How to Write a Great Cover Letter
Posted July 24th, 2014
If you are putting lots of time and focus into crafting a great resume, you need to take the cover letter just as seriously. A well written cover letter gives you a chance to introduce yourself to a hiring manager, highlight the most relevant and impressive aspects of your resume, and make a personalized pitch that could help secure you an interview. Keep these essential elements in mind as you write your letter.
Keep it Short
At most, your cover letter should include three paragraphs. A longer letter is likely to be ignored, and most hiring managers will find your extra content to be annoying rather than ambitious. As you are writing, focus on condensing your language down until it’s as direct and active as possible.
Avoid the Introduction
It’s sometimes difficult to know who to address a cover letter to and who will be reading it. Rather than falling back on phrases like “To whom it may concern” cut out the introduction entirely and jump straight into the body of your letter. Most introductions are filled with cliches and rote phrasing and do little to enhance your letter.
Personalize Your Letter
You might send out the same resume to every job, but each of your cover letters needs to be unique. Research the company you are applying with, and sprinkle in relevant details and historical information to give your letter a personal touch. Whenever possible, try to create a link between your skills and experience and the needs of the company.
Add Numbers and Statistics
Avoid using generalities and meaningless statements, and rely instead on numbers, statistics, and hard metrics. This kind of information carries much more weight and establishes your aptitude in terms that are easy-to-digest and verifiable.
Include a Strong Conclusion
Your cover letter should end by briefly and directly stating why you are the absolute best applicant for the position. Don’t use more than three sentences, and don’t worry about thanking the reader for their time and consideration. You should also avoid summarizing the information contained earlier in the letter.
Use a PDF File
If you are applying electronically, submit your cover letter as a PDF file. Not every company has the capability to read Word documents, but almost every company can open a PDF file. This practice has become standard, and following it displays your professionalism.
The final thing to remember is that your cover letter should be free of grammar and spelling mistakes, formatted correctly, and presented in a professional manner. Make the effort to craft a great-looking and great-reading letter, and you significantly enhance your chances of getting a face to face interview. For more tips on navigating the recruitment process, work with the experts at Bayside Solutions.
