A cover letter is a means of introduction. Even though it is mostly a part of the resume an applicant submit, it is totally different as it does not carry details in full-fledged information about the applicant. With this little preamble, you should know that you can’t just piece up a junk and give to an intended employer. If you fail to make yourself competent at the introduction stage, then how do you intend to get considered as competent enough for the Job? Employers often use cover letters as means of screening out applicants who lack basic necessary knowledge and cannot prove by writing that they are in position a to apply.
It provides the recruiter a brief impression of who you are. The purpose of the cover letter is to create positive readiness before opening your resume, so a good letter will improve your chances of standing out and stepping up
Here are some tips of how best to write a cover letter that will stand you out amidst the plethora of applications the company might be having.
- Be short, precise and straight to the point: A cover letter is not a letter, it is an introduction to your resume, and thus, its length should not exceed a paragraph. The letter should summarize your professional essence and emphasize in a line or two your suitability for the position for which you are sending your resume
- Avoid using uniform wordings; i.e. customize and personalize every cover letter you are sending out to employers: it is important to make the employer feel the letter was written to him personally rather than being generalized to all who are like himself and that the letter was sent to him in a sweeping manner. Make sure the information you write is relevant to the job and not too ambiguous. Employers prefer a breakdown of actual professional achievements that will be an advantage to the company you are applying to; this is your main message and opportunity to give.
- Categorically, explain Personal Skills and Achievements: describe character traits and abilities that gives you a personal advantage for example, the ability to lead a team and be decisive I a way that could benefit the employer to be an entrepreneur, make decisio9nj s in stressful situations.
- Do not make the mistake of repeating words from the resume verbatim: A cover letter should accompany a resume therefore, it shouldn’t carry same words instead, emphasize on it in few lines your suitability for the job. A recruiter or employer often goes through dozens and dozens of preliminary letters who are all applicants as yourself. He would stress himself trying to understand you or even reading your redundant words over and over again.
- A preliminary letter only in the body of the message: we have established that a recruiter or an employer goes through dozens of letters and due to that congestion, he may prefer to give up a letter that requires him to open another file before accessing the letter. Write the introductory letter in the body of the mail and do not create a two page file with the first being the letter and the second being the resume. H might be tired and distracted and therefore, create antagonism.
- Impression: Finally, employers or recruiters form their opinion at the first contact. Your resume is the first contact and the cover letter is the first contact to your resume so, present yourself correctly in a very short time and you will be successful.
