I mentioned in my post yesterday that your résumé is a marketing document and the product you are marketing is yourself. The same principle can be applied to writing a cover letter.
A cover letter is your chance to make an impression. It is an opportunity for you to convince the hiring manager that you are a perfect fit for the job you are applying for. Your résumé demonstrates that you have the education and experience to do the job while your cover letter sells the hiring manager on why you should be the one doing it.
Personally, writing a cover letter is my least favorite part of the job search process. It takes awhile to write a solid cover letter and I seem to have missed out on the patience gene. Regardless of how long it takes, a cover letter is essential to helping you stick out of a crowd.
These tips will help you on your way to writing an extraordinary cover letter that will distinguish you from the other candidates in the stack:
- Do not use the same cover letter for each job. If the cover letter you’re using is generic enough to work for every job it’s too generic to get noticed. Tailor each cover letter specifically to the job and company you’re applying for. It’s fine to use certain pieces in each cover letter, such as the paragraph about your background or why you’re looking for another job, but the hiring manager will appreciate the effort you’ve put into writing specifically for his or her company.
- Come up with a creative opening line. Starting your cover letter by saying “I’m writing to apply for this job…” is not going to grab anyone’s attention. Instead, go for a line that will spark interest. Do some research into the company and use that first line to sell yourself to the hiring manager. Know the company well enough to explain why you’ll add value to it and then convey that idea to the reader with panache.
- Keep it short. Think of every marketing document you’ve ever read. Most likely, the majority of them were short, concise, and easy to read. Keep this in mind when writing your cover letter. Hiring managers are busy people so get to the point quickly. Chances are good that the hiring manager is just going to skim your cover letter so make sure the whole document is solid material.
- Formatting is your friend. Use the same heading as you did on your résumé (with your name, phone number, address, email address, etc.) and the same font as well. Coordinating the two documents will make you look attentive to details and strengthen the connection in the hiring manager’s mind.
- Mind your manners. There is a proper way to address a cover letter and you will truly set yourself apart if you know what it is (you can look it up here if you’re curious). Demonstrating good manners in a world that seems to have forgotten them is a good way to get noticed.
Do you have any tips on writing a good cover letter that I might have missed? What’s worked well for you and what hasn’t?
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious