Business Education and Training

What do I need to know before I write my cover letter? Research is the most important part of how to write a cover letter. Don’t even think about trying to write your cover letter without first gathering all of the necessary facts.

Remember to know your audience. Who will be reading this letter? More than likely it will be the HR director and the head of the department where the vacancy exists - and this is the person who will be interviewing you. Address the envelope to HR but the letter to this department head. It’s a good way to get their attention. Use the opportunity to not only introduce yourself but to display your knowledge of the position. This kind of letter will earn you callbacks every time, whether you’re totally qualified for the position or not.

Before you start writing a killer cover to land the job of your dreams, do your research!

Besides having a proper format, your cover letter should have three distinct paragraphs. The first two should be an introduction, and the reasons why you are the right person for the job.

Now for the content of your letter; while format is very important, the content is the heart of the matter. Mention right off the bat which position you are applying for and the reference number from the job posting (if any) and mention where you saw the posting. Something along the lines of “Please consider this letter my application for the position of —–” makes for a good first line especially if you are just learning how to write a cover letter for the first time.

The second paragraph is where make your case to the reader briefly. Tell them why you want to work at their firm, why you are the ideal candidate for this position and include anything that will help you stand apart form other applicants. If you have held a similar position in the past, now is a good time to say so. This paragraph is the most important part of your cover letter.