your resume and you are trying to get the
employer to give you a call for an interview. Here are the main things
you need to include in a Cover letter.
First off, you need to begin a cover letter with the correct
information of the person doing the hiring. This would include their
name, specific title, company name and complete address. For example:
April 13,2008 Mr. John Doe HR manager Acme Company 123 Happy street City, State 90210
Once you have the correct information for the cover letter heading
you move into the Greeting of the Cover letter. This part is exactly
what it means-a salutation or greeting to the person responsible for
making the hiring decision. For Example.
Dear Mr. John Doe:
The first paragraph you write should accomplish two goals: make a
connection and grab attention. Here is where you tell the employer
where you heard about the open position, by doing so you are making a
connection. You are also providing feedback, since they like to know
what marketing method worked. For Example.
I am responding to the graphic designer position advertised in the Chicago Tribune.
By the way, this is one of the only times you start off a paragraph
with “I” the cover letter is specifically tailored to the reader, so
you use “you,”"your,” and “you’re” as much as possible. Next is
grabbing the employer’s Attention. Not surprisingly, one of the best
ways to grab an employer’s attention is by complimenting their company.
So you try a bit of strategic personal flattery…
I understand your company is a pioneer in the direct mail marketing industry.
Not only are you tooting their horn, you’re showing him that you did
your homework on the company. The body of the cover letter is where you
get downright ruthless…because you’re going to convince the employer
that you’re a perfect fit for their company. In the body you will
answer the questions that the employer will have about you.
“Why should I hire You?”
“What makes you stand out from all the rest?”
By answering these questions, you talk about how your strong,
related skills qualify you for the position. Keep in mind that you
should highlight the skills and capabilities that are most important to
the employer. By doing so, the body becomes an interest builder. It
induces the employer to look at your resume to learn even more about
your qualifications.
Now that you have sold yourself to the employer, you need them to do
something about it. The close of the cover letter is where you get the
employer to make a call of action. Here is an example.
At your convenience, I look forward to speaking with you early
next week. I am available for interviews Monday through Friday between
3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
That’s it. Powerful… Simple… and straight to the point.
The appropriate way to end the letter is with a “Sincerely,”
“Sincerely Yours,” or “Yours Truly,” Don’t sound like you are desperate
and don’t try to get cute or creative. Well, there you have it That is
how you should write a resume cover letter.
In Summary
If you payed close attention, it really isn’t that hard to write an
effective resume cover letter. A very good note to remember is to keep
the cover letter to one page , anything more than that you should trim
the fat off. Good Luck in your Job Search!
If you need help in writing a professional looking cover letter or resume head on over to shibaresumes.com Or if you already have a resume you can Post if for FREE at HotResumes.com
About the author
professional, entry-level, and recent graduate resume and cover
letters. His clients have had an incredible successful interview
landing rate of 100%. If you are in need of a professional resume
writing service you can find his services at http://www.shibaresumes.com
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