Many people still apply for jobs without sending a cover letter. These half-dressed
applications send the message an applicant is lazy, unprofessional... and not very
interested in the job. Those resumes go right into the trash!
Other applicants send long, rambling cover letters, are too broad, sound canned, or take
on an overly aggressive tone. Those go right into the trash as well!
An effective cover letter has the simple goals of 1) Getting the employer to read your
resume or 2) Getting the employer to ask you for an interview. Preferably both. In order to
achieve such goals a letter should be extremely focused and completely supporting the
job objective listed on your resume.
It can be a complex and time consuming task writing a cover letter for each job you are
applying for. One many choose to have their resume-writer handle. However, in case you
decide to write your own cover letters, here are some tips to help you with that task.
Contact us if you have any questions about these tips, or would like us to write a cover
letter for you. We charge US$39 for your first cover letter (either general or targeting a
specific position), and US$19 for each additional letter to be customized for other positions
you apply for.
A powerhouse cover letter will have three objectives, in the following order:
1. Make a connection to the prospective employer and grab his or her attention. This
could be as simple as referring to where you learned of this position, whether through a
newspaper ad or a personal connection.
In order to grab there attention, try complimenting that manager (if you know something of
his or her background) or the company itself. This will show you have done your
homework, and so long as it isn't exaggerated a bit of strategic personal flattery could help.
2. In the body, you will become as specific as possible, using concrete examples and
hard hitting numbers to convince an employer you are the perfect match for his or her
company. Consider using bullet points to emphasis key ideas and make it easier for a
hiring manager to know what you can do for his or her company. Be sure to start each
bullet with a strong action word as well.
The purpose of the body is to catch an employer's interest so he or she will read your
resume to learn more about your qualifications.
3. The close is your call to action. Conventional cover letter wisdom recommends that
you say something like "I'll call you next week to arrange an interview." Don't write that!
The last thing a busy employer wants is someone calling him on the phone trying to push
his way into an interview.
Instead, close your letter by indicating you are looking forward to hearing from the
employer by a certain time. The invisible deadline works on a subconscious level - the
employer knows you expect a speedy decision.
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