Optimize Your Resume Don't Forget the Cover Letter
February 22, 2010 
18 Comments
Stand Out From The Crowd – Include a First Rate Cover Letter With Your Resume
What does a well written cover letter do for your resume?
It helps you stand out; assisting by distinguishing you individually from the endless list of names applying for the same job. The job market is overpopulated, and it is more crucial than ever to find a way to be set apart from the crowd. Many hopeful job applicants don’t realize how dramatically they lessen their chances for being noticed by the hiring managers sorting through piles of resumes, just for failing to include a good cover letter. A well written cover letter answers the question “Why should WE pick YOU?” It introduces you before the reader even sees your resume. It should jump out and demand attention, then explain why YOU – over all of the other equally capable applicants, should win the interview.
Writing a cover letter can be intimidating for many otherwise eager job seekers. Lots of people find themselves at a loss on what to say, and more importantly what not to say. The Career Development Department at Trinity College (CDDTC) of Hartford Connecticut issued a step-by-step “how to” guide for creating a good cover letter on their website which we would like to share with our readers. They break down the mystery behind writing a good cover letter, easing the tension about the experience and removing the intimidation.
Here is the template suggested for where to start building a high-quality cover letter, excerpted from the CDDTC website:
YOUR ADDRESS (Do not put your name here)
TODAY’S DATE
Mr. /Ms. EMPLOYER’S NAME (If you don’t have one, get one!)
TITLE
COMPANY’S NAME
ADDRESS
DEAR Mr./Ms. EMPLOYER:
FIRST PARAGRAPH: This is the “why I’m writing to you” paragraph which immediately tells the employer the position you want to be considered for. This is short – usually 2-3 sentences. Points to cover:
- Why you are writing and which position you are applying for.
- How you heard about the position is irrelevant unless it is a mutual contact or recruiting program. Do not write, “I learned of this opportunity through the Career Services Office.”
- Show from your research why you are interested in this position or organization. The goal is to make a connection – do this Briefly and Specifically or leave it out; sweeping statements will not work.
SECOND PARAGRAPH: This is the “why I’m qualified” paragraph. Highlight some of your most relevant experiences and qualities as they relate to the position for which you are applying. Choose 2 – 3 points you want to make about Specific experiences/accomplishments or about general qualities you have exhibited, and provide Specific examples to support those points. This paragraph will change according to the job/employer for which you are applying. This is usually the longest paragraph of the letter. You may break this paragraph into two if it looks too lengthy or if your points work best in separate paragraphs. Points to ponder:
- The first sentence should be a hard-hitting opener. It is a quick introduction, which is accomplishment-oriented and directed at the skills and qualifications needed for the job/industry.
- The body of the paragraph should provide evidence to back up what you’ve just claimed. Cite specific jobs/internships/activities/projects and accomplishments associated with those experiences. Use your resume to come up with some specifics, but NEVER reiterate passages from your resume word for word. Discuss why what you did is to the employer- relate the facts to the job.
- Strong examples are important!
The final sentence is a summary of what you’ve discussed above. It’s a good idea to mention the position title and company name to bring the reader back to the specific job in question.
FINAL PARAGRAPH: This is a short 2-4 sentences paragraph. You should refer to the enclosed resume, request an interview and let the reader know what will happen next (Contact them within specific period of time unless it is a recruiting program). It is vital that you thank the reader for his/her time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Signature
Your Name
Enclosure(s)
The Trinity College career development website has additional resources available to help you construct cover letters, view sample cover letters, and learn some tips and tricks for standing out to get the interview. Click here to view the original context.
A good cover letter is a very important part of the preliminary interview selection process. Take your time when writing them, and be sure to customize them for each individual position you apply for. Remember, one cover letter could never work with every single available job that interests you. Do your research. Read sample cover letters, and research the positions you are applying for thoroughly before writing the cover letter to include with your resume.
Spending the time to design a personal and eloquently written cover letter specifically for each individual resume submission could be the difference between landing the interview, or being tossed aside, unnoticed. Never neglect the cover letter; it can make all the difference in the world.
Now get out there, and apply!
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This is great. It’s one thing to say to include a cover letter but for some that’s a very hard thing to do. It’s already a little stressful trying to find a job, and thinking of how to do the perfect cover letter just adds to the stress. These helpful hints help ease that stress and make a difficult task a little easier.
Great cover letter tips. Do you have some examples available for downloading (templates)?
There is difficulty in finding great and suitable jobs. I think some forget the importance of a great cover letter and focus only on an effective resume. Both are critical to you even getting your foot in the door. The new blog design is great, good luck with future posts.
Most jobseekers depend upon expert resume writers – which is a sensible thing to do. Such professionally prepared resumes stand a better chance of catching a recruiter’s attention.
But it is no more enough to “ catch attention “.
A resume must succeed in “ amazing “ any recruiter – by being “ Interactive “.
In a resume, a recruiter should be able to find additional information about a candidate by
> viewing “ analytical “ graphs – rather than reading
> clicking on “ knowledge / skill “ –related keywords
> clicking on Candidate-Name / Birth date / City location
You will find this at http://www.CustomizeResume.com
I will appreciate suggestions for further improvements.
With regards
hemen parekh
hcp@RecruitGuru.com
As compared to a jobseeker writing her own resume, a resume written by a professional expert resume-writer would any day prove better.
But
Before sending that well-written resume to a recruiter, can a jobseeker figure-out in advance whether that resume will
? get ” read / rated / ranked and scored ” by recruiter ?
? get compared automatically with resumes of other applicants ?
? get an interview-call ?
She can – if she will only type ” Resume Rater ” in Google and download this software tool ( free ) from any of the 35+ websites.
Resume Rater mimics the ” resume – evaluation ” process of recruiters and does it in an unbiased / objective way.
Regards
hemen parekh
Fine web site, exactly where did you come up with all the info in this piece? I¡¯m pleased I found it although, ill be checking back quickly to see what other articles you might have.
I enjoyed reading this, i’ve been wondering about this subject for a while.
This is a subject close to my heart cheers, found you through Google.
I luv your blog posts! Appreciate it!
This is a subject near to my heart thanks, like your blog design too. Is it wordpress?
Most people do not realize that it is the shining cover letter and not the resume that is directly responsible to win job interviews. A well written cover letter will triple your chances to be called for hot job interviews.
I Googled nearly 40 sites but did not find any other post in comparison with it.
I will be back shortly to check for new posts. Thank you.
fantastic site, i’d like to know how to use your feeds.
Hot site man, keep it up
Wonderful site filled with resume cover letter ideas and other job search things that people really need. Some people don’t even realize that cover letters are required.
This article really gives people the information that they need to make their cover letters the marketing tools that they really are.
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Due to ignorance of knowledge, very few job seekers take cover letters seriously. Proper guidance and support should be initiated in colleges to motivate students to give importance to cover letter.
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