Potential employers want people who will add value to their organization. The purpose of the resume is to express job qualities in a direct, data based matter. On the other hand, the purpose of the cover letter is to provide a personal interpretation of the facts displayed on the resume. The cover letter answers the question of “Why should I hire you?”
The first paragraph or the introduction of the cover letter should consist of two or three sentences. In this paragraph, specifically why you are sending a resume. If you are looking for an internship position or full time employment, say so. Do not leave employers to guess what you want. Further, state how you learned of the position.
In your introduction you should also attempt to create a connection with the company by stating why you are interested in this position, and express some knowledge about the company. If you are unable to briefly and specifically make this connection, then leave this part out of the letter.
The second paragraph, or the body of the cover letter, explains why you are qualified for the position you are seeking. You should not repeat what is already written on your resume. While the resume highlights your prior experience, anyone else who held that job would end up with similar experience. Here is where you may highlight your qualities, enthusiasm, communication skills, etc for the job.
Draw attention to specific attributes on your resume that you believe make you qualified for the job. Provide strong examples from prior jobs, internships, college, etc. For example, instead of outlining your duties in a prior internship, talk about something extra you bought to your position. Perhaps you had to make a speech, or you taught other coworkers how to use a specific type of software.
The last paragraph should be around 2-4 sentences short. Put in your contact information and refer to your resume. Most importantly, thank the reader for his or her time and consideration.
The cover letter is what employers see before the resume, so make sure it is neatly written and polished. The cover letter should be short so employers may read it quickly. Tailor your letter specifically for the position you are seeking, so that you may stand out from the other potential candidates for the job opening. Finally, do not discuss salary expectations, and always send out a cover letter even if not required to do so in the job posting.
Sources:
http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/career/guides/cover_ltr.shtml
http://www.cvtips.com/employers_look_at_achievements.html
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/a/aa030401a.htm
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ReplyDeleteVery informative!
ReplyDeleteWhen writing a cover page it can be a little hard, so its nice to have all the information right in front of us.
I really enjoyed this post! Like anything else using a format can be hard until things are broken down step by step. Thanks for a great and informational post.
ReplyDeleteBe sure and include a visual with your post.
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