Use These Tips When You Write A Cover Letter

When you write a cover letter that is powerful, it highlights your best qualifications and gets your resume read.

While there is no single "best format" for a cover letter, there are some general guidelines about what to do and not to do in your cover letter. Follow these tips, along with the format guidelines and cover letter sample and you'll write a cover letter that is strong and polished.

1. Whenever possible, address your letter to a specific person. If a job posting doesn't include a person's name, do some research to find out who the correct person is. Try calling the employer (but not if the ad states "no phone calls"), and ask a receptionist for the hiring manager's name. Keep your letter professional by using "Dear Mr. Smith," not "Dear Steve."
   

2. When you write a cover letter, if you are unable to find the Hiring Manager's name, use "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Human Resource Manager" or 'Dear Recruiter". Never use "To Whom It May Concern.

3. If you're mailing the cover letter, be sure to sign it by hand – otherwise it looks like you're mass mailing letters.

4. Avoid using the word "I" too much. Restate it as "you" whenever possible.

5. Use Times New Roman 12 point font, short paragraphs and bullets.

6. Don't use the worn out "thank you for your consideration" or "Sincerely". Try something different that makes you stand out and be remembered, such as: ""With my best regards" "enthusiastically yours" or "with kindest personal regards" (best for a thank you note), "good wishes always" "Yours always".

7. Make sure you customize your cover letter to match each job for which you apply. It should specifically highlight the qualifications for that particular job opening and use plenty of keywords relevant to that job. Special Note: if you're applying for several very similar positions at several companies, you'll be tempted to create one cover letter and then customize only slightly as needed for each employer. This is okay, but BE SURE to remove all references to another company in your cover letter. Of every 100 cover letters I receive, About two or three were obviously written for another company and I usually don't read any further.

8. Use good quality stationary and a qood quality printer.

9. Write a cover letter that is half a page in length – two thirds of a page at most. The purpose of a cover letter is to get the Hiring Manager to read your resume – not to restate your resume. When you're brief, you demonstrate that you understand the value of the reader's time.

10. Try Highlighting one or two of your most significant accomplishments or abilities. Selecting only one or two can help your chance of being remembered, if the accomplishments are significant.

11. Avoid using ready-made phrases such as "self-starter," "proven leadership skills," "excellent interpersonal skills," etc., unless you have specific examples of accomplishments to back them up. Otherwise, you come across as throwing around today's buzz words with nothing substantial to back them up.

12. Never overstate your experience or skills when your write a cover letter. If you aren't found out in the interview, you certainly will be if you get the job. Even if you don't have every qualification listed in a job ad, be honest about yourself and highlight your strengths.

13. As a Hiring Manager, I appreciate a bit of humor in a cover letter if it's appropriate. Your resume is a formal document and as a rule should never contain humor, but a cover letter gives you the chance to show a little personality. This can make you stand out among candidates. Just remember to keep your tone friendly and professional when your write a cover letter.

14. Avoid gimmicks. I once received a box with two plastic toy teeth, a cover letter and note that said: "I'd give my eye teeth for an interview." Another Hiring Manager I know received a pair of dice and note that said "roll the dice and give me a chance." These things look corny and usually don't work, the one exception being for sales positions. Many Hiring Managers for sales jobs want to see some assertiveness and creativity, but bear in mind that unless your gimmick is truly original, it can backfire.

15. When you write a cover letter, write in a conversational style. Don't use words in your cover letter than you wouldn't use in everyday conversation.

16. Finally, have someone else you trust read your cover letter for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. You can read your own letter ten times and not spot an obvious error that someone else sees immediately. Don't let that someone else be the Hiring Manager.

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