Before we talk about what your cover letter should say to get the employer's attention and get them to look at your resume, you need to know how important it is to have one. Most people who send in their resumes make the mistake of not including a copy of their cover letter. If you email your resume, you can either put the cover letter in the body of the email or send it as an attachment (although employers typically prefer no attachments in email submissions). Make sure that your cover letter comes before your resume when you fax or mail it. If you don't include a cover letter with your job application, your potential employer might think you're not professional. A well-written, personalised cover letter shows the employer who you are, how you communicate, and how you present yourself as a professional.
Here are some great tips for writing a cover letter that will help your resume get noticed:
- Send the letter to the right person. Professionals' biggest mistake is not taking the time to send their cover letter to the right person, like the recruiter or the hiring manager. Take the time to address your cover letter to the right person. If the job description doesn't list a contact person, follow the text and send the letter to the team listed as the contact. On a cover letter, you can't use lines like "To whom it may concern" or "To whom it may concern."
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Know what you want your cover letter to do and say it in a clear, concise way. Sell yourself in the best way possible. In your cover letter, make sure you sound professional and sure of yourself. Focus on the good things about yourself and highlight the skills that make you a good fit for the job. Put your best foot forward, even if you aren't sure about your qualifications or think you might not be quite qualified enough for the job.
- Make your cover letter fit the job for which you're applying. In your cover letter, it is very important to say why you are the best person for the job you want. This means that the cover letter needs to say what the job is. Generic statements, like saying you're interested in any job the company has open, make you look unprofessional and unprepared.
- Answer these two questions: why do you want this job and what can you do for the company? You need to answer these two questions in your cover letter to show the company you want to work for that you are serious about your interest, that you have thought about the opportunity and how it fits with your professional goals, and that you know what you can bring to the table to help the company you want to work for.
- Double-check your cover letter. Errors and misspellings make the employer think less of you.
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At the end of the cover letter, tell the employer when you plan to follow up on your application. Do not end the letter with a line that tells the employer they can call you whenever they want. Tell the employer that you want to follow up and tell them when and how. This shows that you are interested in the job and that you know how to act professionally. Note that you must do what you said you would do in the cover letter.
