The Ins And Outs Of Cover Letters
ou might wonder if a cover you present this information and
letter is necessary when add value to your marketability.
you submit a résumé. Unless
otherwise instructed, a cover In creating your résumé package,
letter should accompany every your cover letter is an
résumé. A cover letter compels informative and even fun way to
your reader to review your demonstrate that you can
résumé. communicate in a clear and
concise fashion. You do this with
Your résumé presents factual the words you use, the tone of
information about your the letter, and the visual
qualifications, experience, and presentation of the letter.
educational credentials. You use
the résumé to present yourself as Although there are no set rules
a good match for a position based to creating cover letters, the
on the content in a job posting. following are some guidelines for
It is common for job seekers to introducing yourself in a letter:
use one résumé for several
employment contacts. While this Be brief – Cover letters are not
is a customary practice, a cover essays. Use just one page to
letter lets you personalize your communicate who you are, what you
résumé package for a specific job can do for your potential
opportunity. employer, and why you are the
best candidate for the position.
You no doubt have value-added
skills that are above and beyond Be professional, yet personal –
those listed as the fundamental Avoid using the same tone and
job requirements. These skills language you use in your résumé.
can distinguish you from other Address your reader as if you
candidates. A cover letter lets were speaking to him or her in
person. Your cover letter should
compliment your résumé, not Explain why you want to work for
repeat it. the company – Do you like their
product or service, their
Tell who you are – Open the financial standing, their
letter with a clear statement of position in the industry, or
who you are and what you do. their direction for the future?
Don’t make your reader search for Companies like to know what
that information in the body of captures your attention.
the letter or worse have to
figure it out from the content of Proof, Proof, Proof – Make sure
the letter. that your letter is clear,
concise, and error free. Make a
Maintain consistency – Use the checklist that addresses grammar,
same heading format on all punctuation, and words that are
documents within your résumé spelled correctly but out of
package (résumé, cover letter, context (form instead of from,
references, follow-up letters, you instead of your, etc.). Use
thank-you letters). this checklist for your own proof
reading and have someone else
Highlight your value added skills read it if possible.
– Spotlight your skills that do
not appear in your résumé such as A cover letter can make the
your work ethics, teamwork difference between getting an
ability, and skills that are not interview and getting passed
listed as requirements for the over. Use a cover letter to help
job but are useful to the boost your chances of getting the
organization. job offer.
About the Author:
David Jensen is a Resume Writer for ResumeEdge which provides Resume Writing and Cover letter Services. David holds a Master’s degree in communication and is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer. Request David for your ResumeEdge product at http://www.resumeedge.com/
Published At: www.Isnare.com
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