Cover letters are a huge component of applying to any job. You should always send one with your resume unless the application specifically says not to. A letter explains specifically why you are applying for a job and why the employer should consider you. The resume only lists your experience. Letters let employers know a lot more about you and see your professional communication in action.
If you do not know how to properly write a letter, you could be denied an interview. Here are some huge mistakes that can cost you a job. The first and most obvious are typos or poor grammar. Repeating yourself, using non-standard fonts, being overly-demanding, obviously lying, or being in any way unprofessional are other things that make employers not want to hire you.
A little common sense goes a long way. You may be incredibly witty, but a letter is not the place to show it. Humor can be easily misinterpreted. Keep your charm and people skills for the interview. Letters are informative, not for entertainment.
Length is where many people get in trouble. These letters should be anywhere from a third of a page long to a full page long. Too brief means that you are not concerned enough about getting the job to bother writing more. Too wordy shows that you cannot express yourself concisely. No one will read beyond a page.
Expand just enough to give them information to support your resume. Do not just recap what the resume already says. Tell them of your life experiences, as long as they pertain very explicitly to the job. Each life experience should be no more than a sentence long. No one cares about the time your grandmother was in the hospital or your recent vacation to Italy.
Let’s say you have a standard letter you send out to many different places. It has been checked over dozens of times and it is perfect and professional. Many people have such documents. It will be rendered completely useless if you send it to every company just as it is. Letters must be personalized to the job. Use the company name and position you are applying for in the body somewhere. Discuss the traits that are mentioned in the description.
Employers really provide you with everything you need to insert into your letter. If one of the qualifications requires you to be able to multitask well, then you should write somewhere in the letter, “I have much former work experience that required multitasking, and I do so with ease, ” or something to that effect. Employers want to see that you read the application careful and considered all aspects of the job.
Formatting is where some people get in trouble, especially since online submissions have become more popular. If your standard letter is designed to be mailed out, then you must change the format when you submit it online. This means getting rid of your own name and address (and that of the company’s) above the salutation at the top of the page. You should also get rid of the space you left blank to sign your name. There is no need. Delete the word “Enclosure” at the bottom of the page. You do not need to signify that there is an enclosure if there is no envelope! Do the opposite for all of this if your standard letter is for online and you are currently sending it out through the mail.
Find the best resume cover letters to use for your next job application. There are many sample cover letters that you can find for free. Go online now and learn more.



