How to Write a Cover Letter for a Resume
Understanding how to write a cover letter for a resume is extremely important. The cover letter is the most critical component in getting your resume read by the prospective employer. If a cover letter is horribly written, both the cover letter AND the resume will get thrown in the trash. You need to nail the cover letter in hopes of having your resume read and then getting an interview for the job. Here are some tips for how you can perfect the art of the cover letter.
Cite all External Recommendations
One of the biggest complaints that many employers state is that they constantly read “Recommendations are available upon request.” Most employers do not have time to go looking for recommendations before they even meet you. If you have a good recommendation, get a quick quote and make it one of the focal points of your cover letter. Your skills and qualifications sound a lot better when someone else is saying them, or else it just sounds like needless bragging.
Cover Letter Templates With a Twist
The internet is great for many things; one thing it is not good for is cover letter templates. You do not know how many other people have used that template and it ensures your cover letter looks like anyone else’s. Potential employers spend a lot of time reading over cover letters and they can spot a template from a mile away. You can use a template to organize your thoughts but change it up a bit before sending it out.
Find Out all you can about the Company you are applying to
Every cover letter you write should be specifically tailored for the job. Any employer can spot out a generic cover letter that has probably been used for a number of job openings. The way to tailor your cover letter is simple – do some research on the company. You do not have to do heavy research or try out the products; just click the “About Us” and the FAQ section. Get a rough idea and then lead off with that. If you demonstrate you did your homework while figuring out how to write a cover letter for a resume, the employer will see that you are serious about the position being offered.
Do not be Formal, Be Personal
The common thought is that your cover letter needs to be formal to make a good first impression. And while it is important to show that you can write properly, you do not want to sound like a robot with no personality. People are going to hire people they like and it is not only about mission statements and requirements. In many cases, if your cover letter is good, even if you do not possess all the requirements, an employer will be willing to meet with you for an interview. Remember, before they meet you, all they have is your cover letter, so you want to show some of yourself in it.
State why you are Perfect for the Job
A cover letter is just like a speech you would give to become class president. You want to provide the specific reasons why you should be selected as class president. You want to tell them why they need to but your name on the ballot. Do not put in all this information about who you are, a cover letter is not an autobiography. They can read that stuff in your resume. Provide interesting and unique facts that the employer will not read on the resume. Do not say, “I will be good for this job because…” Make it conversational.
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!
A cover letter needs to demonstrate professionalism and if the potential employer sees grammatical and spelling errors, the last thing they are going to think is that you are professional. Many throw out cover letters and resumes upon seeing errors. Have someone read the cover letter when you are done writing it to ensure it is written perfectly.
Learning how to write a cover letter for a resume is one thing, but if you know how to do it properly, you increase the chances of having them read your resume and schedule an interview!
