How to Write a Cover Letter

When you send out your resume make sure a cover letter accompanies it. Here are some tips to spruce that cover letter up and reallyt get you noticed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Use high quality paper. You can use regular paper to print out samples so you can make corrections, but the final draft that you will send out should be a high grade paper. It is available in a office store like Office Max or Staples. It might cost more (like a few cents more) but it sends a clear message to the person who will read it and that is you are professional and serious.
2. Your cover letter should be no more than one page in length. You are not writing a novel. Mention how you found out about the company, the position and then write about why you think you are qualified for the job in question. Point out your skills that match what they are looking for and where you used those skills in previous experiences.
3. I recommend always mailing your resume and cover letter via snail mail. To me email seems so impersonal. However a lot of companies today rather receive it via email. When you email your cover letter and resume I recommend you send it either PDF or MS Word format. These are the two most popular document formats. ALSO DON'T FORGET TO ATTACH THE FILES!
4. Address the letter specifically to the person that you are sending the letter to. For example if you know John Jones is responsible for reading your resume, then address it to John Jones, not Human Resources Manager. The job listing doesn't always have this information so you will need to contact the company and ask them for it.
5. Take initiative in the cover letter. In other words tell the person reading it what you plan on doing next. This usually is a line towards the end of the cover letter that reads, "I will contact you on Friday morning to answer any questions that you may have." If that is what you write, then you better call, otherwise they will think you have no follow through. By adding a line like this it shows your commitment to wanting to work there.
6. Each cover letter should be unique to the job you are applying for. John Jones of XYZ company has different needs for an employee than Mary Smith of ABC company. Find out what they are and then tailor your letter for each. Remember you are looking for a career not just a job.
7. PROOF READ!
   
   From my own experiences as someone who conducted interviews, if candidates took the time to just proofread what they wrote, they would almost assuredly double the number of interviews they get. Simple misspellings, bad grammar and the likes are real turn offs. Take the 5 to 10 minutes to read and re-read your cover letter.