Creating a Cover Letter that Performs
July 16, 2018
Getting ready to start your job hunt up? Have you narrowed your search to a couple of dream positions? First things first, make sure to start by recovering your old resume, make sure it is updated and customized to each job you are applying for, then get ready to start your cover letters. Cover letter writing can be a daunting task, especially if you are unfamiliar with its route purposes. Take a closer look at what your cover letter should consist of and why.
Purpose
The purpose of a cover letter is sometimes overlooked and people tend to repeat and explain exactly what is bulleted on their resume. Cover letters will have a different purpose than the resume. To introduce yourself to the company rather than list what your skills and accomplishments are. The cover letter will be one of the first impressions you have on recruiters. You should be explaining why you are interested in working with the company and have the goal of convincing recruiters to want to hear more about what you can do for the company, ultimately being brought in for an interview.
Format
The format of a cover letter can be difficult, and almost as important as the content within. If the cover letter looks messy and inconsistent from first glance, there will automatically be a negative connotation placed on it by the recruiter about to read it. Try and stick with a basic format, your contact information, employers contact information, a proper salutation, the body of your letter, and a proper signature. Write the cover letter consistently and respectful from start to finish. Keep in mind you can customize the letter format for each organization you are applying to. Just like a resume, don’t be afraid to have your letter stand out. Play with fonts and spacing, headers and footers, this is one of your first chances for a recruiter to be impressed, you’ll want a letter that is memorable.
Submit both documents, cover letters and resumes as PDFs, you don’t want your format to be rearranged if the reader opens it using another program or version.