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Writing a Cover Letter<br />

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What is a cover letter?<br /><ul><li>Highlights key points in your resume.

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Expresses your interest in a position.

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Shows off your qualifications to a prospectiveemployer</li></li></ul><li>Pre-Cover Letter Business<br /><ul><li>If you have a company or employer in mind, do some research regarding their policies and principles.

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Review websites to find about the company.

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Understand what qualifications the company is looking for and design your resume and cover letter to match your skill sets and background to the company’s needs</li></li></ul><li>Make a list of reasons why you’re the ideal candidate.<br />*Note: most ads consist of a wish list of qualifications and employers know that it is unlikely that a candidate will meet each and every qualification on their list.<br />

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A Few Things to Keep in Mind<br /><ul><li>Do not over use “I” Instead, use the word “you” .

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Avoid writing more than one page.

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The point of the cover letter is to flesh out your resume’s selling points and not to repeat the same things that appear in your resume.

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Never state how you will benefit by working for the company. Stay focused on the company’s needs not yours.

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Avoid employing a boastful or bragging tone.</li></li></ul><li>Beginning The cover Letter<br /><ul><li>Address the resume cover letter to a specific person at the company you’re applying to. You can usually find a name in the company’s publications or you can inquire by telephone .

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Immediately note the position that you are applying for and where you found out about it, including date of publication and page number when possible.

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State that you are interested in the position and qualified.

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End the introductory paragraph by providing the reasons why you are qualified, thus, forecasting the rest of the letter.</li></li></ul><li>Body ParagrapH(s)<br /><ul><li>Consider writing two paragraphs: education and experience.

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Refer employers to certain points in your resume.

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Emphasize your strongest qualifications.

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Show how these qualifications will benefit the company.

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Provide examples of your achievements that have benefited previous companies

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Be specific in your descriptions .</li></li></ul><li>Closing Paragraph<br /><ul><li>Ask for an interview.

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Provide possible times and dates.

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Include specific contact information: email address and phone number.

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Close actively. Tell them you will contact them in a few days.

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Be genuine and thank them for their time.</li>