Business Education and Training

You have heard it so often that it is permanently etched into your mind - always write a cover letter to accompany your resume. But what is a good cover letter, exactly? Is it even that important?

It’s very important, in fact. If you know how to write a cover letter in will provide an introduction to a potential employer and can do so in a more personalized way than you resume alone ever could.You can use your cover letter to give the reader an idea of who you are and why you are perfect for the job. Think of it this way; your resume tells people about your skills while your cover letter tells them about you.

Additionally, it is a chance to impress a potential employer with your intelligence and communication skills as well as to tell them that you know all about the job you are attempting to land. You can really do a lot with a good cover letter, so don’t forget to write one with every resume.

There are three different kinds of cover letters commonly used. These are: letters written in response to a job posting, cover letters emailed rather than posted in response to a job posting(and yes, they are different) and the cold call letter with this last one being the trickiest. To master how to write a cover letter, you need to be familiar with them all.

The format of a letter written in response to a job posting is simple enough; you inform the employer that you want to be considered for the position. While emailed letters have the same function, the form is considerably different. Email cover letters are less formal, but have to work far harder than a conventional cover letter to get your resume read. You must be professional yet engaging - it’s a balancing act. Don’t make the mistake of using internet shorthand and abbreviations and please, please spellcheck your email before sending.

A cold call letter is a different animal altogether. These are written to a company where you would like to work but may not actually have an open position which suits you. There is no guarantee that a cold call letter will land you a job right away, but it can be a good way to get yourself noticed by that company you’d like to work for. These letters will be sent to the HR department directly rather than to a specific person generally speaking, but can also be sent (or cc’d) to the department head of your target position.

A cover letter shouldn’t be too elaborate. Use the same paper as you used for your resume (and plain white paper is perfectly fine, by the way). Remember that a cover letter should always be typewritten.

Just about any word processing program will have a business letter template which you can use as the basis for your cover letter. Make sure to align everything left (indent your salutation of course). These templates can take a lot of the worry over proper formatting out of the process, especially if you are still learning how to write a cover letter.

Address your cover letter to the recipient by name if possible, but don’t use titles like Mrs., etc unless you are certain of their marital status - it is considered offensive to be misaddressed in this way. Remember to include the date on every cover letter, as well as your phone number, which should be underneath your address at the top of the letter. Use a neutral exit greeting such as Sincerely to close your letter and use only black or blue ink to sign.

After you’ve done your research and written the first and second paragraphs of your cover letter, it’s time to finish it off with a bang. Not so much a big bang, but you want to leave an impression while still covering all the bases.

The last paragraph should briefly close out your cover letter. Tell the prospective employer when you can meet for an interview and never, ever use the word “if”. Exude confidence and assume that they will call you - after all, you’ve just spent the last paragraph telling them you are perfect for the job. But also include a time when you plan on calling and following up. Most people who are rookies in the field of how to write a cover letter forget this important point.

That’s it, you’ve done it! Remember not to staple your cover letter to your resume (use a paper clip instead) and fold cover letter and resume together before you put them in the envelope. Good luck to you!

Writing a cover letter can be an intimidating task, but if you focus on the process - not the outcome - it will be a bit less painless.

Here’s a handful of cover letter tips:

• Use the proper business letter format. Include, in order: your contact information, the date, your future employer’s contact information, and the salutation.
• Include a headline. A good headline will jump off the page and get your letter noticed.
• Follow a three paragraph formula. In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and explain why you are the right fit for the job. The second paragraph should highlight your experiences and achievements that are relevant to the job. In the third paragraph, ask for an interview and mention when you will be following up. Be specific.
• Remember to both type and sign your name.
• Proofread and edit, then do it again. Have someone else (besides spell check) take a look at it.

Learning how to write a cover letter doesn’t have to be difficult.