Though the resume will detail
why you are right for a position, the resume cover letter
will explain why employers should bother with the resume.
Though often overlooked, the cover letter is an essential
part of the interview process. It is your first impression.
Potential employers will scan this for the facts, seeing if
they should even bother with your resume. If you present a
well structured and informative cover letter, you are sure
to get a second look; if not.... your resume is likely to
be tossed aside.
A resume cover letter, therefore, must
be given the same amount of attention the resume gets. To
do this, we will outline some simply steps for you to take:
One: remember the intention. A cover letter
is supposed to be a brief--yes, brief--look at why you are
suited for the position. It should only tell facts and accomplishments
related to the job. This is not a recap of your life so don't
treat it as such.
Two: be wary of templates. Often, people
will copy and paste an already-written cover letter and just
fill in the blanks. This is potentially dangerous. Employers
are used to seeing these templates, for they all use the same
clichés and phrases. It is best to create your own.
Better to be original rather than part of the massive string
of "I have excellent communication skills" and "I
know how to motivate my team".
Three: keep it positive. Your resume cover
letter should never try to explain the negative aspects of
your life (why you have been out of the career loop for a
while, why you decided to quit your former job, etc.). Such
things can be explained in an interview, where you can go
into actual detail, rather than trying to fit your history
into a few lines. Instead, your cover letter should be an
assertion of your skills. You are selling yourself within
less than a page; use details that relate to the position.
Four: personalize. This does not mean
to use your favored stationary and use colorful font. Instead,
this means to address the letter to the appropriate person,
letting them know that you have researched the company and
know you have to deal with them. This also keeps you from
sending the same resume out to every job; not all details
will apply to every position, so it is good to personalize
each cover letter accordingly. Avoid the "Dear Sir or
Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern". Often,
this shows a lack of interest to employers who feel you could
have done a bit of research to see who you would be speaking
with.
Five: never underestimate the edit. As
with the resume, you should always edit and rewrite your cover
letter. Do not simply scan the first draft and declare it,
"Finished". It's not. You must read and rewrite.
Look for any spelling or punctuation errors, cliches or poorly
worded sentences. You only have a limited amount of space;
make it perfect.
Six: keep it short. As it has been said
before, a cover letter must be brief. This means that you
should never exceed a page and, preferably, not even fill
up that. Employers are too busy to read paragraph after paragraph.
So, instead, give them simple facts. Draw their attention
to what is important, rather than hiding it in an epic of
details. If your cover letter is too long, employers are likely
to scan it, rather than read it, and toss it, rather than
keep it.
The resume cover letter is an essential
part of the job search; use these tips to create one worthy
of your skills.
Catching and Keeping Attention: The Resume
Cover Letter is brought to you by Resume
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