Personalize the letter. |
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Whenever
possible, address your cover to the individual
responsible for filling the position. A generic
salutation sends the message that you
aren't familiarwith the company; such an impression
won't convince the reader that you're enthusiastic
about the job. Likewise, "To whom it may concern"
will probably concern no one. And "Dear Sir" or
"Dear Madam" are ill advised--don't risk alienating
or offending your reader.
If necessary, make a phone call, visit the library
or use the Internet to find out the name and title
of the person who does the hiring. Then make sure
to get the spellings correct. Remember, the hiring
manager will be looking for people who set themselves
apart. Take the time to find out who's in charge
and you may be that person.
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Be Natural |
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Use simple, uncomplicated language and sentence
structure. Don't try to sound like someone else,
pa rticularly
if that means using unnaturally formal language,
convoluted sentences and words you've never used
before (perhaps misusing them in the process).
You may mean to impress, but you'll often sound
awkward. Write as you would speak. Be formal,
but don't be a stiff. Say things in a simple,
straightforward way, and don't rely on a thesaurus.
As with your resume, use action words to create
dynamic sentences.
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Be Specific and get to the Point. |
Your
c over
letter must be intriguing enough to get the reader
to look at the resume, but should be only an introduction
to the resume, not a repeat of it. Make sure you
answer the question, "Why should I hire this person?"
Avoid
using cliches, like "I've taken the liberty of
enclosing my resume," or "I'm a people person."
It's difficult to sell yourself as unique if your
letter reads like every other one in the pile.
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Be
positive. |
Don't
complai n
about your boss or describe your present or previous
work experience as "boring." Nobody wants to hire
somebody with an attitude.
Above all, don't sound like you're begging for a
job. A hiring manager may wonder why you're so desperate.
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Be
Confident, but not Arrogant. |
|
Don't
be negative or too humble. Tell them you're qualified
for the job, but don't demand it. Don't profess
to know more about the company than you really
do.
Explain why you find the company attractive (there
must be some reason or you shouldn't be writing)
and leave it at that.
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Be Polite and Professional. |
You
may be a comedian with your friends, but a potential
employer should be treated with respect.
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Be Efficient. |
Don't
waste spa ce
(and the reader's time) on unnecessary details.
Respect the employer's time--make sure every sentence
has something to do with explaining your interest
in the company, illustrating how you'll fill the
company's needs, and how you'll contact the company
in the near future.
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Type
your letter, |
But
beware of the dangers of word processing. If you
send a similar letter to several companies, make
sure that you change all customized statements accordingly;
no company wants to read how much you'd like to
work for their competitor. Carefully read each letter
before you sign it.
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Be available. |
Remember
to tell the
employer how to reach you. Give a phone number which
will be reliably answered by either a person or
an answering machine. If possible, include an e-mail
address.
Do
not leave the ball in the employer's court. Indicate
what reaction you expect from your letter and
how you will follow up. For example, don't end
with "I look forward to hearing from you soon."
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Proofread.
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Check
carefully for grammar and spelling mistakes, then
check again. Typos and grammatical errors say
a lot about the kind of work you do.
Don't depend entirely on the spell-check function
of your word processor; if you use "there" for "their,"
for example, spell-check won't notice. Keep a dictionary
handy for proper word usage and consult a style
manual for grammar questions.
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Sign it. |
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If
you forget this, the employer may feel like you've
sent a form letter.
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Package it nicely. |
Print
your resume and cover letter on the same paper stock;
the uniformity will look professional. Use only
printers that produce neat, readable text with no
stray marks or smudges. If possible, avoid using
a dot-matrix printer or a manual type writer.
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Keep one for yourself. |
| Make
a copy of each letter sent, and keep it for future
reference. |
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