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It is advisable every resume should be accompanied by a cover letter. Cover letter always acts as a sales tools for the job seekers, as it INTRODUCES a job seeker to the employer while the curriculum vitae tell ABOUT (you) the candidate. It is fundamental to remember cover letters creates your first impression, and that impression should be positive.
The differences between e-mail and hard copy correspondence:
Format: your signature block (address, etc.) goes below your name in e-mail, while it goes at the top of the page on hard copy.E-mail requires a subject line logical to the recipient. E-mail subject lines can make or break whether your e-mail is opened and read.
Signature: No handwritten signature on e-mail, but don't forget this on hard copy.
All Cover Letters Should:
Explain why you are sending a resume.
Don't send a resume without a cover letter.
Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?
Convince the reader to look at your resume.
The cover letter will be seen first.
Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.Call attention to elements of your background — education, leadership, experience — that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.
Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.
Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample
Indicate what you will do to follow-up.- Applicants often say something like "I look forward to hearing from you."
Importance of the Cover Letter
A cover letter serves to:
- Create a first impression
- Introduce yourself
- Demonstrate your professionalism
- Illustrate your communication skills
- Give clarification on the position applied for
Cover Letter Section
When writing a cover letter, there are three basic paragraphs that need to be included. The following gives the three essential paragraphs and what information should be included in each paragraph your cover letter.
Opening Paragraph
State why you are writing, identify the position for which you would like to be considered, and indicate how you heard of the position. If you are sending an interest/inquiry letter, simply indicate the type of work you are seeking. Be specific.
Middle Paragraph(s)
Your goal in this paragraph is to show how you can be useful to this particular organization in this particular position. Describe what strengths you have to offer. You might use one of the following approaches:
• Illustrate the relationship between your skills, experience and the position for which you are applying.
• Describe your previous accomplishments as they relate to the position.
• Identify three reasons for the employer to consider you for the position.
• State why you want to work for their organization.
• Refer the reader to your enclosed resume for additional information.
Closing Paragraph
End your letter by clarifying what will happen next and how they most easily can reach you. Whenever it is possible, you want to take the next step yourself. In addition, thank them for their time and consideration.
Please note: Remember to be formal and stick to guidelines when writing your cover letter. You s should follow a format for your cover letter even if you are emailing it, since many managers will print it out.:
- Whenever possible, address the letter to an individual
- Use a BLOCK STYLE business letter with one inch side margins
- Use the same font and type size as used for your resume
- Proofread the cover letter, and have someone else proofread it as well, because nobody is perfect.
