A professional cover letter is a must when you are seeking employment. Believe it or not, some job hunters give the cover letter short shrift or even disregard it altogether. With competition for jobs being tougher than ever, this is a surefire way to take yourself out of the running.
What to Include in a Professional Cover Letter
Your cover letter is an opportunity to give information that is not on your resume. Since the letter should be customized to each individual position, discuss specific skills and experience listed in the job description. If the position requires a strong self-starter, give an example of a past achievement that resulted because of your skills as one.
A professional cover letter should also look smart. Print on the same high quality paper you use for your resume. Some people create their own personalized stationary by including their name and contact information at the top in an attractive design. The letter should be no more than one page, any longer will lose the readers attention. When sending a cover letter via email, the message should be shortened to a couple brief, yet high-impact paragraphs.
Lastly–yet very importantly–proofread your cover letter. Even better, have someone with good editing skills proofread it. A typo or grammatical error indicates carelessness and lack of sophistication and can easily cost you the position. Youve taken a good deal of time to craft a well-written, professional cover letter. By all means, do not let a small, sloppy detail destroy your chances of landing a great job.
Related Content
Professional Cover Letter
A professional cover letter is a must when you are seeking employment. Believe it or not, some job hunters give the cover letter short shrift or even disregard it altogether. With competition for jobs being tougher than ever, this is a surefire way to...
Write A Cover Letter
So you need to write a cover letter, but where do you begin? Most of the time just finding the motivation to start writing is the biggest obstacle of all. Once you sit at the computer and start typing the date and salutation, it actually gets a little...
Job Hunting Tools
Of all job hunting tools, one of the most important and sometimes overlooked tools available to you is your cover letter. Some employers don't take a lot of time going over cover letters, but its ability to help you should still not be underestimated. In...
Resumes And Job Hunting Skills
Resumes and job hunting skills are the main factors that will contribute to you being able to find a job. In most cases, your resume and cover letter will be the only items employers will have to decide whether or not you will be called in for an...
Creating A Resume
When you're writing a resume from scratch, it's challenging to know where to begin. Whether it's your first time on the job market, or you're mid-career and forging a new career path, determining exactly which skills to emphasize on your resume can be...
Cover Letter Help
If you think you need cover letter help, you are in good company. Many job hunters have trouble figuring out what to put in a cover letter that isn't already in their resume. But never overlook the importance of a solid cover letter. A Little Cover...
Resumes To Help Job Hunters
Resumes to help job hunters can be beneficial to perfect resumes which seem like a lost cause but with a few pointers you can greatly improve your resume and make yourself as competitive as possible. Before we get to resumes, however, always remember to...
Cover Letters For Resumes
First-time job-seekers frequently ask whether or not cover letters are really necessary. Most often, their rationale is simple: I have an outstanding resume that speaks for itself. Why should I bother, therefore, to write up a cover letter as well? As it...
Resume Writing Services
There are many different companies that will help you write your resume, and many of them have a lot to offer. You can get your resume created in multiple formats, and you can even get help in submitting your resume. Here are a list of some things you...
Resume Cover Letter Examples
In your prospective employer's eyes, a cover letter serves as an introduction to your personality. A well-written cover letter details the position for which you are applying, the reasons that you're applying, as well as the credentials you possess that...