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Your Cover Letter
Capturing the reader's attention
Your Cover Letter and its purpose A cover letter is best simply put as a cover letter to "introduce" your resume to the employer. It is to basically tell the employer your ready, why you are interested in the company, and how your qualifications work for the position your applying for. It should convey a sense of energy and purpose, reflecting some of your personality and appeal. It provides you with excellent opportunity to let you prospective employer hear your voice and to show off your character. It should also reflect within it your attention to detail, communication skills, and enthusiasm.
The Importance of the Cover Letter The cover letter is particularly important because it highlights your most significant qualities directly applicable to the position for which you are applying. It also serves as a demonstration of your written communication skills to the prospective employer
Writing your cover letter
Before writing the cover letter, make sure that you know and understand the employer's full needs and requirements for the position. Next, organize information and examples, which demonstrate how your background, training, work experience, and abilities can meet those needs. Indicate your knowledge of interest in the company, and your qualifications for the position. Your cover letter will give you a chance to tailor your application to each specific job your inquiring about. Ask yourself:
- Why are you interested in the company or position?
- How do your qualifications work for the position your applying for?
- What can you bring fourth to help benifit the company? Skills?
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What makes you the best candidate for the position?
Basic Principles Research the employer's organization and personalize each letter. This indicates that you know something about the company and that you are intrested in the employer. Briefly highlight one or two most significant accomplishments or abilities to show you are an above adverage candidate. Use a polite, formal style, which also demonstrates both self-confidence and respect from the employer. Be clear, objective and persuasive. Be positive in the tone of personal descriptions and expectations. Do not call attention to any weaknesses or cause uncertainty about your confidence or ability to do the job. Use powerful action verbs to hold the employer's intrest and to convey a sense of energy and enthusiasm. Group similar items together in a paragraph and then organize the paragraphs to relate logically. Use strong topic sentences to tie information together in an organized fashion. Close the plan for follow-up action. Be proactive and ask for an interview to further discuss your qualificatoins for the position
Do's
- Write to a specific person
- Send an original cover letter for each job application
- Demostrate that you know something about the organization
- Provide information that reflects the reader's needs and intrests
- Use power words
- Type or laser-print your cover letter for a professional look
- Write no more than a page, and use business letter style
- proofread and sign your letter
- Make sure that it is organized and carefully worded
Don'ts - Do not use duplicated letter form
- Do not overuse the pronoun "I"
- Do not repeat the same material that is in you resume, but DO make reference to your resume.
- Never use company stationary
Sample Cover Letter - Format
1234 Someplace Street
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
July 23, XXXX Ms. Jane Doe
Manager, Marketing Department
Consumer Goods Inc.
8910 Nowhere Drive
St. Louis, MO 63101 Dear Ms. Doe: Please find my resume enclosed in response to the advertisement in the Career Grapevine on July 21, XXXX, for an Account Executive. The position appears to fit very well with my education and career interests. As my resume indicates my background has included various marketing experiences. As a part-time Sales Representative for the Daily Egyptian, I handled accounts for numerous departments on campus. In addition, I was responsible for the marketing of two major ad campaigns including Special Olympics and the Red Cross Blood Drive. Finally, during my internship last summer at Walt Disney World, I achieved superior marketing skills while assisting customers in various areas of the MGM studio. I know that CONSUMER GOODS is the leader in the industry. A recent article in the June 5th issue of Business Week indicated that your company continues to outshine the competition in the development of innovative marketing techniques, while continuing to be responsive to your customers' needs. I am extremely excited about the position at CONSUMER GOODS and believe that with my education and experience, I can make a major contribution to your company. I welcome the opportunity to discuss your needs and my qualifications in detail and will contact you the week of August 2 to see if we can arrange a meeting at your convenience. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX if you have any questions or require any additional information. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to talking with you soon. Sincerely,
Jane Doe
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