Cover Letters

Once you have completed your resume, the next step in your job search is developing a cover letter that will entice an employer to take notice. Succinctly written and targeted cover letters are the keys that open doors at prospective employers and set you apart from other applicants. You should tailor your cover letter to each specific job you apply for, keeping them to one page and no longer than three or four paragraphs. Here are a few tips on ways to write an effective cover letter.

• Personalize the salutation, using the name and title of the person who is doing the hiring.
• Do not use the word “I’ to start the letter or to start more than one paragraph in the whole letter, however, don’t be afraid to inject your own personality into the cover letter.
• The opening paragraph of a cover letter should grab the reader’s attention. Concisely mention the job you are applying for, the person who referred you, if applicable, and how your skills fit the job requirements and the corporate culture.
• The middle paragraph(s) should present more information on your accomplishments and explain how your specific experience meets the company’s current business needs.
• Include relevant terminology and information that you have gathered on the company from recent press articles, etc. This will demonstrate that you have done your research and are interested in the company.
• The closing paragraph should end in a professional manner and be definitive about the next step (i.e. I will call you at the end of the week to answer any questions you may have regarding my background).