How to Build a Cover Letter

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Pat Goodwin with PatGoodwinandAssociates.com, and today we're going to talk about how to build a cover letter. And when you think about building a cover letter, there are components to that cover letter that are extremely important for you to remember. A cover letter can screen you in or out. If you're attaching a cover letter along with a resume, if you're sending a cover letter based on a business proposal, there are some of the basic - same basic components that you'd want you to take into consideration. I would encourage you to take a look at what do you want to say in this cover letter, who is it going to, and what's the point or the purpose of sending a cover letter. The cover letters that I like best also have the name, your name, your address and your contact information at the top of the page, just like you would have a resume. And then once you've completed that, you would have to the top left, the date, the correct date, the name of the person that you're sending the cover letter to, or the department, if you don't know the name of the person. It could be human resource department, the name of the company, accurate address, or e-mail address if you're e-mailing it. And then you would have possibly the purpose of your letter, if you are sending the letter to a job number is an example. You might put job number three five two one four, and then if you do not know the name of the person, I would encourage you to say dear human resource professional, colon. If you know the name of the person I would go ahead and use a formality of dear Ms Jones, or dear Mister Jones. Go ahead and use the formality, they will appreciate that you've gone to the trouble to think about that. The first paragraph of a letter is about the company. If you look at many, many letters and examples, they all start each paragraph with the letter or the letter I. Not the letter I, the word I. You want to not have many statements on your cover letter starting with I. So let's do something unique and creative. Think about dear Mister Jones. ABC Company is an outstanding organization, having been recognized for ... ABC Company is a company that is of strong interest to me or great interest to me, due to your products and the quality of products that you've developed. Say something about the company, most people immediately start the cover letter with I am applying... or I am writing to you... say something about the company. The second company would be Susan Smith referred me to you with the hope of having an informational interview. Or, Doug Arnold referred me to you in hopes that we would be able to sit down and explore opportunities within your company. I still haven't said I. The second paragraph would be my experience in the area of ... is directly supportive of the type of position that you're looking to fill. Or if we used an I in the second paragraph we do say the position posted for product specialist too, is of great interest to me. I believe that my experience and expertise would be of value to your organization. And then bullet two or three statements about why you believe you would be an excellent fit. Then the last sentence would be, or the last paragraph would be I would appreciate the opportunity to visit with you personally, thank you for your strong consideration. Best regards, and the name of - your name, a space to sign if you can sign it, if not, just your name. And that's how I would build a cover letter."