How To Write a Cover Letter

Writing a good cover letter is just as important, if not more so than writing a resume. Many employers look at a cover letter first before deciding whether they want to read a resume, so if the cover letter isn't good, your resume won't even get read! Think of your cover letter as a brief advertisement for you that summarizes what skills and experience you possess that would be useful to the employer.

The first thing you need to do is research the organization and if you are applying for a specific opening, then find out what is expected. Now that you've got that information, you'll want the cover letter to make it sound like you are a perfect match. While you may have achieved certain things that are impressive, if they are irrelevant to the organization or position being applied to, then you should probably leave it off. Since you have limited space (a cover letter should be no longer than one page), you should stick to what skills and experience you have that is most relevant.

If possible, find the name of the manager of the department you want to work for. If you don't have connections, then you'll probably have to call the HR department to get this. You should include your address in the top right hand corner. A few lines below that, enter the date. Then a few lines below that, enter the name of the person you are addressing and the company's address.

Begin your letter by addressing a specific person. This personalizes the letter, making it much more effective than "to whom it may concern". In the first paragraph, briefly explain why you are writing. Don't use "I wish to apply for...", because too many people use it and you want your cover letter to stand out. Think about the advertisements you remember most. It's probably because they were a little different from other ads. It's actually a good idea to make your cover letter have some originality, especially if you know a lot of people are applying for the job.

In the next paragraph or two, you want to describe your qualifications and how they match with the requirements of the employer. Right it from the perspective of what you can do for them and be enthusiastic. This is where you really want to wow the reader by highlighting just what it is that makes you perfect for the job and/or organization.

Your last paragraph should be brief and include a call to action. Typically, you should request that they read your resume, and ask them to get in touch.

Finish the letter with "Yours Sincerely". Now proofread it carefully, to make sure it sounds professional, that the tone and style are appropriate for the position and organization, and that there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Even one seemingly small error can make the difference between your resume getting read or not.

You should also make sure that your resume matches the information in the cover letter closely. Good luck with your job search!