Sample General Cover Letter

This article on “How To Write A Cover Letter” will help you write a good cover letter.

If you are reading this article, no doubt you are curious as to how to write a cover letter. This seems a daunting task for many, but it need not be intimidating. Your goal is to get your resume noticed, and if you submit it to an employer without a cover letter, you risk having your resume ignored. This article will explain how to write a cover letter; after reading, you will see that this task is really not that complicated after all.

What purpose does a cover letter serve?

Basically, this document is an introduction to your resume. The cover letter is your first contact with an employer, and it also adds a personal touch. Not all employers require a cover letter, but make certain you include one if they do request it. You absolutely want to avoid making a first impression that you cannot follow instructions!

Tips to help you write a cover letter

The first step in writing your cover letter is to address it specifically to the employer. Never address it to “sir,” “madam,” or “whom it may concern.” If you have tried to contact the company to find out who you should address your cover letter to with no luck, address it to “personnel.”

Next, you want to state your reason for including the letter. Let the employer know that you are responding to a specific job posting, and that you are interested in the position (state the position, in case there is more than one opening.) Also, write your information in a way that expresses your enthusiasm about the job.

If you are responding to a job advertisement, pay particular attention to the details in the ad. You want the information in your cover letter to relate to the job qualifications; describe how your talents and skills relate directly to the qualifications for the position. Always try to focus on the employers needs, and not what you desire for yourself from the job.

Be sure to highlight your accomplishments and any other special skills that relate to the job for which you are applying.

These are the basics on how to write a cover letter that will help give an employer a favorable impression of you before they get to your actual resume. Keep your cover letter as brief as possible, indicating only those strongest skills you possess that are relevant to the job opening.

Always make certain that your contact information is current, especially if you tend to take the same cover letter and re-write it to suit a particular position.

You want to create a favorable first impression, so critique your work. Read over it several times, checking for spelling or grammar errors. Edit your information as needed, and look at it through the eyes of a potential employer. You can find cover letter examples to help you further at resume-resource.com and bestcoverletters.com.

Keith Spencer, CPRW

Career Expert

Keith is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and trusted media source in the career industry with over a decade of experience helping job seekers stand out.

Read more articles by Keith Spencer, CPRW

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