What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a document sent with your
resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience.
Employers use cover letters as a way to screen
applicants for available jobs and to determine which candidates they would like
to interview. If an employer requires a cover letter, it should be listed in
the job posting.
What Is Included in a Cover Letter?
A cover letter typically provides detailed
information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for.
Effective cover letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific
organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences.
A cover letter supplements a resume and
provides additional information on your qualifications for the job for which
your applying.
General Types of Cover Letters
- Application Letter. An application letter is written to apply for a specific job opening.
- Referral Cover Letter. A referral cover letter mentions the name of a person who referred you to a job.
- Letter of Interest. A letter of interest, also known as a prospecting letter, inquires about possible job openings at a company.
- Networking Letter. Networking letters request job search advice and assistance.
- Value Proposition Letter. A value proposition is a brief statement explaining what makes the candidate unique.
Your cover letter should be designed
specifically for each purpose outlined above as well as for each position you
seek. Do not design a form letter and send it to every potential employer.
Effective cover letters explain the reasons for
your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or
experiences (remember, relevance is determined by the employer's
self-interest). The letter should express a high level of interest and
knowledge about the position.
Keep in mind that your cover letter doesn't
need to be long - a page is plenty. Here's information on how long a cover
letter should be.
When you're writing a cover letter or sending an email message to apply for
a job, it's important to include all the required information in your cover
letter.
A cover
letter is comprised of several parts: contact information, a salutation, the body of the cover letter, an appropriate closing, and a
signature.
PARTS OF COVER LETTER
Contact Information
The first section of a
written or uploaded cover letter should include your contact information:
- Your Name
- Your Address
- Your City, State, Zip Code
- Your Phone Number
- Your Cell Phone Number
- Your Email Address
Employer Contact Information
If you have
contact information for the employer, list it below your contact information.
If not, leave this section off your cover letter.
Email Cover Letter Contact Section
When you send an
email cover letter, instead of listing your contact information at the top of
the message include your contact information in your signature.
Cover Letter Salutation
It's important
to include an appropriate salutation at the beginning of the cover letter or
message. If you have a contact person for your letter, be sure to include their
name in your letter. Review examples of cover letter salutations.
Body of Cover Letter
The body of your
cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the
employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up. This
section of your cover letter should include:
2. Middle Paragraphs - What you have to
offer the employer (be specific)
3. Final Paragraph - How you will
follow-up
Cover Letter Closure
When you're
writing a cover letter or sending an email message to apply for a job it's
important to close your letter in a professional manner. Review examples of
cover letter closings.
No comments:
Post a Comment