Most job seekers understand the value and importance of a well-organized resume but spend far less energy on crafting a strong cover letter. What they fail to realize is that resumes and cover letters go hand-in-hand. Employers are very busy and receive hundreds of resumes leaving little time for individual review. Submitting a thoughtful and well-written cover letter can help you outshine your competition and get you one step closer to an interview. Don’t let the energy you’ve spent on developing the perfect resume go to waste by failing to deliver an effective cover letter. Here we offer some tips to help you craft the perfect cover letter that will get you noticed:
A cover letter is
basically a sales letter. You are trying to motivate a specific action -
an invitation for an interview. In addition to reinforcing the key
skills and experience you reference in your resume, a cover letter
provides you with the opportunity to:
Avoid using generic or
mass produced cover letters. Each cover letter should be customized for
each individual employer and include a statement about why you are
attracted to the position and company.
Before you begin writing your letter, learn as much as you can about the
potential employer. The more you know about an organization, the better
you can tailor your cover letter to the firm's needs. Visit the firm's
website and scan industry publications so you are up to speed on recent
news about the company.
Remember, you want to express what you can do for the employer, not what
they can do for you. A cover letter must highlight aspects of your
experience that are most useful to the potential employer, and you can
earn points for knowing what those aspects are.
Often times a job
listing does not include the name of the hiring manager. Never begin a
cover letter with "to whom it may concern" or “dear hiring manager.” A
generic salutation often signals to potential employers that you lack
the initiative to locate the appropriate contact.
Instead, call the company directly and explain the position you are
applying for to see if you can fill in the blank or take time to
research on the internet or in appropriate business periodicals to get
the name and title of the hiring official.
The smallest grammatical error on your part can call your professionalism and attention to detail into question thereby discouraging a hiring manager from contacting you for an interview. Always spell-check your document and ask friends and family members to proof read your letter before sending it to any potential employer.
In addition to
expressing gratitude for the hiring manager's time and interest, close
your letter by outlining your next steps. Be proactive by stating when
you will contact him or her to follow up. And don't forget to include a
phone number or e-mail address where you can be reached in case the firm
wants to get in touch with you first.
Be sure to follow up with the employer via phone or email in 2-3 weeks
if you have not heard from them. In your follow-up email, reiterate your
interest in the position, ask about the status of your application and
ask if they need any further information from you.