Cover Letters

Why Write A Cover Letter?

This is one of those job skills that it behooves you to know while you are on the job hunt. There are employers that bemoan the fact that there are prospective job seekers that do not use one! Some employers won’t even look at your resume if there is no cover letter attached. What is the big deal? Why do they feel a cover letter is so important?

Well, it can tell employers a lot about who you are. A resume actually tells them what you can do, but a cover letter will give them the inside scoop on what kind of a person you are, if written well. It should also never be too long, or else it will get boring. This isn’t a memoir; it’s more like a snapshot, or the summary that you see on the back of a book. It tells you enough about the book so that you know the story, yet leaves much to the imagination. The point of doing this is so that you’ll crack the book open and read the novel in its entirety.

Writing a cover letter is one of those things that can make or break whether you are called for an interview or not. It takes time, effort, and a bit of self-evaluation. When it’s done properly, it can be rewarding for both the job hunter and the employer.

How to Write a Good Cover Letter

Knowing why you need to write a cover letter is a good thing, but it’s just as important to know how to do it. A cover letter will let people know what your interests are, what you can offer your perspective employer, and what kind of person you are in general. Wording and punctuation are key when it comes to writing a cover letter. Think of it as putting together a sales package. You only have one page to convince the employer that you are the one for the open position. So with this in mind, how does one actually go about writing a cover letter? Here are a few points that should be helpful.

1. Assess your experiences. Know what you have to offer. What are the skill sets that you learned from your last job? What was your college major? Did you do any internships? All of these things should be mentioned in your cover letter. All of it will not only give you something to write about, but it will help an employer determine if you are really the right person for the job.
2. Find a point of contact. If you had a letter mailed to you, would you really want it to read “To whom it may concern”? That greeting should be used as a last resort, because it is very impersonal. If at all possible, try to get a name. It may take a little digging and a few phone calls, but it really is the best way to start a cover letter. It makes the letter feel more personal. Who wouldn’t want to respond to someone that took the time to find out to whom the letter should be addressed?
3. Tell the employer why you want the position. I think this is a good thing to do. If you are truly interested in the position for which you’re applying, feel free to tell the employer why. This is something that will get their attention. If you are very interested in a certain job, it will reflect in your writing.
4. Be interesting! Keep in mind that your employer will probably be reading a LOT of resumes. Let your cover letter be the one that grabs their attention. Even if you did something that could be considered platitudinous, make it sound interesting (but keep it truthful!). Also feel free to brag on yourself a little bit. If you were a hard worker, feel free to say so! If you like a fast-paced environment or you have hobbies that relate to the position for which you’re applying, it’s a good place to mention these hobbies. Remember, this is all about the kind of person that you are. “Wow” the employer and make them feel compelled to meet you.
5. Don’t go over a page. In conjunction with the above about “being interesting”, one part of that is not exceeding one page when writing a cover letter. The only time it’s ever acceptable to go over a page while talking about yourself is in a journal or a writing assignment that requires you to do so. Think of the back of a book; you only want to say enough to catch interest.
6. Check your grammar, spelling, and the dates. Double check it, triple check it, and have someone else check it for you. It is essential that the piece is grammatically sound. Don’t use slang terms when writing a cover letter. This is going to be read by a professional employer; therefore, the piece must BE professional. Also, don’t forget to change the dates of the cover letter if you’re using a template that you created. Lord knows how many times I’ve personally forgotten to do this. It’ll make you look absent minded, which is not good when you’re trying to get someone to hire you.