Cover letters-do this, not that

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Cover letters are your introduction to a potential employer and must get the attention of HR and maybe the hiring manager. In my organization I never see the cover letters of potential candidates.  Don’t be tempted to skip the document, because the lack of a cover letter may cause you to be screened out.  Here are some things to keep in mind when putting together your cover letter.

Do this:

• Personalize- Get the name of the human resources professional or hiring manager. Address the letter to the decision maker instead of using a generic title.
• Proofread- the letter must be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Have someone proofread the letter before you send it out.  Read the letter aloud to see how it sounds. Print out the letter on good quality white paper.
• Format- the letter should be 3 to 5 paragraphs. You can go shorter if applying electronically.  Make the reader want to go to your resume.  Give them enough information to want to meet you.  Keep personal pronouns to a minimum.
• Sell yourself- Get the readers attention right from the start.  Pick one or two key skills from the job description and describe how you have these key qualities. If you have been referred by someone, be sure to mention their name.
• Contact Information- You should have all of your contact information on the cover letter just like you would in any standard business letter. Also use the contact information of the person you receiving the letter.

Remember the cover letter is an important introduction. It is just a small picture of your skills and experience. You want to begin to form a picture of the company of the unique contribution you can make.  Leave them wanting more. In the next article we will talk about some common mistakes to avoid.

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