How to Write a resume cover letter
How to write a resume cover letter
In today's competitive job market, finding an open position in your field of choice is akin to waiting in line to ride the most popular roller coaster in a theme park. You've paid to make it in to this giant park by going to college or working your way up to qualify for a position, now you're waiting for room to open up on the coaster so you'll have your shot to enjoy the ride. The only thing with this coaster is, you're never guaranteed a ride. That's why you take the time to construct a detailed, professional-looking resume; a good resume can pull you to the front of the line with potential employers, giving you a chance at that much sooner. But what a resume can't do is guarantee a position. A resume is just a factual representation of your work life--who you have worked for and what you've done. It is structured to be both objective and scannable. It doesn't tell the potential employer anything about you Enter the resume cover letter.
A resume cover letter is ideally a subjective and shortened form of the resume. It tells the company enough about you to decide whether they should take the time to bring you in for an interview. It is a billboard, a teaser that says 'I've got a lot to offer; give me a chance!' An absolutely perfect resume cover letter (sprinkled with a little bit of good timing) can land you a job before you even get to the interview. But how do you go about writing the perfect resume cover letter?
To write a good resume cover letter, you need to know what you want to say. You will need to include the following components:
- Contact information
- Salutation
- Introduction
- Pitch
- Conclusion
A resume cover letter is written in business letter format, so contact information should be centered at the top of the page. This includes your name, address, telephone number (and e-mail address, if you're sending the resume through snail mail. Two spaces down and on the left margin, type in the date; another two spaces and you should type in their contact information: The Company name, address and the name and position of the person you are addressing the letter to. If you don't know the name of the person you're addressing, you can address the letter “Attn: Human Resources Department.”
When sending a resume cover letter through e-mail, you normally don't have to include their contact information. A simple “Dear Sir/Ma'am” will be sufficient. Try not to use “To whom it may concern” as a greeting. Not only does this reveal a lack of preparation, it can also come off as sounding rude; many letters of complaint start off in this manner.
Introduce yourself and what your goal is (usually it's to get the position!). Again, think succinct. Get to the point so that you can move on to the “pitch.” Don't talk weather or ask “How are you today?” The person reading your cover letter isn't in your presence to answer the questions, not that he/she would have time to anyway. Save the trivialities for the interview.
The pitch is the most important part of the resume cover letter; this is where you sell yourself to the company. Reveal why you think you'd be the best person for the job, using concrete examples from your life to back up your claims. Delve a little into your personal life--but only if it will increase your odds of getting an interview. Think recent and relevant. If you're applying for a position as a computer programmer and you spend your weekends volunteering for an IT on-line help desk, mention that. It is both recent and relevant. If you were in the computer club in High School ten years ago, don't bother to tell them about it. It's relevant, but not recent. What you've done in the last three years can more than likely weigh into a hiring decision. Use your judgment in deciding what to add and what to leave out, remembering that you've only got one page--under 1000 words--to make an impression.
When you've finished the pitch, you should be able to read it and feel confident that you'll get the job. You've told the potential employer who you are, what you want, what you do and how good you do it, and why your qualifications make you the best match for the position. Finish the resume cover letter by reiterating these points quickly. Then tell them how they may reach you to set up an interview, thank them for their time and wish them a good day. Finally, proof-read the resume cover letter carefully, attach your resume, send it off and sit back. Soon you'll hear the call of the roller coaster ride operator as you get called to the front of the line.
Thank you to Jennifer Ratliff for this "how to write a resume cover letter" article
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