Goals of Cover Letter
The primary goal of a Cover Letter is to make the reader call you for interview. Do not present yourself in the form of a list of skills, qualities, and achievements. Your cover letter should bring you to life as a three-dimensional person who is interesting
and unique. It should create an impression that the reader becomes anxious to meet you.
The second goal of writing cover letter is to predispose the employer to make a connection between your skills and his or her needs. If you have an understanding of the job requirements, you can use this perspective to highlight your own individual qualifications.
Video - Example for Cover Letter
Cover Letter Opening - Get Attention
Once your letter does arrive on the desk of your prospect employer (the hiring manager), it’s fighting for attention against all other resumes and letters, plus the usual day to day work of the person. The person to whom you are writing may give your correspondence a full halfminute, perhaps only 5 or 10 seconds, for a quick scan.
Dont use formal opening you used to use as a vast majority of applicants use like
In response to your advertisement in daily Dawn, I enclose .......
Instead, begin your letter with a strong opening line that suggests to the employer, “Hey, read me!” Or, even better, “Don’t hire anyone until we’ve met, and I’ll tell you why.”
The first line of your cover letter must focus one of three main objectives.
- Tell your next employer what advantages you’ll bring to him, such as any unique skills you possess, a rare perspective you offer, or a proven track record. If your fluency in a second language is pertinent, mention it. If you are familiar with new systems or equipment, say so. Just be certain that what you offer is meaningful to the firm and to the position you seek— and that you can really deliver what you
promise.
- Asecond way to open your letter is to identify a need that your reader has. For example, your reader may be searching for someone who knows a specific production process or piece of equipment. Perhaps the need is for someone already familiar with the ins and outs of the business, the industry, the competition, or relevant government regulations. If you’re writing to an accountant looking for an assistant, for example, you might open your letter with: “As an accountant, you know the importance of keeping abreast of changing government regulations. In my position with the state legislature of New Jersey, I managed such information on a daily basis.”-
- Athird objective for your opening is to be timely. Use your opening to relate news or new information. Refer to a recent event or issue of concern. Tie the end of the old year or the beginning of the new to the opportunity you offer for a fresh approach. Where appropriate, mention a new law, trend, report, newspaper article, or the current economic climate.
Cover Letter - Body
It’s in the body of your letter where you support the promise you’ve made in your opening. Here is your chance to explain why the person or the company should consider, interview, and hire you.
First, detail any specific skills, talents, or knowledge you possess, and what difference this will make to the firm—without repeating point by point what’s on your resume. If your abilities might help your immediate superior reach his goals, say so. If you’re switching fields, explain the benefits that this offers your prospective employer, such as a new perspective, or the opportunity to expand into new areas.
Then, describe how you will deliver the benefits you’ve promised, or how you acquired the special skills you possess. State what experience has taught you, and how you learned. If you accomplished relevant goals in previous jobs, use this to support your claim; where appropriate, use dollar amounts and percentages of growth or increase. (And be sure you can substantiate them if you’re asked during the interview.) Relate work experience to skills acquired, and not to job responsibilities. Relate school experience to skills or knowledge acquired, and not to specific coursework. If you’re switching fields, note similarities between your current or previous job and the job you seek.
Direct the Employer
You’ve grabbed the reader’s attention. You’ve detailed your support points. Now for the next section of your letter. This is where you tell your reader how to take advantage of the offer you’ve made, or the advantages you’ve promised. After all, if you’re going to participate in the hiring process, you’ve got to tell your reader how to reach you. Generally, this can be handled quickly and simply. This is not to suggest, however, that this part of your letter is unimportant. On the contrary, instructing is all too often overlooked or rushed through by jobhunters...and it’s a shame. This step is as important as your opening. Why? Because the likelihood that your correspondence
will achieve the response you desire increases with each additional word, and with each additional line your reader reads. So if your reader is still with you at this point in your letter, chances are she’s interested in you. Therefore, you want to get her while her interest level is high. What’s more, the simpler it is to take the next step, the greater the chance is that the step will be taken. Therefore,
you want to make your instructions easy to understand, and even easier to follow. To get the reader to respond to your letter, you’ve got to tell the reader what to do, and be specific. Provide a complete address and telephone number at which
you can be reached. State whether the phone number is a work or home number. If you prefer to be called during certain hours, say so. If confidentiality is an issue, ask your reader to maintain it when contacting you.
Samples of instructing.
- I look forward to hearing from you. My address and telephone numbers are listed above.
- I will wait to hear from you. My mobile number is (300) 632-4321.
- I will await your response. You may reach me at (300) 632-4321 .
Warmly Close
The fourth and final section of your letter is the closing. Unless your correspondence is a short, hard-hitting letter, you should generally add some final line before your “Sincerely.” You might thank the reader for taking the time to read your letter or for considering you as a candidate. The following sample closings will help you out in a variety of jobhunting situations.
Sample closings
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- I look forward to meeting with you at your earliest convenience.
- I thank you for your consideration.
- Thank you for your interest.
- I would welcome the opportunity to work with you.
- I would welcome the opportunity to contribute my skills to your firm/team, and look forward to speaking with you soon.
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