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Writing the Winning Cover Letter
from: John GrothThe Outstanding Cover Letter is only a few minutes away.
Want to get a leg up on your competition for a job? Need some ammunition so you'll get the interview? One sure way is to write a cover letter that stands out from the crowd and demonstrates how acutely interested you are in the job.
Study the following 7 cover letter writing tips to draft the superior cover letter:
1. Read and study the job announcement. The best way to ensure you’ll get the interview is to show that you’ve read and understood the job description. Of course if the job requires five years of experience and you’ve had six months, you’ll have to pass on the job, or become very creative in responding.
2. Briefly highlight your relevant skills and achievements as outlined in the job announcement. Usually the first skill mentioned in the job announcement is the most important, the second the second and so forth. Be brief and if you have had any training or passed any relevant skill tests now is the place to mention them.
3. Reread out loud what you have written. Does it flow? If not rewrite until it’s as smooth as possible. Also spell check both the letter and the company name, and if possible have someone else proof read the letter. Nothing looks less professional that misspellings or “you” instead of the correct “your.”
4. Don’t cut and paste. If you’re applying for a series of jobs, take the time to match the employer’s needs in the job announcement with your cover letter. You may develop a template that looks and reads professional but the individual touch is what sells.
5. Include all you contact information and the best times they can reach you. Redo your answering machine message, is it professional? Get rid of the attempt at humor on your answering machine, work hard to project the right image.
6. If the job you’re going after requires a degree of creativity try to bring a bit of your originality into the cover letter. Perhaps, you could write a paragraph where your creativity achieved an outstanding result.
7. Offer a reference if it would speed up the process. Let your reference know what you are doing and get their permission. Keep them informed so they can intelligently respond if the employer calls.
Don’t expect to hit a home run every time you send out your resume and cover letter. Whenever possible ask for feedback from friends. The key is to be persistent, always work to improve what you are sending out. With this approach you’ll be a lot closer to that interview than many of your competitors.
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