How To Write Cover Letters That Work

Sometimes there is confusion about the exact meaning of the

term “cover letter”.

That’s because when most people use that term, they don’t

realize that there are two main types of cover letters.

There are “document transmittal cover letters”, and there

are “resume cover letters”.

DOCUMENT COVER LETTERS

A document cover letter is a letter of transmittal that

explains and conveys an attached document to a second party.

The types of documents that this type of cover letter is

used for typically include: reports, plans, legal papers,

applications, manuscripts, contracts, travel documents,

booklets, manuals, brochures, product samples, photos,

artwork, etc.

A document cover letter is normally a short one-page

business letter that very briefly explains the attached or

enclosed document(s) that is being sent. It only contains

the essential information such as why the document(s) is

being sent, what the recipient is expected to do with it,

and any applicable deadlines.

RESUME COVER LETTERS

When most people use or hear the term “cover letter” they

are thinking of resume cover letters.

Resume cover letters are used for one purpose only – to

convey resumes or   curriculum   vitae  to prospective employers.

A resume cover letter is normally a concise one-pager that

introduces you, explains why you’re writing, summarizes

your key skills, abilities and experience, and asks the

recipient to get back to you. Its main purpose is to capture

the attention of the recipient enough to get that person to

look at the attached resume with interest.

Of the two types of cover letters, by far the most commonly

requested at my Writing Help Central Web site is the cover

letter for a resume or  curriculum  vitae .

RESUME COVER LETTER WRITING TIPS

When drafting a cover letter for a resume or cv, there are

a number of important rules of thumb to follow. The

following list is an adapted summary of a similar list in

my eBook “Instant Home Writing Kit”.

1. Address It To A Specific Person

Even when sending an unsolicited resume to a company you

should take the time to find out the name of the appropriate

person and write the letter to that person. At least it will

reach their office. Resumes sent to “Dear Human Resources

Manager” are almost always a waste of time. Name someone

specifically and it will at least make it into an in-basket.

2. Keep It Short And Focused

Remember, your resume already says it all. Keep the letter

short and focused and don’t repeat what is already in the

attached resume or c.v. Never exceed one page in a cover

letter.

3. Be Enthusiastic

Express your interest in the job and the new company with

enthusiasm. Show that you really want the job, and that you

would really like to work for that particular company.

4. Focus On The Needs Of The Employer

Throughout your cover letter make it clear that you are

interested in the needs of the employer. You are there to

help them. You are part of the solution. Try to make this

the subliminal message of your entire letter.

5. Show That You’ve Done Your Homework

Demonstrate a good knowledge of the company and industry

for which you are applying. A one-liner, or a phrase or

two in the appropriate place in your letter that shows you

are interested, and understand that the company’s problems

will give you instant credibility (i.e. do some simple

Internet research).

6. Use The Appropriate “Buzzwords”

Every organization has its own ways of doing things and its

own lingo. Look through key documents such as annual

reports, corporate Web sites, etc. Try to spot key words,

terms, and phrases that are often repeated. Every company

has them. Use as many of these “hot buttons” as you can in

your cover letter – where appropriate, of course. For

example, if the “Message From the CEO” in the annual report

mentions the phrase “action plan for the future” three

times, make sure you work that term into your cover letter.

Don’t overdo it, of course.

7. Summarize Your Skills and Abilities

If possible, without making the letter too long, summarize

your overall skills and abilities in bullet-point form.

This can make them stand out in a way that they wouldn’t,

buried in the resume or cv.

8. Promise To Follow Up

In the final paragraph, clearly state that you will be

following up by telephone in a few days to see if you can

answer any questions. Make sure you do this. Industry

experts say that over 80% of people never do this crucial

follow-up and just wait for the phone to ring.

The challenge of course, is to try to address all of these

points in a three or four paragraph letter. It can be done!

To see a fully-formatted “real-life template” of a resume

cover letter, go to the following link:

http://writinghelp-central.com/cover-letter.html

© 2005 by Shaun Fawcett

How To Write Cover Letters That Work