- Do I have to?
- 1. Do Your Homework
- 2. "To Whom it May Concern" is the Worst
- 3. Read and Understand the Job Requirements
- 4. Leverage
Your Network - 5. Tell them why you are the right person for the job
- 6. Short Is Good
- 7. Include Next Steps
- 8. Let
Your Resume Do the Rest. - 9. Don't Send Form Letters
- 10. Don’t Apologize - Show Confidence
- 11. Personalize it
- 12. Choose a
cover letter that suits you and the job - Additional Resources
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Writing a
Who wants to receive a letter addressed to no one? If you’re using this outdated salutation, rest assured it will catch nobody’s attention and find its way to the trash bin. Let me share some valuable
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Do I have to?
Yes, you have to write a cover letter. This is your
Hiring managers can be very selective about the few people they will hire. With sometimes hundreds of resumes to sort through, a
1. Do Your Homework
Research is the key, and with a bit of persistence, you should be able to locate the name of the contact that you are to send your
Anyone can send a
You can look up the hiring manager on LinkedIn and get some key information that will help you cover some of the topics that you now know the manager has experienced. Whatever you do, do not use to whom it may concern as it looks like you didn’t take the time to do the research. So what salutation should you use?
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2. “To Whom it May Concern” is the Worst
These days there is really no excuse to not find out the name of who you want to send
- Dear {First Name Last Name}
- Dear Mr./Ms. {Last Name}
- Hello, {First Name}
- Dear {Company Name}
- Dear {Hiring Manager}
- Dear {First Name}
- Dear {Job Title}
- Dear {Name of department}
- 3. Perfection is Required
Make sure you have the correct name (and spelling!) of the person that you will be addressing the
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3. Read and Understand the Job Requirements
Read the job requirements and ensure you feel there is a good fit with your experience. Highlight major responsibilities and indicate why you are a great match. The hiring manager will know you took the time to read the job description and compare it to your experience and abilities.
4. Leverage Your Network
When you are looking for work, it is no time to be shy. If you know someone at a company where you are sending a
There are many excellent networking books available that can help job seekers learn the skills they need to build meaningful relationships and advance their careers
5. Tell them why you are the right person for the job
If you don’t toot your own horn, who will? If you find a job opportunity that is a good fit, make sure your
Briefly describe why they should consider you for an interview. Include comments about your strengths that are specific to the opportunity. Remember – you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
6. Short Is Good
Keep your
7. Include Next Steps
Ask for an interview. Let the hiring manager know that you will be calling to follow up on your letter. Make a note in your calendar and be sure to follow up. To end your letter on a positive note, be sure to thank the reader for his or her consideration.
The game isn't over when you leave the interview. You're still in a conversation about this job, and you can win it or lose it with what you do after the interview. In this report, I show you the very best follow-up strategies that go way beyond a generic thank you note.
8. Let Your Resume Do the Rest.
Your cover letter is not a duplicate of
Best to pick the ones that specifically match the job, but no need to include thousands of accomplishments. By highlighting accomplishments that illustrate broad and matching experience, you stand a better chance of getting the hiring manager’s attention. Take a look at Understanding the Importance of Keywords in Your Job Search.
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9. Don’t Send Form Letters
Your
10. Don’t Apologize – Show Confidence
It’s uncommon to meet every skill or requirement listed in a job description, but that doesn’t mean you’re not qualified. Focus on your strengths and relevant skills without highlighting areas where you may not be a perfect fit. Avoid using phrases like “I’m not a perfect fit” or “I don’t have all the required skills.” Instead, maintain confidence in your
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11. Personalize it
If you’re mailing your
12. Choose a cover letter that suits you and the job
Yes, there are different resume styles and you need to pick one (or more) that fits your career, the company you are applying to, and the type of position. Everything is important, the font, format, and content should be specific to the position. While this may seem extremely hard at first, it is easily overcome by looking at some
Your
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Additional Resources
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