Tips On Writing A Cover Letter

You should send a cover letter to a prospective employer regardless of whether you are applying for an advertised job or you are sending in a forced application. Your cover letter should provide the following data: background information about you, your skill set, experience and your achievements. You should use the letter to request for an interview or for a meeting if the job has not been advertised.

You should always try to make your cover letter as personalized as possible. Do not make the mistake of addressing the letter to "Whom It May Concern". Mention the designation of the person to whom you are sending out the letter. If you know the person's name, make it a point to mention it above the designation. Avoid sending generic cover letters. Take the time to tailor your letter according to the company you are sending it out to as well as the particular job you are applying for. Although this may sound tedious it is well worth the time and effort. If you are not sure of how to address the cover letter, call the company and find out. Spend some time researching the company so that you can customize your letter to suit the company culture and profile. You need to let your prospective employer know that you are clued in to the job requirements and can execute the job.

You need to prove that you are a better fit than other candidates. This is why you need to highlight the specific skills and experience that you have that match the application criteria. Your enthusiasm and positive attitude towards the job need to come across through your letter.

The language of your cover letter should be simple and direct. Keep your writing focused and tight. The letter should be a maximum of one page in length. The person going through your cover letter would just have enough time to scan it and look for key points.

Therefore, structure your cover letter so that it is easy to pick out the important points. Keep the format of the letter such that it is easily legible. Make sure your letter looks professional. Avoid using fancy fonts - stick to standard fonts.

The first point to keep in mind while writing a cover letter, is that you are not writing it to apply for a job. A cover letter is a brief letter that accompanies your resume, portfolio or any job application documents.

About the Author

Gabriel enjoys writing up on a variety of subjects. Other than the above topic, he also likes to set up sites on different topics. Do check out his new site which covers useful information on coffee table furniture.

Topics : Writing Cover Letter, Job Cover Letter Tips. Source: goarticles.com

Excellent Tips For Writing an Entry Level Student Cover Letter

If you want to get a respectable job as an entry level student then you must write an effective job application. Listed below are some of the important tips that will help you in writing a good entry level student job application letter:

1. Be job specific and to the point The candidate has to be absolutely job specific. He or she must not mention the irrelevant or unnecessary facts. There is no scope for error while you prepare this document. Only talk about those things that relates to the job you are applying for. Do not pointlessly talk about irrelevant things. Do not waste your and the employers time.

2. Do not use fancy fonts and colors Always keep in mind that a letter is a formal business letter. Remember you are not making a poster or flyer. So just use white paper and black ink along with a business font such as Ariel.

3. Keep it simple, short and precise Your cover letter must be simple and easy to comprehend. Try to use simple language. Express yourself in a clear and friendly manner so that the employer can easily understand the language. It should be one page in length and perfectly centered.

Given below is a sample job application document for entry level student post.

Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone # Your Email

Date

Employer Name Company Address City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr. /Ms. Last Name,

I am responding to your advertisement in XYZ.com regarding the fresh student's position. Please regard this letter as my formal application. I consider that my experience and interests match with your requirement and want to apply for the same position.

I have recently completed my graduation from one of the renowned collage. I can assure you that I am reliable and hardworking person. I am very eager to obtain a full time position in your leading organization.

It would be great if we meet personally to discuss how my education will be useful and helpful for you. Please let me know if I can provide you with any other information or references.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely, Your Signature

Well, these are some of the vital tips which will definitely guide you in writing a strong job application letter. All the best to all the prospective candidates!

Writing an effective entry level student cover letter is an important task. It must undoubtedly display the technical skills and qualifications of the prospective candidate. If you want to get a respectable student job then you must create a well organized job application letter that attracts employer attention at the very first instance.

About the Author

Confused about how to create Resume Cover Letters .Find out more about Entry Level Student Cover Letter

Topics : Writing Cover Letter, Student Cover Letter Tips. Source: goarticles.com

Cover Letter Tips For Lawyers

Resume Cover Letter Articles : Cover Letter Tips For Lawyers by Vanessa Vidal

A well-written cover letter is meant to complement your resume, not duplicate it. The purpose of this letter is to make the link between your skills and experience and the requirements of the position you are applying for. In other words, the cover letter is an opportunity to make your case to an employer as to why you are the right candidate for the position. This should not only highlight your strengths and/or minimize the weaknesses that appear of your resume, but also demonstrate your interest by adding that personal touch that only a cover letter can do.

Here are some cover letter tips for lawyers to follow when creating a letter:
* Keep it short * Keep it simple * Make it persuasive * Make it perfect

Keep It Short.
Your cover letter should be written concisely and not exceed one page. The challenge of drafting an effective letter is to make your case regarding your interest in the position and organization, and identify your most relevant skills or experiences as they relate to the specific opportunity, in about 500 words or less. That exercise requires thinking about your skills and experience ahead of time, and demonstrating a certain amount of knowledge about the position and the organization. In other words, before putting pen to paper, you need to conduct some research, and make a list of skills that are relevant to the position.

Keep It Simple.
The temptation that lawyers tend to give into when drafting their cover letter is to include more information than is necessary. The "less is more" approach should be taken when drafting this letter. It does not mean that this letter should be a two-paragraph fluff piece, but rather a one-page document focused on one primary theme. You have to determine what your most persuasive argument is, and then focus your cover letter accordingly. Keeping it simple means providing the reader with an overarching theme that is well developed and supported, rather than throwing in the kitchen sink and hoping that something will stick.

Make It Persuasive.
Once you have determined what traits, skills, and or experiences you want to highlight on your cover letter, you need to distinguish yourself from other applicants. The best way to do this is to write a persuasive cover letter. Writing a persuasive type of letter is often mistaken for reciting long lists of qualities, skills and attributes. Just saying that you are "business savvy" or "detail oriented" doesn't make it so. To make it persuasive, you need to back up your claims with concrete examples. These examples will be unique to your experience, and therefore help differentiate your cover letter from those of other applicants. For example, instead of simply writing "result-oriented litigator," think about writing "result-oriented litigator that successfully settled 48 out of 50 civil cases in the last quarter of 2008, obtaining in excess of $20M in plaintiff settlement together with attorney's fees."

Make It Perfect.
Your cover letter should be perfect. It should not contain any grammar or punctuation errors, and no typos. While lawyers are trained to write, review, and analyze documents, when it comes to their resumes and cover letters, many are far from perfect. This is a problem that affects lawyers and non-lawyers alike. Spend enough time on one document, and for some reason you will no longer see the mistakes or errors that could be plaguing your document. While proofreading your letter can help you catch many of these potential errors; that are often not enough. Be sure to give your cover letter to a friend or colleague to review. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes might detect what yours are no longer seeing. You may also want to consider sending it to a resume professional to review. Whatever method you choose, you have to make sure that your letter is perfect. Submitting this letter to an employer that is less than perfect could make the difference between getting an interview and getting a rejection letter.

About the Author
Land the legal job of your dreams by checking out our FREE legal cover letter tips. I reveal all the secrets I've personally used to create a legal cover letter that will help you secure an interview. Go to www.esqresume.com right now before we wise up and decide to no longer reveal our tips!

Source: Resume cover letter samples, cover letter templates, resume cover letter tips articles ato goarticles.com

Cover Letter Mistakes - Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Job Resume Cover Letter Samples : Cover Letter Mistakes - Common Pitfalls to Avoid by Mike Woods

A cover letter should be made for every resume you submit. While a few may think that a cover letter is unnecessary considering that a resume already details all the required skills and experiences, it actually helps on complementing the submitted resume.

A good cover letter should focus on the key competencies and experiences relevant to the role and should clearly erase any doubt from the employer that you are the right candidate for the job. To achieve this, you need to avoid these common cover letter mistakes that can cost you the possible interview and the job.

Cover Letter Pitfalls

1. Misspelling the company name or the addressee. The address line of a cover letter is immediately noticeable. Any errors or misspellings are easily spotted and will send the message that you have not done your research and are not very attentive to detail. As much as possible, avoid using generic greetings in your cover letter. Take the time to know who the appropriate contact person should be.

2. Focusing on what you can get out from the role than what you can offer to the company. A good cover letter should clearly send the message that you have the right skills and competencies that will be valuable in performing the role and helping the company. It's not good telling them that the particular role can boost your career. The company is more interested in what you can offer, not the other way around. Point this out in your cover letter.

3. Repeating details stated in your resume. In structuring your cover letter, don't just enumerate the information already found in your resume. The cover letter is there to encourage the employer to read on and review your application more closely. Simply repeating resume details in the cover letter won't help them in deciding whether they need to invest time interviewing you. Highlight key competencies in your resume but align it with your career goals and how these can benefit the company.

4. Using "I" as the opening word for each sentence in your cover letter. Come on. Employers need to be impressed with your communication skills. Starting every sentence in your cover letter this way will obviously not make that impression.

5. Closing the cover letter with the generic "call me for an interview at your most convenient time". If you are genuinely interested in working for the company, show your interest by stating that you will call them up to follow up on your application. It is best to close the cover letter by informing the employer that you will contact them and how you intend to do so. This demonstrates that you are genuinely interested and knows how to take charge.

While your cover letter is only one part of your job application, doing it right by avoiding these common cover letter pitfalls can bring you one step closer to landing that dream role.

About the Author
Fact: Most of the resumes submitted will end up as trash. Don't let that happen to you. Learn how to write a resume that guarantees job success and how to make a winning cover letter.

Source: Job Resume Cover Letter Examples, Resume Cover Letter samples and templates information at goarticles.com

Tips For Writing An Effective Cover Letter

Resume Cover Letter Samples : Tips For Writing An Effective Cover Letter by Jason Kay

Your cover letter is the first thing a prospective employer sees, so it's crucial that it grab his or her attention and never let go.

There are two schools of thought on a cover letter's opening remark: one being that you should ask a rhetorical question or make a funny remark as an attention grabber. This isn't a good idea for most people, however, because it can come off wrong. Only consider this approach if you're applying for a very creative position. Otherwise, stick with the obvious. Describe what job you're applying for and where you saw it advertised, if applicable. That way, there's no guessing game for the person reading your letter.

In the next couple of paragraphs, highlight the points that make you perfect for this job. That could be your job history, your degrees or certifications, your skills, or a combination of those things. But if you're applying for a teaching position, for example, the cover letter isn't the place to note that you're a certified welder--unless you'll be teaching welding.

Your closing should make it clear that you are very interested in talking with the prospective employee further about how you can help his or her company. One mistake many job seekers make is forgetting the purpose of a cover letter and resume. It isn't to secure the job; rather, its purpose is to secure an interview. So be sure to ask for an interview!

Other tips that will rev up your cover letter:

Address it to a specific person. If possible, research who is reviewing the resumes and making the hiring decision for the job you want. Sometimes that information will be in the ad, but if not, don't be afraid to do a little detective work. It's often as easy as calling the company and simply asking!

Don't print off a one-size-fits-all cover letter. You must personalize your letter completely for the company and the job you're seeking.

Focus on them. It's tempting to describe in your cover letter what you want out of the job or the company: to advance your career, to enhance your skill set, or to secure a better title. But companies want to know what you can do for them. Structure your letter so that it lists the talents and experience that you bring to the table. There will be time later to talk about what you'll be getting out of the deal.

Let them know you've done your homework. Weave in at least one fact about the company somewhere in your letter. For example: "Though Company X had an impressive $5 million in sales during the last quarter, I believe my marketing skills could help Company X achieve even better results in the next quarter."

Limit your words. Very few cover letters should run more than one page. Prospective employers are just like everybody else: they're more likely to read a concise four-paragraph letter than a daunting eight-paragraph letter.

Don't rehash the contents of your resume. Assuming your cover letter is put together well, the potential employer or hiring manager will get to your resume. At most, highlight the two or three most impressive aspects of your resume to give the employer a taste of what's to come.

Aesthetics are important. Print off your cover letter on high-quality paper in white or off-white (make sure it matches your resume), and don't staple or fold it.

Proof and proof again. Nothing turns off a potential employer or hiring manager like a cover letter with spelling or grammatical errors. You might think you're in the clear if you use your computer's spell check, but that doesn't save you from mistakes such as confusing "affect" and "effect," for example. After you've proofed your letter twice, ask a grammar geek friend to look it over too.

Don't make them guess. At the bottom of your letter, include the number(s) where you can be reached if they need more information--or if they want to (hopefully!) schedule an interview. You'll undoubtedly include your phone number on your resume, but you want to make it as easy as possible for the company to reach you.

About the Author
Jason Kay is a professional resume writer who contributes to career related magazines and websites such as JobGoRound.com, which provides resume writing service reviews and cover letter writing tips.

Source: Resume Cover Letter, Job Resume Cover Letter Samples, Cover Letter Templates and Examples information at goarticles.com

Free Cover Letter Tips

Resume Cover Letter Articles : Free Cover Letter Tips by Mario Churchill

In a world of technology the internet has made it possible for people who are not very good at writing a cover letter for their resume to obtain a free cover letter off the internet. Now this may allow for someone who is not knowledgeable in writing a cover letter to now have one for his/her resume but it also can make the employer kick the resume to the curb without ever giving the prospective employee a chance. The trash can is not where you want your resume to end up just because of some free cover letter you grabbed off the internet.

There are ways that you can use a free cover letter and still land an interview. First off you want to take the cover letter that you have and just use it as a starting point. Think about what it is that the employer is looking for in an employee. What are the needs of the company that you feel that you can fill for the company? Then add this into the cover letter that you have obtained to make the cover letter more personal. This will keep the free cover letter you are using from looking like the same run of the mill cover letters from other prospective employees that the employer is having come across their desk.

When obtaining a free cover letter that you will now be using as a template to create your own personal cover letter, make sure to remove the 'To whom it may concern' and replace it with the employers name. If you do not know who the employer is that your resume is going to then make sure to call and find out. This part of your free cover letter will hurt your resume and your chances of getting an interview. By not using a name you will seem like you do not care enough about the person hiring you for them to care enough about you to give you a chance. So remove that part and replace it with the proper name.

In the area where you are to tell them about yourself this is where you need to make yourself shine. There are countless free cover letter samples on the internet that will show you one or two lines that you need to just change a few things around to fit you and then that is it. This is a bad idea and should be avoided at all cost. Make sure that when telling the company about you that you really make sure this area shines. You want the company to see who you are and why you would be an asset to them. Tell the company why they should be hiring you. All of this can not be done in two sentences, so stretch out what your free cover letter is showing you.

After you have told them why they should hire you there is an area below that to tell them why you are choosing them. If your free cover letter that you obtained does not have an area for this then add it in there. A company wants to know why you are choosing them and what it is about them that appeals to you. If you do not know off hand anything real personal about the company that you can tell them appeals to you then you need to do some look closer into the company. Be honest in your cover letter about what appeals to you. By adding this part to your free cover letter you will be not only personalizing your cover letter so it sticks out but also you will be complimenting the prospective employer. We all know that compliments can go along way.

At the end of your cover letter add your signature using what all business correspondence calls for which is blue or black ink. Make sure that your signature is neat and readable. Sloppy signatures will give the wrong impression about you and this is what you want to avoid doing. A neat and readable signature added to the free cover letter says a lot to your prospective employer and this is what you want when trying to get an interview.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on free cover letter tips checkout his recommended websites.

Source: GoArticles.com

5 Cover Letter Tips

Resume Cover Letter Tips : 5 Cover Letter Tips by Mario Churchill

Competition for jobs these days is fierce. The internet has made it easy for dozens or even hundreds of people to apply for a single job. With that kind of competition, how can you hope to even get your cover letter noticed, and are a cover letter and resume even enough to land the job of your dreams?

Fortunately, for you, so many people do it wrong that you will get your cover letter noticed by following a few cover letter tips that will give you an instant advantage. Follow these tips and you will have a cover letter that works.

Tip #1 - Send Your Cover Letter to a Real Person

If you want to send your cover letter to an early death, start out by addressing it to "Dear Hiring Manager". Not only does this look like the vast majority of bad cover letters, it shows that the job is not important enough to you to do a little research. Call the company and find out the persons name that is doing the hiring for this position.

People like seeing their own name. If the hiring manager sees their name, they will slow down enough to give your cover letter a second look. Sometimes that second look is all it takes to give you a huge advantage.

Many companies will only accept applications emailed to a specific address, so it may not be possible to send it directly to the person doing the hiring, but you should try. Anything you can do to separate your cover letter from the rest of the stack is worth the effort.

Tip #2 - Ask For an Interview

Another area where many job seekers fall short is asking for an interview before you end your cover letter. They spend a lot of time and effort building a case for why they are the right person for the job, but they never ask for the job. While it is implied that you want the job when you submit your resume and cover letter, you should still ask. There is power in asking.

Successful sales and marketing people will tell you that the most success people are the ones that ask for the sale. That one call to action can be the difference between success and failure. If no one else asks for an interview, and you do, your cover letter is more likely to stand out and be remembered.

Don't forget to include your contact information. When you ask for the interview, let the hiring manager know, "I can be reached at...then give your phone number. Even though your information is in the header of the cover letter, write it again. The idea is to make it as easy as possible for them to contact you.

Tip #3 - Make a Follow-Up Telephone Call

After you ask for the interview, let them know when you will be following up with a telephone call. When that day comes, make sure you call. Many hiring managers say that they are more likely to hire a candidate that calls after sending in their resume. It shows that you are serious about wanting the position, and not just applying to every classified ad they see. It only takes a couple of minutes, but that one telephone call can make all the difference.

Tip #4 - Write a Thank You Note

After you get your interview, follow it up within a day or two with a thank you note. Besides being a polite thing to do, is serves the purpose of getting your name in front of the person doing the hiring one more time. When the time comes to make a decision, they are more likely to remember your name. That name recognition is invaluable. They may not even remember anything about the interview, but your name will be familiar to them. It is just one more way to stand out from the crowd.

Tip #5 - Make Sure It Is Correct

Your final step before sending out your cover letter is to check it for spelling and grammar mistakes. With the capabilities of most word processing programs, there is really no excuse for mistakes in this area. Run the spelling and grammar checks, then re-read your cover letter aloud to find any words that are misused, or that your software missed. If there are any parts that are unclear, fix them.

While there is no guarantee that you will get an interview, following these cover letter tips will help you stand out from the crowd. Your cover letter, a telephone call, and a thank you note. Three simple tools that can help land you the job of your dreams.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on cover letter tips checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=629980

Employment Cover Letter-11 Tips that guarantee your job

Free Resume Cover Letter Articles : Employment Cover Letter-11 Tips that guarantee your job. by Kris Malviya

Don't get a job just because you can't write a good employment cover letter?
Do you think that someone else less capable than you is getting employed just because his cover letter was better than your's?

Maybe yes because cover letters play a very vital role in your job employment.

Cover letters actually let the reader read your mind!!

Here are 11 Tips on writing a good, professional Employment Cover Letter. These are some basic tips. You will find complete set of tips with tips on stylizing your employment cover letter in my website.

1.An employment cover letter should create interest in the reader to go through your resume.

2.Don't make your employment cover letter very long. The reader might just not read it after seeing such a long letter. Express more in less words. Don't make your letter repetitive.

3.Tell them what you will do for the company and how willing you are to help the company and how you will help them. Don't write a big essay on how you will do that, make it a small paragraph. Tell the company what you specialize in and how a professional like you will help the company.

4.Show them how interested and willing you are to help the company through the employment cover letter. Get all the information about the company and show how enthusiastic you are towards the company.

5.Try making your employment cover letter as different as possible. The reader will have hundreds of cover letters to read. So its quite understandable that he will just have a look at the cover letter and select you if he thinks you are among the best. So try to tell him that you are the best in every possible way.

6.Don't take your employment cover letter lightly. It's the key to your employment and thus your success. Be creative, get involved in it. Dedicate yourself. Show how enthusiastic you are.

7.Don't brag too much about yourself. Be genuine and straightforward.Show that interest.

8.If the employment cover letter is communicative, straightforward and good looking, the reader instantly comes to know that you are motivated and get involved in your work very well. Also tell them what you will do if you are employed. How you will help the company grow your knowledge and talents.

9.Tell them about your qualifications and the extra courses in your employment cover letter, if you have done any.

10.And yes, be careful about not making any grammatical mistakes.

11.Your employment cover letter should not possess too many colors or graphics. That makes it seem unprofessional.

Stylizing an employment cover letter is important. I have stated only 1 point on stylizing your cover letter here. Visit his website and go through the complete tips on stylizing an employment cover letter.

about cover letters. If you want more tips on writing an effective employment cover letter, want to know why cover letters are so important, want great tips on stylizing your cover letter, want samples for reference, or links to the best articles on writing cover letters and some extra information.... Visit his website by clicking here.

In order to make the article short, Kris has put the complete set of tips in his website. Stylizing a cover letter is important. Colorful cover letters don't actually help. To find complete tips on stylizing your employment cover letter, click here.

Kris Malviya is a freelance writer. He possesses useful knowledge about cover letters. If you want more tips on writing an effective employment cover letter, want to know why cover letters are so important, want great tips on stylizing your cover letter, want samples for reference, or links to the best articles on writing cover letters and some extra information.... Visit his website by clicking here

About the Author
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kris_Malviya

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=582799

5 Cover Letter Tips: Do What Most Job Seekers Don't

Resume Cover Letter Articles : 5 Cover Letter Tips: Do What Most Job Seekers Don't by Heather Eagar

Although your cover letter is as significant as your resume, career and job coaches put more emphasis on writing a good cover letter for obvious reasons - prospective employers usually read the cover letter first. For most employers, a resume is a kind of "fact sheet" that supports the academic and professional accomplishments you highlight in your cover letter.

There's no such thing as a "one size fits all" cover letter when applying for a job. You will probably be targeting different types of jobs in your search, so it is crucial that you adapt your cover letters to fit the needs of each particular employer.

Below are 5 tips that will help you write the kind of stellar cover letters that set you apart from the crowd and get noticed by employers.

Write for the Employer - Not Yourself

Your letter should be precise and must strictly address the needs of the employer. All too often, job seekers make the mistake of writing long and detailed letters, only to ignore the needs of the company. Your employers are too busy to go through mundane letters - and if you write a cover letter that is all about you and don't address their needs, they are bound to ignore your job application.

Show Your Enthusiasm

Too many job seekers write cover letters that are mere synopses of their resumes. Recruiters want candidates who are enthusiastic, passionate about their work, and eager to shoulder new responsibilities. In your cover letter, you must indicate your eagerness to learn new skills and adapt yourself to a new work culture. It's your job to convince them that you have that 'X' factor that sets you apart from the rest of the crowd.

Highlight the Most Important Facts from Your Resume

You may be a great artist or a volunteer in your community, but unless the employer is specifically asking for this experience, you don't need to put it in your cover letter. For instance, you may be a great painter, but if you are applying for the position of a graphic designer, recruiters will be put off to see other skills being emphasized in your cover letter. Focus only on those specific skills in your resume that are required for that particular job.

Include Facts about the Company

You employers will be thoroughly impressed if your cover letter indicates your knowledge about the company and its mission. Educate yourself about the company, its recent accomplishments and the nature of their business before you write that cover letter. These days, almost any company can be researched on the Internet, so there is simply no excuse for not doing this.

Be Aggressive With Your Follow-Up Request

After all, you are writing to them for a specific purpose. In the concluding paragraph, you must request an appointment and express your willingness to come in for an interview. Tell the prospective employer that you will make a follow-up call after a few days - and include a specific date, rather than making a vague promise to call. And then actually follow through on your promise.

Writing an effective cover letter is very important to increase your chances of getting that coveted interview call. If you find that you need more guidance than the tips above, consider using the services of a career coach or a professional resume writing service so you can start getting the interviews you deserve.

About the Author
A leading expert in the employment search industry, Heather Eagar provides working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. If you need a professional resume writer, Heather offers reviews of the top companies in the industry at http://www.ResumeLines.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=520534

Cover Letter Tips: A Winning Formula

Resume Cover Letter Tips: A Winning Formula by Mary Markella

It's true that nobody really likes writing cover letters or resumes. What's even more interesting is that cover letters are not even enjoyed by their recipients. The problem derives from the cover letter templates. If you want to get the message quickly to as many recipients as possible then you have to create a cover letter template. It's impossible to structure a new sentence or paragraph for every cover letter.

This causes all cover letters from all job seekers to look the more or less the same and the phrases in the letters to sound repetitive. This repetition simply destroys the entire letter. Imagine 100 job seekers using the same cover letter template and send their letters to the same recipient. After reading some letters the recipient is frustrated and there's no point at reading any more..

Here are some tips to make your cover letters stand out from the crowd and look inspiring and fresh:

Make A Good Start
It's true that the beginning of a cover letter is the hardest part. Most writers get stuck and cannot come up with an inspiring first sentence or paragraph. So, write down a list of good "first phrases" and use them accordingly. Here are some examples:
- I am writing to you to introduce myself and to apply for the current opening in your company for a skillful ...
- Does your department look for a talented ...
- I've heard a lot of people talking about a potential opening in your company for a ...
- Please accept this letter and my attached resume as an interest in the position of...
- I am a ... with ... years of experience in ... and I hope to utilize my skills at your department...
- I have just completed my ... studies at ... university and I am looking for a position that will capitalize my experience as a ...
- During the last ... years I have held complex positions within the ... industry. My areas of expertise are ...
- There's nothing that would please me more than to join your team of talented ...

These are some examples of interesting and eye-catching first sentences that could help you.

Add Your Contact Details At The Top
On the top of every page write your name, address, phone number and email address. You can create a simple letterhead with this information on your computer. You can use smaller fonts. It will save you a lot of time from writing the same information for every recipient.

Decide What You Want
Before writing a cover letter be realistic and decide why you want to be part of a specific company. What is so different about that company that makes you want to work for them? What specific parts of your work do you like the most? Do not just write a cover letter just because you need a job. Everybody needs a job. So sit down and write the things you like the most about the specific company. Then carefully add this list of things to your cover letter template. It's also a good practice to use bulleted lists of abilities and skill areas. You could make a grid that matches your skills with the company's needs.

Professionalize Your Cover Letter
Do not use sentences like "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Human Resources Manager", it really looks nonprofessional and boring for the reader. Instead try to find the actual name of the recipient.

Closing Is Important
Make a smart close. Do not use begging sentences like "I really hope to talk to you soon". Be brief and straightforward. Show your intentions. Here are some examples:
- I would be interested in an opportunity to interview for this position and will look forward to scheduling a meeting with you.
- Thank you for your consideration. I will call you next week to talk further or schedule an appointment.

These examples are a bit direct and if this is not you then you can use the good old "..I look forward to hearing from you..".

About the Author
Remember that the length of your cover letter doesn't really matter. Timing and follow-up is what matters the most. Send your letters and make calls a few days later to schedule appointments. If you need assistance here's a winning cover letter formula that will get your phone ringing with more quality job interviews.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=331713

Cover Letter Award Winning Tips

Cover Letter Award Winning Tips by Jay Bauder

Ok, you may not win any awards for the cover letter that you enclose to your resume, but you may increase your odds it actually getting read, if you follow a few simple steps.

1. Keep it brief. Your resume is the document that conveys your qualifications, therefore your cover letter need not go on and on about how wonderful you are.
2. Remember it serves a purpose. It is announcing you - and your enclosed information, your resume.
3. Tell them what you're doing: I'm applying for the position of... Enclosed is my resume for the position of ...
4. Clearly state what position you're applying for. Don't assume the Human Resources person will automatically know what job you want or that they only have one opening.
5. Highlight a few of your strong suits. Although brevity is the key here, you don't want to merely say, "Here's my resume. Bub Bye."
6. Don't be redundant with contact information. All that pertinent information should be on your resume.
7. Don't staple your cover letter to your resume. Often photocopies need to be made and it just frustrates the person making the copies to have to remove your staples. Use a paperclip if you feel the need to attach it; else just send it on top of your resume.
8. Typos. That's an obvious one. It's hard to proof your own work. Find one other person to give both your cover letter and resume a glance over. You're dead in the water if your cover letter has misspellings, poor grammar or typos.

Below is a same letter you can use as a guide: ---
Date
Human Resources, COMPANY NAME HERE RE: NAME OF VACANT POSITION
Enclosed please find my resume'. I am very much interested in working with you as your POSITION TITLE. As you will see from my enclosed resume' I am qualified in a variety of areas. (Or I am uniquely qualified for this position because of my vast experience in ...). My college degrees are in Business Administration with a minor in Management. I have spent the last two decades performing INSERT SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES.

I am anxious to discuss this opportunity with you further.
Respectfully,
Your Name ---

You as can see, the above cover letter is short and to the point. It serves a purpose of prefacing your resume. Don't waste your time going on and on and on. It will not get read. As it stands, you have a 50/50 chance that anyone will even read your cover letter. Are you willing to take 50% odds that it will be read, only to have a lousy cover letter that will essentially hinder your resume from consideration? Follow the above simple steps and you'll make a great first impression. Of course, it's up to you to have knowledge, skills and abilities to back it; but at least you're starting off right!

About the Author
Jay is the web owner of http://www.jobs-in.com Jobs Job Search Resources, a website that provides information and resources on searching for jobs nationwide. You can visit his website at: Job Search

Source: www.goarticles.com