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 You'll find a lot of websites offering information on how to write a resume and how to find a job, but it's difficult to find good information on how to write a cover letter. That's simply because electronic distribution of resumes became so popular a few years back and everyone seemed to feel that cover letters were no longer important.
The most plausible explanation for the cover letter's decline in popularity has to do with this new method of distributing resumes. If applicants were merely going to post their resume for the entire world to see - in such an impersonal manner - then why go through all the trouble of writing a cover letter? After all, the cover letters we were used to writing were targeted and even somewhat personal.
Using Cover Letters Today
Today more and more systems that distribute and store resumes allow applicants to include a cover letter. So once again it's become important to understand how to write an effective cover letter. Whether you're distributing your cover letter by snail mail or electronically, an effective cover letter is one that will tempt the recruiter or hiring manager to take a closer look at your resume.
Writing a Cover Letter
Your cover letter is frequently the first thing that is seen by a hiring manger or recruiter. What's written in the letter often determines if the reader is going to take a closer look at your resume or send everything to the recycling bin. That means it has to be short, to the point, and the letter needs to concentrate on marketing your abilities.
To make sure a cover letter meets all of these requirements, you need to follow a specific formula or format for writing the letter. Our approach is a simple one based on a four paragraph formula:
Introductory Paragraphs for Cover Letters
Obviously the introductory paragraph is the single most important part of your cover letter. As such, it needs to be a fact-filled overview of your skills and achievements that later appear in your resume. The best way to show how this is done is through an example.
Example of an Introductory Paragraph
I have successfully combined my (educational background) and applied skills in the areas of (marketing and operations) to successfully (meet all balanced scorecard targets) and (generate sales in excess of $5.0 million). I have been asked to take on increasingly more responsibility at company XYZ.
Objective Statements for Cover Letters
In the second paragraph of your cover letter you're going to do something that is really relatively simple, but often missed when writing a cover letter. You're going to tell the reader why you're sending them your resume. The key element in this second paragraph is your objective statement.
Your objective statement is summary of the job opportunities that you want to pursue with a particular company. At times you might want to restrict your objective to a single type of position within a company. If you're using an electronic cover letter, you might want to include several possible objectives.
Example of an Objective Statement
I am bringing to your attention my skills, accomplishments, and (talent for selling in a competitive marketplace) so that we can discuss joining XYZ company as a (senior member of your direct sales) team.
Achievements in a Cover Letter
The third paragraph of your cover letter contains an excerpt pulled directly from your resume. Now some might argue that duplicating content is a waste of the reader's valuable time. Our argument is this: Pulling vital information from your resume actually saves the reader time. If they are not interested in reading your resume after looking at your achievements, then it's probably just not meant to be.
Examples of Achievements Section
Major achievements to date include:
- Founded own accounting firm following college graduation and grew revenue in ten years to $3,000,000. Later sold the business operations and clientele list to a Big Six accounting firm.
- Significantly upgraded consumer opinion of Large Company through the launch of an integrated branding campaign. Large Company was subsequently ranked #1 in consumer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates.
- Developed new client acquisition strategies for sales team and subsequently trained workforce in new client acquisition program. Within three years, the number of active clients increased by 50%.
Closing Statements for Cover Letters
The final paragraph for your cover letter is a straightforward statement of your optimism. You want to tell the reader that you're interested in discussing how you can add value to their company. Here are a couple of examples of how you might want to structure your closing statement.
Examples of a Closing Statement
- I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I can add value to your company's bottom-line results.
- I am eager to discuss with you how I can help turn your company's operations around and increase your shareholder's value.
Elements of a Cover Letter
It is these four elements, when put together, that concisely tell the reader exactly what you're after and why you're the best person for the job. If you're successful with your cover letter, then hopefully the hiring manager will look closely enough at your resume to invite you to a job interview.
Cover Letter Resources
We've got several other cover letter samples and resume writing resources that you might want to read through before finalizing your cover letter. Putting together an effective document is a pretty simple process but one that's often ignored. Don't make the mistake of taking shortcuts when it comes to your cover letter. A well written paper is just as effective in landing a job interview as a well written resume.
About the Author - How to Write a Cover Letter
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