3 Cover Letter Tips
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Copyright © 2000 by Kevin Donlin
This week, I'd like to offer tips based
on the book I wrote on the subject: "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed."
Your first sentence is most important. Use it to give the
reader context for the rest of your letter. For example, it
can be very effective to simply say: "I'm applying for the
position of Sales Rep, as advertised in the Wall St.
Journal." If you heard about the opening from a friend,
drop his name in that first sentence: "Jack Smith suggested
I contact you about the position of Design Engineer."
Second, ALWAYS spell check your cover letter and THEN have
a friend read it for grammatical and other mistakes. Every
single day, I see cover letters that have no chance of
working because they contain errors that will turn readers
off. What a waste! A mistake-filled cover letter will ruin
all your hard efforts at creating a résumé. Not to mention the
fact that your job search will drag on for weeks (or months) longer than
is necessary.
Third, your cover letter shouldn't simply summarize your
résumé. It should tell the reader why you are best suited
for that particular job. If you've done research on the
company (and with the glut of information available on the
Internet and in your local library, there's no excuse not to), you
can mention points that you've learned, to generate
interest. Example: "Given the fact that your closest
competitor, the Rock Group, has now achieved 15% of market
share, the time is perfect to roll out a new line of
products that appeals to your core market of young people
who travel. My skills and experience are a perfect match
to your needs in this area."
When your cover letter opens with an attention-grabbing
sentence, is error-free and tailored to the needs of the
company that's hiring, you'll greatly increase the results
you get in your job search!
This article was written to assist readers in their job search. You
are invited to use it in your publication or Web site. The only requirement
is that you include the following resource box after each article:
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