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| Rules for Writing the Best Resume Cover Letters |
| Written by Michael Murray |
| Sunday, 01 November 2009 02:17 |
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Resume cover letters are often just dashed off in a hurry, yet these are just as important as your resume, if not more. Why? Because you can think of them like the covers of books. And people do not generally open up books that do not have appealing covers.
Resume cover letters are often just dashed off in a hurry, yet these are just as important as your resume, if not more. Why? Because you can think of them like the covers of books. And people do not generally open up books that do not have appealing covers. A cover letter serves the same purpose. The person who is responsible for reviewing responses to job openings will usually take a quick read over your cover letter at first, if not more. So the letter is your opportunity to let them know why they should want to continue reading to the resume. You are showing why they want to open up the book. No two cover letters should be exactly alike. They should be modified for each specific position for which you send a resume. If a name is given in the advertisement, be sure to use it. Never send a letter to a generic To Whom It May Concern unless you absolutely have to do so. As you are writing your cover letter, refer back to the description in the job opening. You want to show that you have read the advertisement carefully and are writing the letter just for that position. Indicate where you saw the ad posted. Repeat phrases that were in the ad (but not too many). Again, you want to indicate that you are conscious of what they are looking for in a prospective applicant. So, if the ad says you need to be detail oriented, go ahead and say that this is one of your skills. Of course, anyone can parrot what has been written in the advertisement. So, you say that you are extremely detail oriented. Then you follow that up with a statement about how the reader can see from your resume that you are, indeed, detail oriented by mentioning a position where that was necessary. For example, maybe you were a proofreader for a major advertising agency for three years. Express interest in both the position and the industry that it is in. Give reasons why this position excites you. Again, give specific examples of why they should be interested in you. You do not want to duplicate your resume in your cover letter, just highlight key experience that fits as closely as possible with the position in the ad. Sign off confidently, saying that you look forward to meeting with them and showing them how you can help them meet their goals. And always thank them for their time and consideration. The final step is proofreading, and you must be very thorough with this. It is never a bad idea with job applications to have someone else read over letters and resumes. Misspellings or grammatical errors in cover letters will make you appear careless and as if you do not really have much interest in the position, regardless of what you have stated in the letter. The prospective employer will be concerned that your work will reflect the same carelessness. When applying for jobs, resume cover letters are like first impressions. You only get one chance at them. But with these tips your resume is much more likely to be read, and you will be that much closer to being invited in for an interview. About the Author: Finishing a successful cover letter visit http://www.job-cover-letters.com/2009/10/tips-for-writing-a-successful-cover-letter/ now. Polish up your resume cover letters and get results. All it takes is a stop at http://www.job-cover-letters.com. |