| A college student looking for an intern position shot her | | | | Why should I (the reader) care? |
| cover letter over to me. She wanted some | | | | 4. It addresses three questions. |
| constructive criticism. I wanted to deconstruct it, blow it | | | | What job you would like? |
| up, drown it in red ink, and send it back to her. Instead, I | | | | Why you would be good at it? |
| was nice about it. | | | | How the company (or the reader) benefits by |
| I am, at times, flabbergasted by the number of people | | | | having you do the job? |
| who either do not know how to write a cover letter or | | | | 5. In essence, it should consist of no more than 4 very |
| do not understand its importance. So, I thought I would | | | | short, succinct paragraphs with three covered in the |
| address a few points: | | | | previous point, and one more to forward. |
| 1. A Cover letter is a personal correspondence | | | | 6. You must, like a salesperson, close the sale. |
| between you and the addressee. Therefore, it must | | | | A cover letter must ask for a definite course of |
| abide by a few "rules." | | | | action. That is the fourth paragraph. |
| It must be addressed to a live person, which would | | | | A "hope to hear from you" means that you must |
| be the person you want to have read the letter. | | | | keep hoping. |
| The letter must be warm in that the reader's | | | | A call to action is "please call me at (000) |
| reaction cannot be, "wow, another form letter." | | | | 123-4567" or "I will call you in 8 days to follow-up with |
| And, the reader should not have to have a | | | | any questions you might have." |
| dictionary to understand what you are reading. The | | | | You must be forward and ask for the order. What |
| cover letter is not to impress but to entice the reader | | | | is the worst that can happen; you get a "no." |
| to call you, or at the very least, read your resume. | | | | By the way, if you send a resume by email, you need |
| 2. The substance must be real and relevant. The letter | | | | what is basically a cover letter to introduce your |
| must convey a sense that you spent time researching | | | | resume. Nothing changes here. Do not assume that |
| and studying the company. The letter must be uniquely | | | | because you are sending via email, a cover letter is |
| tailored to the job and company you are sending it to. | | | | not needed. It is always needed. |
| Every investment opportunity comes with the | | | | A hiring manager or HR manager is going to read a |
| warning that "past performance is no guarantee of | | | | cover letter in about 30 seconds or less, and that |
| future success." | | | | should dictate how long the cover letter should be. |
| Every hiring manager and employer wrestles with | | | | Keep it short, succinct and on point. |
| this quandary on every job applicant. | | | | Some have estimated that, in the United States, there |
| A resume is the past performance. | | | | are over 100 applicants for every job opening. Those |
| A cover letter is your attempt to, maybe not, | | | | are long odds, but it is doable. Good people get hired |
| guarantee; but at least, suggest future success | | | | every day. Do not sabotage yourself by writing a poor |
| So, a cover letter is absolute not a summary or | | | | cover letter. That one page, short letter can make the |
| rehash of your resume. | | | | difference in whether your resume is read or not - |
| 3. The cover answers two questions. | | | | whether you get an interview or not. |
| Why are you writing? | | | | |