Cover Letter – Do and Do Not’s

Do:
–Always address your cover letter to a specific organization or person. If possible, find out the name of the person in the organization who will be conducting the interviews. Be sure to spell their name correctly. Check the company website for information. It is also acceptable to call the company and politely enquire to whom the resume and cover letter should be addressed.
–Include all your contact information. You want to be sure they can contact you easily for an interview. This should include full mailing address, home phone number, cell phone/mobile number and email. Many employers find it poor etiquette to include a work phone number on a resume. Use your best judgment. If this is the only time that employers can reach you within normal business hours, then include it.
–Be clear on the position that you are applying for and where you heard about it. Employers may be hiring for multiple positions and must be able to immediately process your application.
–Make your qualifications for the position clear to the reader. If certain skills are mentioned in the job description, be sure to connect them to your experience.
–Mention your knowledge of the organization. Make the employer think that it was not random choice of yours to apply for the position. Be sure your information is accurate.
–Always include a cover letter with a resume, even if it is not requested.
–When applicable, sign the letter. Ensure that your name is typed below the signature. Email letters are acceptable without a signature.
Do Not
–Do not address the person by their first name and avoid using slang. Do not use contractions.
–Do not sell yourself short; do not be modest about your accomplishments. You only have a couple of paragraphs to convince the employer they should consider you for the position.
–Do not send a letter without performing a manual proofread! Read your cover letter thoroughly and don’t rely solely on spellchecker. Remember that your computer spellchecker will not catch errors such as writing ‘Manger’ instead of ‘Manager’ or ‘an’ instead of ‘and’. Have someone else proofread it for you as well. Errors in spelling and grammar are one of the most common reasons for not receiving an interview.
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Tracey Drake is the owner and Director of Operations of GradResumes.com. Tracey believes in the importance of educating new graduates regarding the importance of launching a career, and the value of their education and transferable skills to potential employers. GradResumes.com specializes in writing graduate resumes and college admission documents for high school students entering college, graduates seeking internship and post graduates entering the work world.