How to Write a Cover Letter

Resume Cover Letter Articles : How to Write a Cover Letter by David Odell

The cover letter can usually seem like dead weight when you're looking to land a job. After all, a cover letter is basically a single page's worth of business babble to be filed away by businesses and never seen again. While the cover letter can be all that and less, it's still better for individuals serious about becoming employed to look at this task as an opportunity rather than a burden. What you do with a cover letter is entirely up to you, and the right attitude will go a long way in writing a cover letter.

You need the cover letter to convey is your personal attitude, as well as trying to introduce yourself to a potential employer and convince them to at least read your resume. And all this in one single page.

The first parts of a cover letter are simple. Your name, address, and contact information are centered at the top, with the date, name, title, organization and business address of the person you're sending the cover letter to goes below that and left aligned (along with the rest of the cover letter). Below that information, open your covering letter as per any normal letter you would send, with a simple "Dear Mr. or Ms.".

After that, you need to open your cover letter with something that will grab the reader's attention. This acts as the lead-in for a short paragraph of three to four sentences, in which you establish a connection with your reader, as well as telling the reader what position you're applying for and where you heard of the employment opportunity. Catching and holding a reader's interest is of the most utmost importance, as a bored reader will quickly move on and you'll lose your chance. Remeber that you need to also show your professionalism and avoid writing anything that may turn the reader off completely.

Now that you've established a rapport with your reader and potential employer, it's time to write the mid-section of the letter. This mid-section be about one or two short paragraphs at most. Remember, people today don't have much time in the fast-paced business world. Traditionally, this mid-section of the cover letter is where you mention your qualifications, but don't use it to summarize your resume. Highlight the most relevant qualifications for the job and then mention such intangible qualifications, such as enjoying working with people or your love of intellectual challenges.

The last paragraph is where you finish off by letting your employer know what you're expecting to happen next. It could be that you are going to follow up with a phone call in a few days' time or whether you'd prefer that they contact you if they are interested in going to the next stage. Always be clear so that there's no mistaking what's going to happen (or should happen) next. Also, by stating your intentions, it shows that you're self-confident and assertive, but do remember to keep it friendly and not sound like a demand.

Closing off your cover letter is as simple as adding "Sincerely yours," your name and some space to sign. You should also add "Enclosure: Resume" at the bottom of the page, and don't forget to put your resume in the envelope. You might need to write a new cover letter for each job you apply for, but each time you do, you are one step closer to that perfect employment opportunity.

About the Author
Dave Odell is the owner of: Resume Writing Secrets and Help Writing Your Resume

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=529072