COVER LETTER TIPS

Cover letter is an opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other candidates. You can do so by highlighting how your skills and experiences will benefit the employer. A good cover letter will persuade the employer to call you for an interview.  

Here are some tips for preparing your cover letters.

• Address the letter to a person: Your letter will be far more effective if it is addressed by name to the person doing the hiring. You should devote the needed time and effort to find out the name and title of the hiring manager or the recruiting manager. If this information is not included in the job posting, you can often find it on the Internet or by calling the company’s main office. Once you have this information, you should use a formal salutation such as Dr., Mr., or Ms. to address your cover letter. You should not begin a cover letter with Dear Sir or Madam, or address it To Whom It May Concern. The use of generic salutations in cover letters shows lack of real interest in the opportunity.
• Mention prior contact: When you are following up on a phone conversation or a prior meeting, always mention that at the beginning of your cover letter to remind the reader. 
• Never use a form letter: Recruiters can quickly tell the difference between a form letter and the one designed specifically to meet the requirements of a job opening. Resumes attached to form letters are often ignored by recruiters. When you are really interested in the job opening, take the time to prepare a cover letter that highlights your skills and experiences as they are related to the job requirements.   
• Keep it short: A cover letter should not be more than one page. It should be organized in just a few paragraphs to highlight your suitability for the job opening. Do not repeat what is already stated in the resume. A cover letter is intended to spark the reader’s interest to read your resume and should offer something more than what is contained in the resume. 
• Research the company: The quality of your cover letter will depend on how much you know about the company. You should visit the company’s website and review trade publications to find out about the company’s mission, values, history, current customers and operating results. This information will also help you when you interview with the company.   
• Explain how you meet the job requirements: You need to highlight your understanding of the job requirements and how your skills and experiences match those requirements. You should include examples of your accomplishments in similar roles in prior positions. 
• State the next step: Remember to state what you plan to do as a follow up to sending the cover letter and resume. If it is your intention to call the employer in a week to request an interview, you should state that in the letter. And, make it a point to put that on your calendar and then do it.
• Letter should appear professional: The letter should include your name and contact information as well as the name, title, company name and full address of the hiring manager. The letter should appear attractive, and make sure there are no typographical or grammatical errors. You should use a spell checker. In addition, proof-read several times and have someone else proof-read it for you. This is your first impression to the hiring company, and you certainly want to make it a good impression.  

The quality of the cover letter often determines whether or not it opens the door for an interview. You need to devote as much attention to preparing the cover letters as you do to preparing your resume. A cover letter is what the recruiter will see even before glancing at your resume. It is the first impression of a candidate to a prospective employer. If this impression is not favorable, the resume is likely to be discarded.

Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each position for which you are applying.  It is a mistake to design a form letter and include it with your resume each time you send it. A well prepared cover letter will generally pave the way for an interview.

Effective cover letters communicate the reasons for your interest in a position, and highlight your skills and experiences which fit the job requirements.

Each cover letter must be tailor-made for each position in which you are interested. You should carefully review the position requirements stated in the job posting. You should write down your relevant qualifications next to each requirement. Your cover letter is essentially a summary of how your skills and experiences fit the job requirements. If you possess the needed qualifications, and you are able to communicate that in your cover letter, it is probable that you will be called for an interview.