Cover Letters - Create a good first impression - Resume Tips

Creating The Ultimate Cover Letter

Cover letters are a very important part of your presentation, whether you're a seasoned veteran in the business world, or a recent graduate from college or university. While there is virtually no limit to the different designs you can use with your cover letter, there are some general guidelines you will want to apply to make sure it is professional. It is first important to make sure your cover letter has an excellent appearance. The paper size used for cover letters is generally 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches.

While the color white is almost always used, other acceptable colors include light beige. The cover letter should always be produced on a high quality printer, preferably laser based. It is also important to make sure your cover letters are never produced in mass. Each one should be unique, and should target the specific company to which you are applying for employment.

It is also important to make sure you use the correct format. For most tasks, the best format is the business correspondence cover letter. If you're not sure what it looks like, you can go online to look at different examples. These examples can give you ideas for how you want your cover letters to be designed. When you send your cover letter to a potential employee, if it is impersonal, it will likely be thrown in the trash. Anyone can mass produce a cover letter or resume. Taking the time to tailor you work towards a specific individual will impress them, and they will be much more likely to look over your resume.

Make sure you learn the name of the person or organization that you're sending your cover letter to. The name must always be spelled correctly. If you have had a good interview with a company, and you send a follow up letter with incorrect spelling, it can ruin your chances of getting hired. When you write your letter, explain how you learned of the company and why you are interested in working for them. You should also explain which position you're interested in.

The next thing you want to do is to demonstrate your qualifications for the job. It is best to write two powerful sentences explaining why you have the necessary skills to perform the job you're interested in. After this you will want to let the potential employer know that your resume is enclosed. It is also important to make sure you don't end the letter incorrectly. Many people make the mistake of providing their number and asking the potential employer to call them if they're interested.

A better way to end the letter is by giving the potential employer your number and informing them that you will be calling them. What this does is tell the employer you are persistent, and will take the initiative. It says you will continue contacting them until you get a response. This is the type of impression you want to make.

Create Cover Letter Impact

When writing your cover letter or application letter what you need to do above all is create impact and interest. You may be the most talented finance manager or account executive, market analyst or horticulturalist but if that talent doesn't flow through your cover letter then you might as well forget it.

This is not the time to be boring or submit a fact-laden covering letter that has no oomph! What you want is a sharply focused, punchy letter that leaps up and demands attention.

How to do this…

Use crisp white paper with clear black print is the starting point. Ensure your address, and theirs, are easy to spot and there are no errors or typos. Use a headline in bold to identify the position or job your cover letter refers to; along with this include the date and publication where you saw the advert. Address the letter formally.

You have to catch their attention in such a way that they want to read on. Start by including the reader in your application. You do this by stating “Your advertisement…” This will include them in the process.

State why you are interested in the opportunity. For example, “your advertisement interests me because— and continue with your reasons i.e. specific comments about their products and company reputation.

With this you have engaged the interest of whomever is reading your cover letter, so now is the time to start making your own case. Follow your comments about the employer's business with "...and I am confident that I have all of the skills and experience that you require." Just the use of words like 'confident' is enough to grow the stature of your application.

With a maximum of five bullet points you can summarize what these skills and experience are, relating them closely to the demands of the advertisement. Finally close your covering letter by referring to any instructions such as enclosing a CV or Resume, stating location preferences or salary details and say that you are looking forward to MEETING them at the interview stage. Of course you haven't been asked yet to attend an interview, but you must assume you will be called. After all you are sure to be of interest and you know you have the skills they need, so why wouldn't they want to interview you?

Writing Effective Cover Letters

The cover letter is often overlooked when preparing a resume. Your cover letter is just as important. In actual fact the cover letter will yield the first impression. Have a terrible cover letter and the next step will be the trash can. When writing the cover letter we want to be short and snappy. We want to create interest. We want it to be clean and concise.

The objective with the cover letter is to get the prospective employer to read your resume and call you for an interview. Employers are busy. There are a lot people applying for jobs. Think to yourself how you can get to the next step. Understand the position you are applying for and get to the point of how you will be the best person for the job. Lead the way in an exciting fashion to the employer reading your resume and getting on the phone to find out more about you.

The cover letter will always begin with placing your full name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address in the top left hand corner of your letter. Always remember not to use abbreviations.

Starting out with the opening paragraph the goal is to generate interest and outline the exact position you are applying for. Now that you have introduced yourself and given the position your are applying for, then you move on to the second paragraph where you will reveal your education, work experiences, leadership skills, etc.

In this paragraph also you would touch on your interest in that specific position and your interest in the company. Again outline specific interests that you have in both. You want your prospective employer to feel your enthusiasm and appreciate your knowledge of his or her company. The cover letter sells the sizzle and generates an interest to read more.