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Some things in life just go together. You wouldn´t eat peanut butter without jelly, popcorn without butter or mashed potatoes without gravy. And you should never send out a resumé without a cover letter.
There is an art to writing effective cover letters. Cover letters are situation-dependent, meaning they must be individually written to have the most impact and generate the most response. Here are a few tips to help you write outstanding cover letters that put you one step closer to getting your dream job.
- Short is sweet. There is nothing worse than reading a cover letter that goes on and on. As with resumés, cover letters are judged on their effectiveness in less than 20 seconds. Limit yourself to five or six paragraphs. Resumé and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed author, Kevin Donlin, suggests "an introductory paragraph, three bullet points to prove your skills and elicit curiosity and a strong closing paragraph."
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- Put a little personality on the page. Arelen Hirsch, Career Journal writer, says that cover letters should be interesting and relevant to the employer while including pertinent facts about your candidacy. The key is to avoid going overboard. William Frank, president and CEO of Denver-based career strategy firm CareerLab, cautions against portraying the wrong personality in your cover letter. "Don´t send a really hot, aggressive letter if you´re introverted and laid-back," he says. "You´ll have trouble following up on the letter, and you may not come across well."
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- Reel them in hook, line and sinker. Getting an interview for a job rests on your ability to draw the hiring manager or human resources manager into your cover letter. Why should they be interested in you? Why would they be crazy not to call you for an interview after reading your cover letter? To do that, you must differentiate yourself. This can be done by giving credibility to your skills by writing in a results-oriented way. Show how you have helped increase revenue or streamlined processes that have saved money in your current company. Broadcast your knowledge of the company´s particular needs by showing how you are prepared to address them should you be hired. It always helps to show that you have done your research. Whatever you write, tailor your comments to the employer´s needs.
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- Leave them wanting more. In show business, you are to always leave the audience wanting more. The same rings true with a cover letter. Your objective is to get an interview. After reading your cover letter, the reader should want to contact you to learn more about you and your particular skills and talents. Include a time when you will call to discuss their needs and how you can help meet them. Take the proactive role and initiate contact, and keep your word. If you say you will call Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., honor that. At this point, all you have is your word and you must make good on it. Your cover letter represents you to the company so make sure you are representing yourself in the best light.
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Writing effective cover letters is not rocket science. These guidelines can help you create a cover letter that separates you from the flock.
Cover Letter Success Tips
- Communicate a clear purpose
- Link your goals with needs of the letter recipient
- Aviod dull, boring and uninspiring content
- Look professional in form, structure and design
- Eliminate spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors
- Uses proper language and active sentence structures
- Aviod an overly aggressive, boastful or obnoxious tone
- Appear job or employer-centered rather than self-centered
- Clarify your interests, skills, accomplishments and goals
- Include adequate contact information
- Double-check contact's name and address where the letter is to be sent
- Print on high-quality, attractive paper
- Distribute appropriately as a unique letter to multiple recipients
- Include a follow-up statement at the end
- Follow-up within one week with a telephone call
- Type or computer generate letters rather than handwrite
- Use appropriate stationery and envelope size
- Write several types of job search letters for different job search
situations
Cover letter writing tip:
Cover letters are the icing on a great resumé. They provide a personal glimpse at the job applicant in a way that a resumé cannot. Cover letters are often read first by hiring managers and human resources staff when applicants submit a resumé and cover letter. As with resumés, having an outstanding cover letter is crucial to opening the door to job opportunities.
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