Cover Letters

If the resume is the piece of paper that gets you to the interview then the cover letter is the one that will get the employer to read the resume. So the resume and cover letter share the same goal- to get your employer to pick you! The best cover letters spark the employer’s interest and create an impression of competence.

Just like what you did with your resume, you should study the employer's requirements and needs first before you start writing. Once you have those points, put the most important items first and support this with facts and examples. The key is to demonstrate to the employer how your background, education, work experiences and abilities can meet the needs of the employer.

You should never send a resume without a cover letter unless specifically instructed to do so by the employer. Sending a resume without a covering letter is like starting an interview without shaking hands. The main purpose of the cover letter is to introduce your resume and highlight the main points that are most relevant to the job being advertised.

The key to a good cover letter is to personalise the letter. It is more effective if you do some research on the company before hand and write a cover letter that is tailored to the company and the job position.

Your cover letter should provide the following details.

• Why are you writing?
• Why are you interested in the job?
• Why would the company be interested in you?
• What is your next step?

These questions should be answered in 3 main sections of your cover letter.

1) Introduction
Introduce yourself and explain why you are writing to the employer. In the introduction you should name the position or field of the job being listed. If someone has suggested you get in touch with the employer then do mention the recommendation. If you are responding to an advertisement, refer to it and the source that published it. In a sentence or two explain why you are the best candidate for the job (talk about your skills).

2) Body
In the body section, match your background to the experience and skill requirements of the job position. It's is good if you can talk about your experiences that relate to the job at hand. You should identify your strengths, accomplishments and results. Do not repeat what is stated in your resume. Instead, summarise your most relevant qualifications or provide additional details about a noteworthy accomplishment.

3) Closing
Your closing should be brief. You can end the letter with an active statement, such as an offer to contact the employer within a specific period of time, usually one or two weeks. You have to be proactive and continue to keep your name in the interviewer’s mind.” It is crucial that you provide details for them to reach you; this is usually by phone and/or email. Close the letter by thanking the reader for their time and consideration.

Cover letter tips

• Like the resume, the cover letter should be written specifically targeted towards the job at hand. Do not write one cover letter and send it to everyone.
• Cover letters are suppose to highlight your talents and experience.
• This can’t be stressed enough - your cover letter, like your resume, should be perfect! Make sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell check. Get a friend or teacher to read it over for you.
• Every cover letter should fit on one page.