We’ve talked about the different kinds of résumés and how to polish your résumé.  Now it’s time to discuss the résumé’s best friend, the cover letter.

You’ve found the perfect job opportunity: The pay is good, you have the required skills, and it’s close to home. So you run home, send out a résumé, and wait. And wait, and wait…

You forgot something.

A cover letter is a way of introducing yourself. If a stranger walked up to you, shoved a business card in your hand, and walked off, would you call them? Of course not. You don’t know who they are or why they want to talk to you.

By the same token,  you have to introduce yourself before you ask for an interview.

A cover letter is a short note, around 3-4 paragraphs long, that explains who you are, what job you want, and why you deserve the company’s attention.  They’re very simple, easy to write, and make the difference between getting an interview and wasting a stamp (or a click).  Remember that they are business letters, so stick with that format.  If you are using Microsoft Word, it most likely has provided a template with the proper formatting.

Don’t just repeat what’s in your résumé; instead, highlight the main points in it, show a bit of your personality, and ask for an interview.  See? Simple.

There’s not a lot to be said about cover letters — the tips I gave for résumés cover most of it: Research the job listing, know the keywords that will get you past the scanner, and emphasize your accomplishments.

What should I say in a cover letter?

Cover letters only need to say four things:

1. What position you’re interested in.
2. Why you’re a good fit.
3. What you can bring to the company.
4. A request for an interview.

Remember that you’re selling yourself to the hiring manager.  Don’t say why you want the job or how excited you are by the very idea of working there.  Rather, tell them why they should be excited about you working there.

Cover Letter tips

• Make sure it’s grammatically perfect. No misspellings, no typos. No, not even one.
• Be brief. All you’re trying to do is get your résumé read, not get the job.
• Highlight only your most relevant experience and skills. If it’s not in the listing, leave it out of the letter.
• Be formal, yet personable. “Yo dawg” is not an acceptable salutation. At the same time, be someone you’d want to talk to.
• Don’t use a form letter. While you may think the dusty old letter you trot out every once in a while sounds fresh and original, remember that whoever opens your envelope or e-mail will be reading dozens of these things. Take the time to write a new letter.
• Tell them where you can be contacted. Don’t give out an e-mail address that you check every couple of weeks.  Be sure that they can get in touch with you immediately.
• Address it to the person who will actually be hiring you. “To whom it may concern” hasn’t hired anyone yet.  Remember to research the position and the company.

Parting thoughts

That wraps up my series on résumés. While I can’t guarantee  you’ll get the first job you apply for with these tips, I can say that you will have a leg up on the people who don’t give their résumé the attention it deserves. As always, if you have any questions or advice not mentioned already, feel free to leave a comment.

Related Posts

• How to write a résumé, Part 2: Making your résumé shine
• How to write a résumé, Part 1: Types of résumés