Writing A Good Cover Letter Tips And Advice

Writing a good cover letter is very important when looking for a job. It should be done carefully regardless of whether you are writing one for the first time or are a seasoned professional with many successful (that is ‘interview winning') cover letters under your belt. Although your resume will have your employment history and skills, it might not necessarily show an employer how you fit into their organization. The a cover letter for a resume is what is meant to bridge this information gap and make it clear that you are indeed the right person for the job.

There are a number of things to remember when writing a cover letter. The first thing is to avoid the temptation of taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Always make sure the letter is specific to the job that you are applying for. Remember, you will be one of many applicants so make sure that your letter stands out. Using a standard, generic letter is unlikely to achieve that. Indeed, a number of employers nowadays use application tracking and monitoring software that they can use to blacklist applicants that they have assessed before. The generic cover letter may lead to a poor first impression and end up confining you to a black list even though you may not deserve it.

A second aspect to your cover letter is ensuring that it is addressed properly. This is not only meant to make sure that it doesn't get lost in the mail but that it also gets to the right person. If you are applying for an advertised position, the details will usually be provided. However, if you are sending a ‘blind application', you may need to look for this information yourself. In such instances, get the exact title (and if possible, the name) of the appropriate person. For instance, if the title of the person in charge of human resources is ‘Senior Vice President - Human Resources Division', using Personnel Manager might see you letter routed to the wrong place, delayed in transit or even discarded if it lands in the wrong hands.

The third factor in your cover letter is to promote yourself. Many people are reluctant to do this for fear of coming across as arrogant and conceited; but your aim is to get the job-so don't be unreasonably modest. Briefly highlight one or two key successes, making sure that they are relevant to the post that you are applying for. Your cover letter also gives you the opportunity to explain any gaps in your employment history such as if you had to leave your job to focus on bringing up children. This will show that you are honest and not trying to hide anything-which is always a plus to any potential employer.

When you are done, check all spelling, grammar and factual assertions. You do not want any language errors or inadvertent logic contradictions to be what makes you miss out on an interview shortlist.