The Cover Letter

The cover letter is quite possibly the most crucial item given to a prospective employer next to your resume. In most cases, it is the first point of contact that the individual reviewing your qualifications will receive. Making a good first impression is vital in separating you from the other applicants. In this section, we will explain how to write a cover letter that will stimulate employers’ interests in you before reviewing your resume and increase your chance of success.

How to Write Cover Letters That Get Results!

1. Format your cover letter to fit the job description.
   When preparing your cover letter, take extra care that your letter is clearly tailored to fit the industry or profession in which you are seeking employment. Generic cover letters are not only impersonal, but in most cases they also do a poor job of illustrating why you are the right person for the job. For example, if you are seeking an administrative position, discuss your organizational skills and communication abilities, as opposed to irrelevant attributes and interests.

2. The opening paragraph should be your number one priority.
   Due to the plethora of resumes and cover letters that many prospective employers receive, most people will stop reading the letter after the first paragraph if it is vague, incomplete, or uninteresting. In the first couple of sentences, be specific and sell yourself thoroughly. Say what job you want, why you want it, and how you are qualified for it. This is the time to express your confidence in your abilities, as well as to let the reader know how you are unique and different from other applicants. Explain why you specifically are the right individual for the job!

3. Present yourself as an “Asset,” not just an “Applicant.”
   Applicants are individuals who are simply seeking employment, while an asset is a valuable addition to the company. Emphasize how your specific skills and experiences can benefit the prospective employer. Cite specific examples of how you have helped companies achieve success in the past, and how these examples correlate to the position you are interviewing for.

Cover Letter Format

Opening paragraph: As mentioned above, this paragraph is the most vital portion of the cover letter. Do not be bashful. Thoroughly explain your intention and what job you are applying for. Emphasize the qualities and skills that make you an important asset to the company.

Paragraph 2: Elaborate on your professional skills. Focus on how these skills pertain to the needs of the employer you want to interview with. If your previous experience is relevant to the job you are seeking, emphasize how these experiences make you a qualified candidate.

Paragraph 3:  This is where you should outline your knowledge about the company you are applying with, as well as the company’s industry in general. After reading this paragraph, the employer should know how your knowledge and experience relates specifically to his or her company.

Paragraph 4: It is important to reiterate your strong interest in the position you are seeking, and let the reader know that you will be following up to provide any additional information. Explain that you would like to set up an interview. Lastly, make the reader want to know more about you! End your letter with a bold statement that leaves the recipient with a desire to meet you in person.

Common Cover Letter Mistakes

1. Incorrect Salutation
   Address your letter to the person who will be reading it! If you do not know the name of the individual, address it to the name of the company. This shows the employer that you are interested in this specific company and that you are not just sending a generic letter. For example: “Dear Mr. Smith,” or “Dear Free Resume Help Online,” seems much more personal than “To Whom It May Concern.”

2. Repeating, Repeating, Repeating
   Qualities and skills obviously need to be emphasized, but repeating something over and over again will seem less like confidence and more like desperation. Instead of being repetitive, use your thesaurus and be creative!

3. Lack of Punch Words
   Using phrases such as "I think" or "I feel" do not have power behind them. Convey confidence by saying “I know” instead of “I think,” and “I am certain” rather than “I feel.”

4. Quality, not Quantity
   A poorly written letter will often times not be read in its entirety. It is better to impress someone in a few paragraphs than to bore someone in three or four pages. You cover letter should be a vehicle to making the reader want more; so be concise and to-the-point.

Specifics that Separate You

Recipient: Make sure that the recipient feels that the letter has been designed with their company in mind. Make sure you have accurate information about the company you are interviewing for and if you don’t know something, ask!

Company: Let the reader know that you care about and are interested in their company and business. Researching the company will show the hiring manager that the position is important enough to you to take the time to learn about what they do and how they do it. For example, "I noticed that your CEO was named one of the top three most ethical CEO's in the state of Arizona in 2008. I strive to work in an environment where ethics are important."

Job Position: Hiring managers are often trying to fill multiple positions simultaneously, and often time’s different departments. Mention the specific job you are applying for right away so you do not get mixed in or confused with candidates applying generically or for other positions. If you do not have a specific position in mind, then mention the department you would like to be considered for. Without some kind of direction as to where you would like to be placed, your letter seems vague and possibly desperate.

Relevant Skills: Listing general skills instead of job-specific ones makes the reader have to search for your skills relevant to their company. Make it easy on the person doing the resume-reviewing by listing your position-specific attributes. For example, if you are applying for a bilingual accountant position, list the languages you speak in addition to your accounting skills.
  
Relevant Examples: Employers are looking for people who will be assets to their company. An easy way to show an employer you will be an asset is to give some examples of how you were an asset to your previous employers. An impressive example is: “With my budgeting and cash forecasting experience, I was about to reduce spending for XYZ Company by 13%, while simultaneously growing the company’s cash flow in excess of 20%.”

Follow Up: Closing the letter with a statement such as "I appreciate your time and will follow up with you in regards to setting up an interview,” will portray professionalism and persistence. Be sure that if you say you will follow up, you do!

Cover Letters for Recruiters

If you intend to use a staffing firm in your quest for employment, a cover letter should not be overlooked. The majority of candidates applying through staffing firms do not include cover letters, so doing so is an easy way to stand out in the crowd. You want to send a slightly different cover letter when applying through a staffing agency rather than directly to a potential employer. It needs to include additional details that will help the recruiter have a more accurate idea of where to place you. Be sure to include the following information:

·    Contact information (Including home, work, and cell phone numbers, your home address; and your email address)
·    Type of industries you have experience in and/or are interested in
·    Reasons for leaving your last position
·    Willingness to travel (or not)
·    Salary history and requirements

Recruitment firms usually have huge databases in which all of your information is entered. The more detailed you are about your experiences, desires, and necessities, the more likely you are going to get an offer at a company you would be interested in.          
Unlike a cover letter you would send directly to a potential employer, letters to staffing agencies should be shorter and more to-the-point. Professional recruiters read hundreds of resumes a day, so if it is too long, it will be dismissed. Bullet points and lists are efficient and effective ways to include all the information you want them to know.