| If you have sent your resume in to apply for a job | | | | benefit the company if you are selected for the |
| without writing a cover letter, the chances are that | | | | position. View it as a sales letter. You have to sell |
| your details are just one in a pile of several or | | | | yourself to the company, and make them WANT to |
| perhaps even several hundred. Your resume may be | | | | buy you! |
| one of the best in the whole stack, but chances are, | | | | The next paragraph is usually where you will dive a |
| if you don't have a good cover letter to accompany | | | | little further into the facts of your knowledge and |
| it, your resume will not even be seen. | | | | qualifications for the job. You can expound on |
| In today's fast-paced world, you need every edge | | | | anything you mentioned in the introductory |
| you can get. Probably the first thing the employer will | | | | paragraph, as well as mention anything noteworthy |
| do is sift through all of the resumes (that is, view the | | | | that you didn't bring up at first, that could be helpful |
| cover letters) and get rid of the ones that look like | | | | in enhancing your professional image. |
| run-of-the-mill work. This is your opportunity to grab | | | | The final paragraph will state the fact that there is a |
| their attention and make them notice you right off | | | | copy of our resume attached. Here you might also |
| the bat. | | | | want to show your desire to meet with the hiring |
| There are two basic ways for writing a cover letter - | | | | manager to relay some of your ideas. Repeat your |
| paragraph form and executive outline form. Paragraph | | | | contact information here, along with the days and |
| form is the more traditional and probably the most | | | | times you are available to be contacted. Finally, you |
| common type of cover letter used. Executive outline | | | | should always end your letter with a signature. |
| style, which offers the use of bullets, generally works | | | | The other cover letter type is the executive outline |
| for a shorter piece of content. Paragraph form is | | | | type. Similar to the paragraph style, you will also start |
| probably the neater of the two approaches, but also | | | | this one with the current date, addresses, greeting, |
| could be viewed as too long in some cases. So the | | | | etc. Next, state the position you are applying for. |
| type you choose may indeed depend on your | | | | Next, come up with a very brief paragraph that |
| situation for the job application at hand. | | | | focuses on your basic qualifications for the job being |
| Since, paragraph layout is the more common, let's | | | | applied for, your work history, and an emphasis on |
| first review that one in a little more detail. Basically, | | | | being able to help the organization. To back this |
| you start a paragraph layout cover letter the same | | | | information up, include 2 to 4 bulleted paragraphs, |
| way you would if you were starting a letter you | | | | which highlight your important features that best |
| were writing to a person or place of business. You'll | | | | match the job opportunity. Then similar to the |
| want to have the date and greeting at the top and | | | | paragraph style, close it out by 'selling yourself' to the |
| generally three or four paragraphs, written in block | | | | company, giving them your contact information again, |
| formatting. | | | | and thanking the reader for their time. |
| Your first paragraph should tell of your job | | | | Once you have written one of each type, you will |
| experience, education, skills that pertain to the job | | | | have a solid template from which to work. No matter |
| you are applying for, and any other points that you | | | | the type of job you are applying for, just pull up the |
| think would make you stand out from the crowd of | | | | appropriate template and look over it. Be sure that |
| other applicants. | | | | your contact information is correct, and change any |
| The second paragraph generally should show your | | | | details that might need to be tailored to the particular |
| desire to become a member of the company for | | | | job you are applying for, and GO GET THAT JOB! |
| which you are applying. Then tell them HOW you will | | | | Remember... Writing a cover letter is essential! |