I have been in the field of human resources for 20 years and can honestly say that the cover leader is the most important submittal I receive, and the one I read first and most carefully. If you want to write a resume for results, a dynamite cover letter is critical!
Why? Well, with today's market conditions, and with the ease of applicants only having to punch "send" on an email, it's not unusual to receive up to a thousand resumes for any job that being advertised!
But, you may say to yourself "it takes so much time to write individualized cover letters!" Well, I say to you, "how strongly do you want that new position?"
This article will share some of the most important points of writing a cover letter and give you some shortcut ideas.
So how to stand out? A well-written cover letter must have the following elements:
1. The Cover Letter Must Be Individualized
This is not a place to use a "To Whom It May Concern' salutation because it shows you haven't put in the effort! Individualize the cover even if you have to do some detective work to figure out to whom to address it. Unless the ad is "blind", you should be able to figure out to whom to address it.
2. Be Very Focused in Aligning Your Prior Experience to the Position
Highlight how your achievements align with the position requirements. If you are a fabulous graphic artist and the position requires great creative juices, hone in on how your prior successes can be transitioned.
On the other hand, if you are a graphic designer and the position is for an IT programmer, save yourself the effort and the reader his/her time and don't submit your resume! You're wasting everyone's time.
3. Let Your Personality Shine Through
Reading resumes can be really boring! You want to send jolts of electricity through the reader so he'll sit up and say "Wow! This one looks good!" This is your opportunity to let the reader get some glimpse of who you are beyond a dry resume!
Communicate enthusiasm for the position, that this position fits your qualifications and experience to a tee, and that you are the best fit!
4. Follow-Up And Be Proactive
Sitting and waiting for someone to contact you can be agonizing...and so passive!
Take the initiative and say that you will contact them within the week to further discuss your qualifications and interest and hopefully schedule an interview.
If you are really lucky and get a chance to talk to the hiring manager, it will give you a "live" opportunity to communicate your skill set, interest and enthusiasm.
The truth is that the squeaky wheel does get an interview...sometimes just because they show persistence, excitement and a real interest in the position!
So how can you write a really good cover letter when you're exhausted from the whole process of applying and your creative juices are drying out?
