Education

How To Write A Cover Letter

A cover letter holds a very important position when we have to apply for a job. Your cover letter is so important that getting a call for the job interview or being totally ignored, depends on it. So we see that its really important to devote our time and write an effective cover letter.

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Below is given all the necessary information to write a successful cover letter that will fulfill your job requirements. Going over these tips will tell you what to include in a cover letter and how to format it.

What Is A Cover Letter?

Before writing a cover letter we should first become familiar with its purpose. When you apply for a job your cover letter will highlight your skills and experience in more detail.

In a cover letter you have to convince the employer, why you are suitable for the job you are applying for and why they should hire you. We don’t have to repeat what is in our resume but in a very convincing manner we have to put forth our case that why we are such a strong contender for the job. So in short we can say that our cover letter market’s our credentials and helps us to get the required job.

What To Include In Your Cover Letter

A cover letter should not be a copy of your resume but in fact it should complement your resume. Actually the cover letter is to add a personal touch to your application for employment.

In fact a cover letter is your first impression, in short your earliest written contact with a potential employer. Even the smallest mistake counts here. Sometimes your cover letter is perfectly written but is rejected by a hiring manager because it has no specifics in the job description.

The reasons for your interest in the specific organization and your most relevant skills or experiences should be mentioned in an effective cover letter.

What To Leave Off In Your Cover Letter

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This letter is not about you but your qualifications for the job. So there is no need to share any personal information in it. You shouldn’t mention any qualifications that the job requires and you don’t have. You should not mention your salary expectations unless the company asks for it.

Another very important thing is that your cover letter should be clear and precise. You should be focused and should mention only the things that are required. In short your letter should have enough information that would entitle you for a call for the job interview.

Customize Your Cover Letter:

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It is very important that your cover letter be tailored to each position you are applying to. Each cover letter should include:

  • Which job you are applying for.
  • How you learned about the job.
  • Why you are qualified for the job.
  • What you have to offer the employer, and why you want to work at this specific company
  • Thank you for being considered for the job.

Cover Letter Writing Guidelines:

Below is a list of items that should be included in every cover letter.

Header

A cover letter should begin with both your and the employer’s contact information (name, address, phone number, email) followed by the date. IN the case of an email the contact information is given at the end.

Salutation

The cover letter should begin with a salutation, Dr/Mr/Ms. Last Name. And in the case of being unsure whether the contact is female or male we can simply write, “Dear Hiring Manager”.

Introduction

We should start our  introduction by stating what job we are applying for and explain where we heard about the job, particularly if from a contact associated with the company. We should very briefly mention our skills which would match the job requirements.

Body

In one or two paragraphs we should give the reason for our interest in the job and why we would be an excellent selection for the job. We should mention our specific qualifications and explain how we meet those qualifications. We should not only explain just what we have been doing but instead give reasonable examples from our work experience.

Closing

In the closing section of our cover letter we have to mention how your skills make us a strong fit for the company. We can also mention that we would like the opportunity to interview or discuss employment opportunities. After explaining what we would do for a follow-up, we can thank the employer

Signature

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We can end the cover letter with our signature, handwritten, followed by our typed name.

Format Your Cover Letter

We should format our cover letter like a professional business letter. The font should be the same as on the resume.

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