The Art Of The Cover Letter

H iring managers often             Rule #2: Target Your Audience      receive hundreds, or even                                          thousands, of applications      Always use the hiring manager’s    for a given job. To avoid having      name in the salutation. If the     your resume sink in a sea of          contact’s name isn’t provided in   paper or electronic files, it’s       the job posting, a bit of          essential to write a cover letter     Internet research or a             that stands out and makes a great     well-structured phone call can     first impression.                     produce results. In using the                                            contact’s name, the cover letter   Here’s how:                           is personalized, while also                                              showing your interest in the       Rule #1: Keep Up Appearances          company. Remember, a letter                                              addressed "Dear Sir or Madam" or   Your resume and cover letter must     worse, "To Whom It May Concern,"   be aesthetically pleasing and         has the same impact as one         consistent in appearance. This        addressed "Dear Occupant."         includes formatting with the same                                        heading and fonts in each and         Rule #3: Craft a Strong Opening    using a high-quality printer and      Statement                          paper, if documents are being                                            "snail mailed."                       A dynamic opening paragraph is                                           essential to capture and retain a  Also, keep it tasteful and save       hiring manager’s interest. For a   the designer stationery and           quick and effective read, it       stylish fonts for writing letters     should include a reference to the  to friends. A professional            position sought and a brief        employment package never sets a       statement as to why you are        casual tone.                          qualified to fill the job.                                               Emphasis should be placed on what  you can do for the company, while     the end of a cover letter. A       also providing quantifiable           proactive closing indicates that   proof.                                you will call within a few days                                          to see if a time might be          Rule #4: Showcase Your                scheduled to meet. To wait for a   Accomplishments                       hiring manager to take that first                                        step is to risk losing the         Include a bulleted area to            opportunity to another candidate.  emphasize accomplishments             If a job description asks that     pertinent to your targeted job.       you not call, however, it’s in     Not only does this break up large     your best interest to respect      blocks of text that can be            their wishes.                      daunting to read, but it also                                            draws the eye toward the most         The goal of your cover letter is   important part of the cover           simple: to convince a hiring       letter — what you have to offer.      manager to read your resume.                                             Follow these simple rules and      Rule #5: Create a Proactive           you’ll be sure to create a         Closing                               compelling letter that will leave                                        a hiring manager wanting more.     Always initiate further action at      About the Author: Michael Fleischner is the Managing Director of http://ResumeEdge.com, one of the nations leading Resume Writing service providers, offering professional resume writing, editing, and guidance. For additional resume writing resources, including free sample resumes, visit http://www.resumeedge.com today! Published At: www.Isnare.com