How to Write a Cover Letter

If you are applying for a job, you need to know how to write a cover letter. Cover letters are sent to introduce yourself to an employer. They accompany your resume and they tell the employer who you are, why you want the job, and why he should bother to take the time to look at your resume.

Cover letters must be individually tailored to each job you are applying for. While you can have a form letter that you draw from, sending the same impersonal letter to every job you apply for can be a quick way to get your application thrown on top of a pile.

Sending a cover letter that specifically addresses what the employer is looking for, on the other hand, can make him take a second glance and can inspire him to take a look at your resume and perhaps even to bring you in for an interview.

Read the job ad carefully when deciding how to write a cover letter. If the ad mentions wanting someone who can multi-task, someone with good communications skills, and someone with two years of marketing experience, then your cover letter should explicitly mention that you have all of those attributes.

Formatting Your Letter

The first thing you need to decide when you write your cover letter is how to format it. First and foremost, you need to format it as a business letter. That means starting with your name and address on top as letterhead, and using the proper business letter format. Start with the date, include the address of the employer you are writing to, and state your objective.

Once you have the basic format down, you need to decide how to format the body of the letter itself. Some people simply write in paragraph form, explaining in the first paragraph why they want the job and in the second why they are right for it, for example. Writing in paragraph form is fine - just don't make your paragraphs excessively long or wordy. An employer doesn't have time to waste and should be able to glance at the letter quickly.

Others include bullet points to highlight certain things they want to stand out. For example, you may start with a paragraph about why you want the job, and then go on to say "The following are the reasons I believe I am the perfect candidate for the job:

• I have two years of marketing experience as Vice President of Marketing with CYX Firm.
• I have excellent communication skills. My past experience managing a staff of five clearly demonstrates my ability to communicate information effectively and to motivate a staff.
• My experience performing the function of two employees as a result of the downsizing in my company illustrates my ability to multi-task.

Using these bullet points in the context of the letter helps the relevant facts to stand out. This too is OK, but remember- you don't want to just repeat what is in your resume, and too many bullet points can turn your cover letter into something that isn't really a letter at all.

What To Include

After you have decided how to format your letter, the next step to knowing how to write a cover letter is to decide what to include.

Generally, the letter should include only the most important things. You don't want to repeat the resume and you don't want to write a letter that is too long - a page at most is appropriate.

The letter should briefly explain why you want the job and why you are right for it. Mimic the language of the job ad whenever possible, and make sure to follow directions. For example, if the job ad requests that you mention how much experience you have, make sure you do so prominently.

Remember as well that this is a business writing. Don't include jokes or negative comments in the cover letter (i.e. "I want this job because I hate my boss and I need to have a more flexible schedule.) Use professional language, demonstrate why you are right for the job, and make sure to proof read and spell check so there are no errors in the letter.