Resume Cover Letters: All You Need to Know
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.
Your cover letter is like that proverbial book cover. When you send your resume out, the person who receives it will often take at least a cursory glance over your cover letter. This is your chance to give them a reason to want to know more about you. It is your chance to show why the book should be opened up.
You should write a different cover letter for every position. If a name is listed in the advertisement, use it. Never use a generic Dear Sir or Madam when you can address the letter specifically.
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.
However, you cannot just state a skill such as being detail oriented. You need to give an example from your resume that shows this. Let the reader know they will note in your resume that you held a proofreading position for several years, for example.
Be enthusiastic when discussing your interest for both the position and the industry and be descriptive. Expand a little on why you would be a good fit and, again, give an example or two, always referring to your resume. You do not want to have a long cover letter that is a duplicate of your resume. Only highlight a few key job duties at a couple of positions that show your relevant experience for the position you are applying for.
When you end your letter, do so with confidence. You do not hope to meet them; you look forward to meeting them and discussing how you can be an asset to the company. Be sure to express appreciation for the consideration and time of the person reviewing your application.
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.
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