Got resume? It’s only half way through. Now get down to your cover letter
Many job applicants mistakenly believe that resume is all they need when looking for jobs. Career coaches, however, warn that having a perfect resume is only half of what needs to be done to make hiring managers call you for an interview.
Many applicants overlook the importance of cover letter which is just as significant as the resume. HR professionals say that a well-written cover letter help to make a great first impression which is an important job towards a coveted interview.
Cover letter needs to go with the resume and explain why the resume is important
“The cover letter and resume are your sales brochure,” he says career coach Mark Burch from Harrisburg (North Carolina) in an interview to The Charlotte Observer. “Cover letters should be tailored for each job,” he adds.
“It’s to your advantage to address your letter to the hiring manager or someone who can get you the interview,” Burch says.
Burch suggest that making extra efforts in your job application will get you further in your application process. For instance, try to avoid putting “To Whom It May Concern” in your cover letter. Do some research instead and find the name of the person in the company who makes hiring decisions.
The whole purpose of the cover letter is to tell the recipient why he or she should even bother to read your resume, Burch said. You have to emphasize your interest in the company and what you would bring to the position. Be specific.
“Provide examples of your accomplishments and demonstrate your ability to help the prospective employer make money by hiring you,” he said.
Just like your resume, don’t get too wordy in your cover letter.
“Your cover letter should be one page and consist of three to four paragraphs. It’s best to keep your resume at no more than two pages. Most resumes and cover letters will receive 60 to 90 seconds at the most,” Burch said. “You need to capture interest within the first 30 seconds to keep the reader’s attention.”
Think of the cover letter as part of the required preliminary work to get the interview.
“The interview gets you the job, but the cover letter and resume lead to the interview,” Burch said.
The old good editing and double checking will never hurt. Make sure you take time to read through your resume and cover letter some time after you have written them. Remember, these two taken together are the brochure that sells you.
