Caring for Your Cover Letter – 6 Tips for Success

Have you given much thought to writing a cover letter when applying for a job?  If not, you may want to think again.  Your cover letter supports your resume, but it also allows you to go into more detail about why you are the best candidate for a job.   Even if you are not required to have one, creating a quality cover letter can help you stand out from the competition.  Show how much you care about your cover letter by following these tips.

Use the appropriate greeting – When beginning your cover letter, do not use “To Whom it May Concern”.  This leaves the impression that you were not concerned enough to take time and find out the name of the hiring manager.  Try double checking the job posting, or searching Linked In or Google to find it.  If possible, you may want to call the employer to get the name.  If all else fails, address the letter to the person with something such as “Dear Hiring Manager” for the salutation.

Customize your cover letter – Each job you apply for should have its own personal cover letter.  Discuss your skills and qualifications that will make you an asset for your potential employer.  Remember, a company is only concerned about what you can do for it, not anyone else.

Explain why you want to work for the company – Is there one or more specific reasons why you want to work for a particular employer?  Tell the hiring manager the reason(s) you are interested in being part of the company.

Don’t be negative – Your cover letter has no place for negativity.  After all, you are trying to make the best impression to the hiring manager.  What would he or she think if you say bad things about a previous employer?  Probably that you would do the same to the potential employer.

Include action verbs – Action verbs give a description of exactly what you have done in a previous job.  They are also keywords that can make your cover letter memorable to the hiring manager.

Review your cover letter – Do not submit your cover letter without proofreading it.  Read over it to check for any mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation; get someone you trust to do the same to be on the safe side.

While you might think writing a cover letter is a waste of time, it can actually be to your benefit.  A cover letter can help you stand out from other candidates applying for the same job.  Hopefully, the tips above not only show that you care about the letter but landing a new job too.

A cover letter is your chance to distance yourself from the competition… a chance to prove you have the right skills, attitude and values for that specific company. And yet a cover letter can backfire. If not done well, the reader will know – in just a few seconds – that you are

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