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No matter what the economic situation may be, getting a job is no easy task. This makes it even more important to put together a nice package for employers to consider each and every time you hit the mail. With that being said, many people do not understand what makes good cover letters. There are plenty of things that should go into a solid cover letter, and these things can often be the difference in you getting interviews and you getting left out of the party. So what are some of the best tips to consider when writing your cover letter? The following are vitally important.

Take cover letters seriously
Too many job seekers feel that their CV is all that matters. Research shows that employers care about both the appearance and the quality of the letter, though. These individuals have to look through hundreds of CVs in a given month and they get tons of inquiries about open and closed positions. Standing out is a challenge, and doing something unprofessional is almost always going to hurt you in the long run. A smart job-seeker understands that a cover letter is a professional thing, and it speaks well about your dedication to the position. Spend as much time on it as you do sculpting your CV.

Personalization is key
In an age where it’s hard to get jobs, more people are using the shotgun approach to job seeking. They send out hundreds of resumes to random employers in their area. Though this is a good way to get some responses, it does have some downsides. One of those is that it can be very hard to personalize your cover letter properly. Ask any human resources professional and they are likely to tell you the same thing. That is that they look for personalization. They like to know that you can do a bit of research about their company prior to spending in your CV.

The key thing to remember here is that they will be getting many CVs from many different job seekers. By taking a little bit of time and figuring out what the company is all about, you can distinguish your inquiry from the many others they get. Likewise, this will help you develop a better letter, since you will more easily understand how your skills interact with the company’s needs.

Don’t repeat your CV, supplement it
It should go without saying that the person reviewing your cover letter will have your CV in hand. They will see your accomplishments on the CV, so why would you provide them with a recitation? Not only is this a waste of time, but it wastes your best opportunity to paint yourself in a good light. Cover letters should instead act as a supplemental force. They should seek to expand upon your strengths and tell your story in a way that is easy to understand. Likewise, a cover letter gives you a chance to bring yourself in line with the company you’re applying to.

Use it to show that you get what they need, and use it show that your past experiences fit well with their current hiring goals. This is a prime opportunity to help the hiring professional on the other end see you as a possible asset to the company. One means of doing this is to describe how your past experiences have prepared you for the challenges of the position. Likewise, you might use this opportunity to bring together your jobs and past education.

Good writing is key
Not all positions require good writing ability, but almost all of them require an individual to have communication skills. You should view your cover letter as a chance to show off your concise, clear writing skills. Many people take this to mean that they should pull out the thesaurus and try to impress with big words. This would be a mistake almost every time. Good writing is clear and it gets to the point. It does not waste time nor does it waste words. Get to the point and show them that you are a strong communication that is capable of sharing their company’s message with the masses.

Cover letter checklist
What things should go into a good cover letter? There are plenty of ideas out there, and some people are more apt to get creative than others. The following things must be included in any good cover letter, though:

• Name and address of the hiring professional in the top left portion of the page
• Proper salutation (i.e. Dear John)
• One page maximum
• Bold, prominent signature
• Section speaking to your qualifications as they relate to the job specifics
• Name of networking contact if the person is relevant and known to the reader
• Examples of how you have achieved in the past
• Indication of when and how you will make contact with the employer

Overall, there are many ways to go with a cover letter. Good ones communicate your strengths, show off your writing ability, and help the hiring partner picture you as a part of their company. You should spend a significant amount of time on this, as it can only help you stand out from the crowd.

This was a guest post by John McElborough who writes about finding jobs and succeeding in the workplace.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 at 6:43 am and is filed under Career, Resumes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.