Getting great results from a cover letter

Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
LOS ANGELES, CA — A well written cover letter has one purpose and one purpose only, to get a potential employer to turn the page and read the resume. It will not get you a job; it may get you an interview. But most importantly, it will wet the company’s appetite to want to learn more about you.
An internet search for cover letters will lend itself to over 1,000,000 different results and offers, ranging from boiler plate, to creative, to having one written for you for a fee ($29.95 per letter, with a free re-write if you don’t get results within 90 days). Writing the letter doesn’t take a master’s degree in English. As long as a few key points are kept in mind during the process, your letter will be great. Here are some tips for writing an effective cover letter:

1. KISS – Keep It Short & Sweet.
2. Be specific about the job you’re applying for.
3. Always personalize it to the company.
4. Highlight your past accomplishments.
5. Write to a specific person.
6. Use action words and be positive.
7. Don’t include salary information unless it’s requested.
8. Spelling and grammar are more important than formatting.
9. ASK for an interview.

Article abridged from American Chronicle, and reprinted from TheCareerNews.com. Get the latest breaking News, Tips and Tools for your job search, Free!