An
employment cover letter is a letter of introduction that you send to a potential employer to accompany your resume, application form and recommendation letters when you apply for a specific job. The cover letter is your very first attempt to communicate directly with the employer. Not only are you interested in the job opening, but why you are the right person for the position.
Similar efforts should be spent in writing your cover letter as your resume. Here are some useful tips to help you.
1) What should be included in a cover letter
You may overwhelm by a specific job opening, and you are eager to write to the hiring manager on how suitable and qualified you are for the job. While having high enthusiasm is commendable, you only need to include the basics in your
employment cover letter. You can
- quote where and when you read the job advertisement
- specify which job you are interested in
- describe your skills, qualifications and professional experiences with regard to the position
- highlight special information from your resume to convince the hiring manager that you're the best candidate.
2) Right format of a cover letter
Similar to any business letter, an
employment cover letter has to be professional and formal. Here are some guidelines on how to polish your letter. You need to
- include details such as the date, contact addresses for both parties
- send the letter to a real person and address him or her with “Ms,” “Mr,” or “Dr”
- write your letter within one page with error free
- ask for an interview in the last paragraph and indicate when you are available to meet up
- thank the hiring manager for reading your application package
- insert your name at the end of the letter and sign in blue ink
- format your letter appropriately with optimal letter size and font type
Your cover letter and resume will be the first documents that an employer receives from you. Therefore, it is very important that it carries a good image on you. One thing that many people do not do is to copy the
employment cover letter from a proven resource which is working well in attracting interviews. You do not need to write your own letter.
(Copyright Steve Wong) - Visit our blog for more information if you need help in writing an effective
employment cover letter.
