You have a cover letter. You wrote it, you emailed it, you even printed it out and faxed or mailed it to the company you’re applying to. Now what do you do? You’ve got to start interacting with the humans behind those shiny metal things.
A cover letter is an important component of your job search. Many employers check out your cover letter before making any decisions about your application. Writing a good cover letter can be tricky, though. What makes it even harder is that you’re not necessarily applying for one job; you might be sending the letter to many different companies, so you want to make sure you cover all the bases.
The Basics
A cover letter should be no more than four or five sentences long. It should be concise and to the point. If you have a lot to say about yourself, say it in your resume. Make sure you include your contact information (e.g., telephone number, email address, and physical address) in the letter. You should also include the name of the company you’re writing to and the position you’re applying for (if you’re not sure, look it up on their website).
Don’t worry about using big words or fancy grammar. The people reading your cover letter won’t be professionals, so you don’t have to impress them with your vocabulary or syntax. In fact, simple English will probably work best for you. In general, make sure the letter is easy to follow and makes sense.
The Hook
The hook is what draws the reader into the letter. It’s the first thing you need to do to make it interesting and, hopefully, to get the person reading it interested in your application. The hook can be a powerful tool, so use it carefully. The best hooks are those that are intriguing but mysterious. For example, if you’re writing to be a personal assistant for a wealthy person, you could say something along the lines of:
“I’m interested in your job posting for a personal assistant. I have impeccable organizational and communication skills which I’ve used successfully in the past to help people like you get things done.”
This kind of statement makes the reader interested in your application simply because they want to know more about your skills. It also implies that you might be the right person for the job because you can get things done. Keep in mind that your goal is to get the person reading it interested in your application, so make sure you keep the hook close to the beginning of the letter.
The Body
The body of the letter is what you want to use to showcase your skills and qualities. It should be longer than the hook, so you have more space to talk about yourself. The body can include everything from an explanation of your previous work experience and a short summary of the key skills you have that are relevant to the job in question, to personal anecdotes and stories. Make sure you include information that will make the reader want to learn more about you. If you have a lot to say, use that space to talk about yourself in depth. The more you write, the more you will achieve your goal of making the reader interested in your application.
Additional Resources
Depending on the position you’re applying for, you might also want to include some additional resources, such as websites or publications that the person reading your letter might be interested in. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing job and they’re interested in your work experience, you could say:
“I’m including my resume here because I think it will make for an interesting contrast. I’ve worked in marketing for several years and created awareness and interest in my products through various marketing campaigns. I also developed sales metrics that helped me track my performance and determine whether or not I was meeting my goals.”
This statement tells the reader that you understand what they’re looking for and that you have the skills they need. It also gives them the opportunity to learn more about you by checking out your resume. Keep in mind that you’re applying for a job with this company, so make sure you tailor your letter to fit their needs. It’s also a good idea to include a short bio about you. Don’t write an entire novel though, they’ll probably want someone with experience. As we’ve established, conciseness is key.
Wrapping Up
Your first cover letter probably won’t be perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. Take the time to write a couple of letters, trying different things out to see which ones work best for you. Once you have a couple of cover letters, it will be much easier to choose the one that works best for your needs. Don’t get discouraged if your letters don’t sound exactly alike; instead, use the experience to your advantage and to see what works best for you.