Your resume is done. You have a page of flawless information selling your experience and talent to an employer who has never heard of you. So do fifty or so other people with just as much experience and just as many talents. You need a strong cover letter to convince an employer to even consider your resume above all the others. Here is a step by step review of writing a cover letter.
Contact Information
Your cover letter should begin with you. Your name, address, phone number, and email address. How else is the employer going to let you know that you have an interview?
Sally Joe
123 Yahoo Way
Atlanta, Georgia 12345
123-456-789
Sally.Joe@Yahoo.com
Next skip one space and put today’s date:
August 25, 2011
Skip one more space and include the employers information if you have it. If you don’t, then skip to the next step.
Joe Smith
Owner
A Great Company
456 Contributor Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 12345
After another space, you should place your greeting. If you do not know the employer’s name, then you should put “Dear Sir or Madam”.
Dear Mr. Smith,
(Or)
Dear Sir or Madam,
Place one more space, and you are ready to start the body of your letter.
Body
Your body should have three paragraphs, with a single space between each one. The first paragraph is mostly informative. It informs the employer where you heard about their business from, what position you are applying for, and a short description of the requirements for that position that you feel you qualify for.
I read an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution recently that included an article about your company’s latest achievements in our economy. Your mission statement spoke to me, and I sought out more information about your company. I found a position open in the Managerial Department over the Human Resources Division. To hold such a position requires initiative, dedication, and leadership. With over ten years of experience in positions such as this, I possess the skills necessary to be the Human Resources Manager.
The second paragraph gives a more in depth description of who you are. Make sure you explain why you are qualified, and show how your skills and experience apply to the position. Be as in depth as you can without going overboard. You do not need to list all of your experience or skills, just the ones that are relevant to the job you are applying for. You can also list names of other companies you worked for, if the position you held was very similar to the one you are applying for, especially if the company is very renowned.
After four years of customer service at a small business in my hometown, I spent six plus years as the Resources Manager of the most prestigious Corporation in downtown Atlanta. There I assisted with multiple grants, boosted our numbers by 25%, and increased our public awareness by 30%. I also took the initiative to start our “Giving Back” program, drew 200 employees to participate in the program, and spent most of my weekends for a year planning and organizing for the program. My next goal is to work for an esteemed company such as your own, that will allow me to move back to my hometown while continuing to assist the community through my expertise.
The third paragraph is your conclusion. Thank the employer for taking the time to read your letter and consider you for the position.
I appreciate you taking the time to review my resume and consider me as a qualified applicant for this position. I look forward to discussing my experience in detail with you at your earliest convenience. I understand that you are busy, and I do not wish to keep you from the progress of your company, so please let me know if you wish to further discuss the requirements for this position and my ability to meet them.
Closing
After one more space, you are ready for your closing. You should write “Sincerely yours,” then place two spaces before typing your name. If you are mailing this letter in, after you print it, you will need to sign between the closing and your name.
Sincerely yours,
Sally Joe
That’s all it takes to complete a cover letter. As you proofread your letter, consider what an employer will be looking for while reading it. Is the information you presented straightforward and easy to understand? Did you give enough information to “hook” the employer without being so long winded that the employer’s eyes glazed over? Make sure you look carefully at your grammar, punctuation and spelling because employers do check for that. Finally, don’t forget to include your resume when you send in the cover letter. See, it's easier than your homework. Good luck!
