COVER LETTER TIPS

THE WAY YOU WRITE YOUR COVER LETTER IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE MESSAGE IT DELIVERS.

Your letter is an example of your communication skills, and employers want people that can communicate effectively. Here are some pointers on making your cover letter appear and sound professional.

PERSONALIZE

• Target your letter to the individual with hiring authority for the position you want.
• Be specific and get to the point.
• Make sure you answer the question, "Why should I hire this person?"

WRITING STYLE

• Use simple language and basic sentence structure.
• Do not try to sound like someone else. Be yourself.
• Be formal, but not stiff. Use action words and create dynamic sentences.
• Avoid using clichés, like "I've taken the liberty of enclosing my resume," or "I'm a people person."
• Try not to waste space, and the reader's time, with unnecessary details.

POSITIVE AND CONFIDENT

• Be positive. Nobody wants to hire somebody with an attitude.
• Do not sound like you are begging or are desperate for a job.
• Express that you are qualified for the job, but do not demand the position.
• Do not profess to know more about the company than you really do.
• Explain why you find the company attractive and leave it at that.

DOUBLE CHECK

• Check carefully for grammar and spelling mistakes, and then check again. Typos and grammatical errors say a lot about your work.
• Keep a dictionary and thesaurus handy for proper word usage.
• Sign it; otherwise, the employer will feel that you are sending a form letter.