Becoming a Better Cover Letter Writer
Why Cover Letter Writers Have a Leg Up
In today’s job market, you really cannot afford not to classify yourself as a good cover letter writer. As things stand at the moment, the job market is not like it was twenty years ago, or even ten years ago. These days, you have to have a competitive edge no matter what position you are applying for and no matter what your qualifications are.
Today, for example, it is absolutely necessary for you to submit a cover letter with every resume you submit to a hiring manager. The problem here is that many of us have no idea exactly how to become a cover letter writer. This is unfortunate, because it really can mean the difference between being hired and being passed over, even if the choice is between someone who is not as qualified as you. If the person you are competing against submits a good cover letter, then you can basically kiss that job good bye.
Now, this is not meant to scare you — but do you see how important it is to know how to write a cover letter? The main aim of this document is to immediately and effectively grab your potential employer’s full attention. By doing so, you already have a leg up; you have already started to pull him or her in, making him or her interested in your skills and qualifications.
Now, the worst thing you can do is write a “blanket cover letter.” What that means is that you cannot just write up a generic, general letter, and then submit it to every job to which you are applying. That might be tempting, because otherwise the cover letter writing process can get a bit tedious. It is ultimately worth it, however. General cover letters tend to be extremely boring. They sound bland. They look like you have put no effort into them whatsoever.
Being a cover letter writer really does involve a lot of patience and determination. You need to tailor yours to the specific position for which you are applying. Fortunately, however, the general formula is fairly easy to follow. The cover letter you submit along with your resume needs to begin with the salutation. You should address each and every letter to the actual name of the person with whom you want to speak, or at the very least it should be addressed to the hiring manager. Generally however it is better to address it to the person with whom you will be working. This is followed by the opening, wherein you are trying to appeal to the person reading your cover letter. You need to begin by talking about the business or company, not yourself. The more you know about the company, such as projects being developed and favorable reviews, the better. It is easy to find that information with a little research. After the opening comes the body; this is where you talk about yourself, by describing your qualifications and referencing your resume. Finally, there comes the closing, wherein you need to ask for an interview, name a time, a place, and sign off with the proper phrase, like “Sincerely yours.”
Being a good cover letter writer does not take a lot of work. With a little time and effort, you will be well versed in writing an effective cover letter.
