Most of us have written many cover letters. We should be pretty good at knocking them out by now. But for some reason, cover letters can be some of the most confounding things we ever have to write. They are our potential entrée into a company, and they must be perfect in order to be effective.
Introduction
Your introduction is supposed to be brief and to the point. Why am I writing the letter? What is your company looking for? Is this a letter I’m writing to promote my own services or to network? Why am I sending you this letter instead of just sending my resume and cover letter?
This is just a short paragraph that tells me everything I need to know about you and why you’re interested in my company. Why should I hire you? What is it about you that is different from all the other applications? Why do I want to hire you?
Why should we hire you? In order to write the best application letter possible, you’ll need to answer these questions in a focused and engaging manner. This starts by making sure you actually know what you’re talking about.
The Introduction
This is where most people stumble, and they leave the best impression by being off-putting, so I won’t waste time here. Objective Let’s get down to it. It’s obvious that a cover letter is for a prospective employer to look at and to gauge whether or not they should even bother with you.
But you are not exactly selling your wares; you are just trying to get a look at them. You are trying to get a read on their mindset, to figure out if they will be a good fit. So it’s really just a conversation, and it should take the form of a little informal icebreaker.
The Subject Line Consider this the curtain that hangs above you. This is your audience. You can have great experience with some great companies, and it won’t mean shit unless the people that read it like you.
The Conclusion
Don't be a basket case writing a cover letter. Use these tips and improve your chances of getting an interview. Rebecca Ryal is the author of Writing Productive cover Letters: Master the Art of Writing for Career Success.
Her previous books include How to Write a Service Demand Letter, and 30 Ideas For Every Letter of Resume or Cover Letter. She's the author of 70 cover letter tips, with 20,000+ page views of her web site, Cover Letter Hackers. She's the lead writer at Creative Career Workshops, a firm specializing in helping professionals build profitable careers. The post 10 Ways to Write a Good Application Letter appeared first on TheJobNetwork.
The Body
Your letter is comprised of the body and a letter head. Most people tend to put the letter head on first, because it's such a hassle to dig out the body. However, I recommend writing the letter head first. It'll keep you focused, allow you to focus on the relevant information, and make you write better.
You should write the letter head last. The Body Briefly describe who you are and what you can contribute to the company. If possible, you should refer to the site content, too. Resume - I recommend that you only provide one resume. Applicant Profile This includes your strengths and skills, as well as your educational history, degrees, and employment experiences.
Paragraphs
If you’re wondering how to write a good application letter, keep in mind that the actual word count in a cover letter is about 1,000 words. A single paragraph should be at least 400 words. Keep the first paragraph short and sweet. It’s generally safe to say who you are, why you’re applying, and that you love the company you’re applying to.
Your second paragraph should establish the high level of interest you have in the job and cover what you hope to accomplish in your first 90 days on the job. Since you’re applying for a job, you’re typically not in a position to oversell yourself.
One slipup and they may never hire you. In my experience, I’ve found that you only have about 400 words to accomplish this goal. To do so, focus on: What makes you unique? Why you’re qualified for the job?
Dos and Don'ts
Although we all have our own ideas about what makes a good cover letter, for the sake of brevity, these are my suggestions. Don't. You should not assume that just because you are writing a cover letter for a job, it has to be all about you. You do not need to be bombastic, boastful or self-aggrandizing.
In fact, you want to stay away from these traits, for reasons that will become obvious in just a few seconds. You also want to avoid the clichés that have become such a trademark of cover letter writing. It is okay to leave in little facts and figures about yourself, and definitely call attention to something that demonstrates what a good person you are.
Conclusion
The process of applying for jobs is always a complicated dance between a jobseeker and a hiring manager, so it's no wonder they might make it tricky. But with a little knowledge of what you should do and what a resume should do, you should be able to navigate this labyrinth and get where you need to be. What are some ways you go about applying for jobs?
0 Comments