A professional cover letter is your introduction to a prospective employer. It serves as the first communication you have with the company, so it should be a good balance of information and courtesy. You want to come across as not only being informed about the position for which you are applying, but also friendly and easy to work with. In fact, many employers are drawn to one applicant because they believe he/she will fit in at the organization, even if his/her resume is not as stellar as another applicant's.
Keep It Short
In our world of fast-paced communication, people rarely take the time to fully read a long, drawn-out letter. Hiring managers or HR managers get hundreds of resumes and cover letters and will likely pass over a long letter, or simply skim it for specific points. Keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page. For those areas you want to showcase, use bullets. For example: If you’re an accountant and you want the hiring manager to immediately know what you have to offer, you’d bullet the fact that you’re a CPA, skilled in taxation issues, and that you represented your company at an IRS audit.
Introduce Yourself, but Don't Write a Biography
The cover letter is an overview of you and your qualifications. It is not an in-depth expose of your entire work history or life history. Keep on subject and avoid any topics that stray away from your intent. For example, the fact that you love tabby cats or the Boston Red Sox is irrelevant, unless of course you are applying for a job at the humane society or in the major leagues.
Don't Be Cute
HR managers and hiring managers have seen just about every trick in the book—from people sending cover letters on fluorescent colored paper to having resumes delivered by candy-grams. These tricks and gimmicks may sound like a good idea at the time, but chances are the person will simply be annoyed at the wasted time and effort. Rely on your qualifications and merits.
Remember That the Cover Letter Is Not Your Resume
Give an overview of what you have done, showcase one stellar accomplishment as it relates to the targeted job, and save the rest for the resume. The cover letter should entice the hiring manager to read your resume, and the only way you can accomplish that is to provide at least one stellar accomplishment to prove that you are the perfect candidate for the position.
Don't Be Desperate
Something else that turns off prospective employers is desperation. Tell the reader that you are excited about the position, but do not say your life depends on it. Don't say that you have dreamt of such a job all your life and would do anything in your power to get it. Not only does such behavior reek of desperation, it even sounds a little crazy.
Be Cordial
Be sure to thank the reader for the opportunity to apply for the position, and end by saying that you look forward to hearing from him. Or, even go so far as to request an interview. But again, be cordial and polite about it.
Don’t Forget Contact Information
Use the same header in your cover letter that you used in your resume. It provides all the contact information for the employer to reach you and it provides a professional look to your employment package.
Using these tips, you can write a stellar cover letter that, combined with a targeted resume, not only gets the attention of a prospective employer, but possibly gets you that coveted interview.
