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 The last time we featured an article on resume writing, we proposed an outline for writing a cover letter. The majority of information you will find online or in publications today treat cover letters as if they were far less important than the resume itself. Consequently those same websites and publications frequently have a very limited number of resume cover letter samples for you to look at.
Importance of a Good Cover Letter
There is not doubt in my mind, as a hiring manager, that a well-constructed cover letters can help you get a job interview. The cover letter is often the only way to communicate the introductory statements that you want to make to a potential employer. At the extreme, a poorly constructed cover letter will result in that employer passing right over your resume.
At its best, a good cover letter will entice the reader to take a very close look at your resume. That means a good cover letter can help to bring you one step closer to finding a new job.
Cover Letter Basics
Listed below are the four basic components or sections of a cover letter. If you want to know more information about each of these components, then take a look at our article on How to Write a Cover Letter.
The four components of a good cover letter include:
- Introductory Paragraph - a fact-filled overview of your skills and achievements that later appear on your resume.
- Objective Statement - a summary of the job opportunities that you want to pursue with a particular company.
- Achievements - the same achievements that appear in your resume also need to be included in your cover letter.
- Closing Statement - a simple statement of your optimism is used to close out the letter.
Cover Letter Samples
In this article, I will present two resume cover letter samples that I hope will get you heading in the right direction or spark some fresh ideas. Later on I'll direct you to more cover letter samples that you can download for free.
Keep in mind that it is not possible to present cover letter samples that will apply to all employment opportunities and situations. But the examples presented should give you enough information so you can construct a cover letter that is aligned with your career objectives.
In both of the cover letters below, I am giving you a sample of the actual cover letter itself. Every word processing software package I've seen in the last 10 years can help you to format the letter properly. Please don't forget to use the spell checking capability of your word processing application and have someone you trust proofread the cover letter as well as your resume.
It is very discouraging to see spelling errors on a cover letter. It's often thought to be an indication of someone that does not pay attention to the details and /or the quality of the work you might expect to see if you hired the job applicant.
Cover Letter Sample #1
This first cover letter sample is one that might be used by job seeker with a technical background. This particular sample is written for someone trying to apply for a market research job:
I have developed and applied strong analytical skills in the market research area from the design state through reporting. My abilities have been proven through the achievement of strong bottom line results. I would like to take this opportunity to bring my skills, experience and achievements to your attention.
I have interest in exploring the opportunity to join XYZ Company as a member of your Market Research staff.
The following results were achieved through the application of the market research skills outlined in the attached resume:
- Lead the construction of a research study, which framed the most cost-effective strategy for introducing a new product offering.
- Authored a well-received research study for a division of a market leader in financial services, resulting in significant changes to their promotional strategy.
(A rule of thumb would be to include about 4 - 6 achievements in a resume cover letter.)
I worked hard to achieve these results and look forward to discussing how I can contribute to XYZ Company's future success.
Cover Letter Sample #2
This second cover letter sample is one that a professional might use. This example is written for someone looking for a financial or accounting type positions:
I have applied skills in financial planning, analysis and capital budgeting to achieve cost reductions, identify cost-savings opportunities, and realized bottom line results for a Fortune 200 company. Exceptional results have been consistently rewarded through a series of progressive promotions.
I would like to bring to your attention my talent, skills and achievements for developing productive and results-oriented relationships with middle and upper management so that we can discuss joining XYZ Company as a member of your Financial Planning Team.
Results achieved include:
- Conducted in-depth calculations and analysis that generated significant reductions to expense budget, totaling $3.5 million in the areas of depreciation, benefits, and utilities.
- Created the framework and was promoted to a position which centrally manages profitability studies and capital planning activities for ABC Company and its operating subsidiaries.
(Once again, the idea would be to include about 4 - 6 items in the resume cover letter)
I look forward to discussing with you how my skills and background can contribute to XYZ Company's future success.
More Cover Letter Samples
The above cover letter samples should give you a good idea of the elements you would want to include in your own letter. As a follow up to this topic, we've written a second article entitled More Free Cover Letter Samples.
In that article you'll find download links to four more cover letter samples. That brings our total to six cover letter samples - more than enough to get a very good idea of what a well written cover letter looks like.
About the Author - Resume Cover Letter Samples
Bill Sharlow is the Editor of Money-Zine.com. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Money-Zine.com
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