How to Make a Cover Letter Stand Out
A cover letter provides a quick summary of your qualifications and skills. In most cases, it's your opportunity to persuade the hiring manager to read your resume. Focusing on the employer's needs and including information that most closely matches the job description will get your closer to securing an interview.
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Instructions
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Specify the position of interest. A hiring manager might be filling several positions at the same time. Don't make her guess which position you're applying to. The first paragraph of the letter should indicate where you heard about the position and which position you're applying to. For example, you might say after reading the Sunday paper, you were excited to learn of the company's need for a new sales associate.
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Quickly highlight your background. The second paragraph of the cover letter should show the manager why you're a good fit for the position. Call out your education and experience that most closely relates to the position. Get specific about your experience and success. For example, if you increased sales by 45 percent over two months, explain this in the cover letter.
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Discuss information the hiring manager requested. If a hiring manager asks for specific information, such as salary requirements or the date you're available, include it. Omitting this information could frustrate the hiring manager and land your cover letter at the bottom of the stack.
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Create a call to action. The final paragraph of your cover letter needs to motivate the hiring manager to act. For example, you might ask for an opportunity to meet to discuss the company's needs further. You can also tell the employer what you plan on doing next. For example, you might say that you will follow up in a week to answer questions about your resume and provide additional information.
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Tips & Warnings
Let your personality show in the cover letter. If you're an enthusiastic person, weave this into the cover letter. This will leave an impression with the reader and motivate them to contact you to discuss the position further.
Don't forget to get help proofreading. Even if you've proofread your cover letter dozens of times, it's still possible to miss errors. Ask a co-worker or family member for help proofreading. Getting an outside set of eyes will help you catch embarrassing errors that could cost you the job.
