A cover letter is your first opportunity to introduce yourself to a prospective employer. But how can you separate yourself from the 499 other applicants? With a strong, concise, and informative cover letter.
Your cover letter should have the following sections:
A Header:
Your Contact Information
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
Email Address
Date
Employer Contact Information (if you have it)
Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Salutation:
First Paragraph:
The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one.
Second Paragraph:
The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it.
Customize it to the job description! Online applications will be “screened” for matching words. Which means you’ll get auto-rejected before anyone sees your information.
Sincerely,
Regards/Best Regards,
Respectfully,
(SIGNATURE)
Your Name
Your LinkedIn Profile URL
Your Email Address
Your Phone Number
For this post, tell us which section of the cover letter is the MOST important and why you chose it. What are the consequences of a poorly written cover letter? How can you ensure your cover letter is as precise as possible – without it being too wordy?
