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Your cover letter is the first thing employers see when they look at your job search materials. A cover letter is your introduction, your sales pitch. What is your cover letter revealing about you?
For every recruiter or hiring professional who does not read cover letters, there are many others that are interested in reading every word. True, many do not take the time to read both the letter and resume, skipping right to the resume. Others are tired of boring letters saying the same old thing — they simply do not bother to read them.
To make an excellent first impression, let’s review advice from leaders in the recruiting industry.
Many prospective employers view cover letters as a way to get to know you. Your cover letter gives away features about you, like:
Your cover letter should be one page and typed in the same font or a complimentary font to your resume. If you do know the name of the hiring manager or recruiter, address the letter directly to that individual. If you do not know the name, it is best to address the letter to the hiring professional (e.g., Dear Hiring Professional).
Let’s take a look at the body of the cover letter. There are four areas to explore:
I am very interested in applying for the position of Plant Operations Director, advertised in the Daily Newspaper. The position description matches my background in manufacturing.
My background is a 7 year progressive career in operations including direct supervision and broad knowledge of fabrication, manufacturing and electro-mechanical assembly operations. I have a flair for hiring talent that understands exact manufacturing principles and an aptitude for providing excellent customer service. My team was recognized year over year for client satisfaction.
Reading in the business section last weekend, your company was featured in the top 50 employers to work for in Los Angeles. I would welcome being a part of that success.
If you are seeking a sincere professional, with extensive experience in plant leadership, team and project management, then I am that person. I have attached my resume for your review and will follow up with you in a few days to answer any preliminary questions. In the meantime, you can reach me by calling (555) 555-5555. I appreciate your consideration of my qualifications, and look forward to interviewing with you soon.
There are always some pitfalls to avoid when writing your cover letter. Besides the list that follows make sure that you have others you trust read your letter for accuracy and appeal. Would they hire you?
We encourage you to write your own cover letter. There are, however, for a fee companies that will customize and draft cover letters for you. If this is your route and you find a professional who is willing to write your cover letter, ensure that they write a few versions.
Once you have put your letter together, go back and smooth out any rough edges of your writing. Check for typos, misspellings and grammatical errors. You only get one chance to make a first impression. By following some of these simple suggestions you are off to a great start.
1StopResume.com utilizes several sources to bring you revolutionary and fundamental job search wisdom. While we would like to acknowledge individually those websites, books and articles, authors, and masters, this list would be extensive. We thank these sources for their contributions.