Writing Great Cover Letters

Cover letters are an essential ingredient to your complete résumé package. This is the best opportunity for you to demonstrate your personal character, knowledge of the company and your business writing skills.

The following is a relatively generic format for creating your cover letter. Note that most cover letters are designed to target a specific company or at least a specific industry.

First Paragraph

You must spark the employer's interest. Focus on your unique characteristics, whether they are based on experience or personal traits that will benefit the company. Don't simply restate your résumé objective statement. You must command attention, not simply alert the employer that you are applying for a position (they already know that!).

Second Paragraph

Provide more detail about your professional qualifications or relevant educational background. Highlight your professional accomplishments and/or achievements, not responsibilities. Use active verbs when describing things that you have done and back it up with a statistic or concrete fact when possible. Tailor this paragraph to the position that you are applying for.

Third Paragraph

Demonstrate knowledge of the company, their industry, and the challenges that they may be facing. This is where you connect what the company needs in an employee and the skills that you bring to the table. You want to implicitly show your knowledge of the company without regurgitating something you read on the company's website. Alluding to general industry trends that are affecting the company will let the employer know that you can see the big picture and how your position affects the company's strategy.

Fourth Paragraph

This is the final paragraph of most cover letters. You should demonstrate your confidence and enthusiasm in working at the organization. Be sure to include a call to action, requesting an appointment with the decision maker (using the word appointment over the word interview helps make you sound more confident and professional). It is also recommended that you alert the employer that you will follow up with them, usually one week after sending your résumé package.

John Williamson is a Career Development specialist and a spokesperson for Vision-Resume.com

---

Loving What You Do

Man is a social animal and survival is his major... Read More

Discover What You Really Want To Do

Are you doing what you really want to do or... Read More

How to Pick the Best Career for You: Part 3

Marketing-with-Intent precisely drives you to your target and with greater... Read More

5 Ways to Drastically Improve Your Resume in 10 Minutes of Less

Follow these quick and easy tips to build yourself a... Read More

Should You Lie On Your Resume?

Warning: Lying on your resume could cost you your job... Read More

How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy

Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a... Read More

Acing The Interview

It's no secret that there is a lot of competition... Read More

The 4 Job Search Facts You Need To Know!

Are you harboring bitterness or anger towards your current or... Read More

Resumes, Networking, Headhunters ? Useless Without Marketing Sweet Spot

A career transition is no longer about getting your hands... Read More

4 Tips for Making Successful Job Offers

The interviews are completed, the paperwork is all filled out... Read More

Are You Living Your Career Dreams?

Inherent within the human spirit is a desire for fulfillment,... Read More

How To Conduct A Successful Job Search Campaign

1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most... Read More

Salary Negotiation: How To Earn More Money and Respect From Your Employer

Despite how important fair pay is to most of us,... Read More

Job Search Advice for Desperate Job Seekers

Another morning of job hunting lies ahead of you. You... Read More

Career Strategy When Your Boss is a Bully

Q. Right after I accepted my new position, the manager... Read More

Avoid Potential Job Interview Disasters

There are definitely things that you can do to avoid... Read More

Supplement Your Skills and Improve Your Work Position

It is often said that the majority of people are... Read More

Recovering From a Career Crisis

If you have ever experienced any of the following, you... Read More

How to Prepare for A Performance Appraisal

Performance appraisal should be treated as an ongoing developmental process... Read More

Preparing For An Interview

When preparing for an interview, you need to know your... Read More

Ten Things About Your Career Development

There are some tactics you can action whatever you wish... Read More

Career Tips: How To Start A New Career

These days most people accept that jobs are not for... Read More

Your First Summer Work in the UK - Picking Strawberries The Right Way

Most jobs on farms in the UK involve picking strawberries... Read More

The Career Athlete: What It Takes to Manage Your Career

Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation... Read More

Job Layoff: Confronting Why Me?

Perhaps you saw it coming. The fall in company stock... Read More

Marketing You and Your Career

Imagine if a business invested years into the research, design,... Read More

A Concept That Could Double Youre Income in Mystery Shopping

Do you want to double, or increase significantly you're income... Read More

Career Education Options For Working Adults

Ask yourself this question: "Do I like what I do... Read More

Telephone Job Interview Preparation Tips

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW BACKGROUNDTelephone interviews are quite common in today's job... Read More

The Inevitable Job Interview Question: ?Why Did You Leave (Are Planning To Leave) Your Last Position

This is a question that you can almost count on... Read More

How To Create A Winning Impression In Your New Job

Congratulations! You've just been appointed to your new job. Now... Read More

175 Power Verbs and Phrases for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews

While you're revamping your resume or cover letter or constructing... Read More

Career Moves: Take Charge of Your Life

Every day millions of people let their inner fears stop... Read More