It's true that cover letters are the best tools to get you a job interview. A good cover letter can pique the interest of a potential employer, even before they have browsed through your resume. It can really give you an edge over other applicants. Even if you have the best qualifications, another applicant with a well written cover letter may be interviewed first, and thus has a greater chance of landing the job.
Writing a cover letter is not as difficult as it seems. You don't have to be great writer to write a good cover letter. Your cover letter should be compact and direct to the point, as employers may not have the time to read through long letters considering the number of applicants they have. It is in fact easier to write a cover letter now because of the several useful cover letter templates that you can download online.
If you don't know how to get started with writing a cover letter, these cover letter templates will be able to assist you. They would serve as guides so you know how to format your letter, and where to write specific information. If you'll just follow a cover letter template, you'll be able to organize your ideas well, and within minutes, you'll have a well written cover letter.
You have to remember that these templates are just guides. Every cover letter you send out should be personalized for the company and position you are applying for. The most common mistakes that applicants make in writing their cover letters is that they make very general statements, or worse, they sometimes forget to change the position title and company name.
In writing your cover letter, you should make it as compact as possible, but catchy and appealing. Who wouldn't get tired of reading stereotyped or canned cover letters? Just imagine how many applications these companies receive in a day. If you're cover letter is the same as hundreds of others, then most likely, it would just go through the shredding machine together with your resume.
Cover letters show your sincerity in getting the job and being a part of the company. If you just copied your cover letter, then it gives the employers an impression that you don't take the job application seriously.
Basically, you have two options on how to write your cover letter. You may write it using the paragraph form or the executive outline. Cover letters written in paragraph gives out a smart and professional look, but maybe too lengthy to read. On the other hand, an outline or bulleted form is less formal but easier to read. In paragraph form, there's a chance that the employer might overlook important information on your resume.
The primary sections of a cover letter are the heading, body and the closing. The heading includes the date and the salutation. It is necessary that you close your cover letter with your signature.
The most important part of the letter is the body, which is about three spaces below the heading. Don't forget to mention the specific position you are applying for your sincere intentions of joining the company. Of course, you need to include a summary of your qualifications and other personal information that may be relevant to the position. In the last part of your body, don't forget to include a request for an interview and thank the employer for his time. Also mention that you have your resume and other credentials attached.
