How to Sell Yourself in a Cover Letter

With hundreds of other applicants possibly applying for the same position, you must sell yourself with a just a quick first impression. Often, your only introduction is your cover letter, which must convince the reader to look at your resumé and schedule an interview.

Things You'll Need

• Resumé

Instructions

Use Your Cover Letter to Sell Yourself

1. Plan your letter before you write it. Research the company, finding out everything you can about the open position. Then make a list of the top reasons you are the best candidate for the job. Incorporate this information in your cover letter.

2. Address the cover letter to the proper person, even if it is not mentioned in the job notice. This proves you are serious about the position and have already taken an extra step to obtain it. You can often obtain the name of your contact person just by calling the company in question directly.

3. Personalize each cover letter you send out. While you might work from a basic form letter, spend a few minutes adding details that pertain to each specific position. You'll need to convince the reader you researched the job and company before applying.

4. Let your personality shine through. Highlight your individual experiences that make you the best candidate, while creating a sense of familiarity. While the letter should remain a professional business letter, it should not read overly formal.

5. Catch the reader's attention in the first paragraph. With a boring introduction, the reader will probably move on to the next application, and you'll never get a chance to sell yourself. Speak about the company or job in the first few lines and move on to how you are uniquely qualified.

6. Add details to your cover letter that may not be immediately evident from your resumé. Also, highlight your major accomplishments if they directly relate to the job. Don't just summarize your resumé, but add specific details or anecdotes.

7. Avoid overusing the word "I," especially as the first word of the sentence. Not only should you use a variety of sentence openers, but you should also not appear overly self-centered. Shifting the focus to the company at times shows that you not only want the job, but that you have already given thought to how to perform it effectively.

8. Keep it short. Rambling on or providing too much information makes you seem unfocused or unconfident. A well-constructed single page, composed of 3 to 5 paragraphs, will sell your abilities to the hiring manager without becoming tedious.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover letters for grants, school applications and other purposes may be constructed slightly differently, but the basic tips for selling yourself still apply.

• Use industry buzzwords and key terms. Many larger companies use software that scans each cover letter and resumé to screen applicants.