In order to write a good cover letter, it’s imperative that you understand the purpose of one. While the resume is designed to highlight your skills, the cover letter isn’t. You should write three paragraphs that simply repeat your resume. Instead, your cover letter should expand on your resume. It should highlight how you’d use your skills to benefit the company. That way, you’ll stand out from the pack as the best candidate for the job. After all, employers like it when they receive applications geared at furthering their company.
When writing your cover letter, it’s important to do your research. Try to find out what the company’s goals are. If they want to improve customer service and sales, then highlight skills you have that could help them do this. And be sure to mention why and how your skills will help. That way, an employer will have a great idea of how you’ll fit into the company before they interview you.
Mention your most relevant skills when writing your cover letter. If a company is more worried about boosting efficiency than they are sales, then focus on that efficiency. And no matter what you decide to write about, be sure that it is at least a little relevant. It’s useless to mention a skill that a company doesn’t need.
Once you know what you are going to write, it’s important that you follow the proper format. Don’t indent paragraphs. Use a formal, business appropriate tone that represents you as a professional.
Start by including your address, the date, and the company’s address at the top (in the left corner). Then use a formal greeting with a colon (:). Your first paragraph should explain where you found the job advertisement and why you are interested in the job. Your second paragraph is where you explain why you are a good match with the company. Here is where you use all of your research. As such, the second paragraph is often the longest. The last paragraph is the closing. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for his or her time. Close in a professional manner; sincerely is a great word to use, but don’t say “With love.”
