How to Write a Resume Cover Letter
12 Easy Tips

Dominique Koukol

So you’ve poured so much energy into writing your resume, you feel like you brain is dry as prairie dust.  

So what do you have left for the cover letter?   

Be advised; write the cover letter when you are fresh. The cover letter is the first marketing piece which introduces you to the decision makers. If well written, it often is fully read and it leaves your first impression and the decision to interview can be made with the cover letter. Make no mistake. Your cover letter is a marketing tool, just as much as your resume.  

Here are 11 Easy Tips for How to Write a Resume Cover Letter to make the most of your first impression. 

1. Do your homework. If you’ve been poking around this site any you will notice a common theme. Research the company and even the people who are key decision makers in your hiring process.  In taking the time to understand what the company values are, its mission and goals, its culture and its current projects, you can write your cover letter referencing such elements  which you bring and to which you can add value.

2. Address a person, not a position. Find out the name of the human resource recruiter who will be handling the interview process. Use their name in the heading and the greeting.

3. Open your letter with a compelling statement, and DON’T start it with the pronoun “I”.   Statements such as : “As a nurse manager whose experience spans….. “As a corporate trainer, part of one’s mission is to ….(insert a key competency from the job posting). Such is my passion and why I am interested in...

4. Leave plenty of white space on the page. Your cover letter is to show your energy and passion for the position and the company; your fit for the company and overview your qualification, not repeat what is on the resume.

5. Highlight your personal attributes, character and summary of skills or accomplishments which demonstrate a strong fit for the company and the position. This is your chance to make a compelling case regarding how you are an ideal fit, stated in a way which meets the needs stated in the job posting.

6. Use the cover letter to show case your communication skills. Almost every job now requires “strong verbal and written communication skills”. If it’s not demonstrated in the cover letter, it will damage the chances of getting an interview.

7. Consider using bullets to grab the reader’s attention. Bullets can break up the paragraphs and keep the reader focused, however do not re-hash the same bullets which are in your resume. If using bullets in your cover letter, use full sentences rather that short “staccato” statements which may be saved for your resume. Use them to highlight how you can add value to the company.

8. Ask for the interview directly, then assume you will get it. This is key! Show enthusiasm by stating your interest in meeting with them to learn more about the company and in learning how you can help them meet their objectives. Let them know you look forward to speaking with them.

9. Avoid grammatical and spelling errors.  Spell check isn’t enough. Words which leave out letters can spell other words which spell check won’t catch. After writing it, send it to someone else to read. At the very least, walk away from it for a few hours and then come back and re read it.

10. Keep it to one page. No exceptions on this one. It’s an introduction, not an autobiography.

11. Keep your tone professional, yet conversational. Don’t be overly casual, and yet don’t make it sound like a research paper. Be personable. Read it aloud to test this. 

12. Bonus Tip! Make sure your cover letter accompanies a good resume. The resume is the actual representation of you. It is your marketing piece. For a quick checklist on the quality of your resume, click here.

There you go.  You've got 12 Easy Tips for How to Write a Resume Cover Letter. 

If you have any further needs, please write me! --And when you land your interview, come back for some professional coaching on how to interview your way into your next job!

To Your Success,
Dominique

Email Cover Letters: 10 Secrets to Avoiding the “Delete” Button when Sending your Resume via Email

Dominique Koukol 

In today’s “green offices” which heavily favor paperless processes, the Savvy Job Seeker knows how to write an effective email cover letter when submitting their resume in an email.  

Still, this also means it is extra easy for the recruiter to delete a less than effective email cover letter and resume. To avoid the delete button and increase your chances that your resume will be viewed, cover letters need to be engaging and yet brief. The latter especially applies to email cover letters.  

Here are some secrets and common sense items to avoiding the delete button when writing an email cover letter for your resume. 

1. Did I just say be brief? –Brief, yes, and ALSO COMPLETE. Avoid being too casual. The purpose of your cover letter is to engage the reader, drawing them to an interest level which leads them to a desire to read your resume. That’s it. That is the whole purpose of your cover letter.

Given that reality, you need to demonstrate your unique attributes, characteristics and passion which make you the most appealing candidate for the job. The cover letter is a much easier place to let your personality shine, use it for your advantage.

2. Keep as much of your cover letter within the screen of the computer, with out having the reader scroll down. This is a good guideline for knowing if it is brief enough.

3. Your first sentence is critical, as is your first paragraph. Use interesting statements, experience and reasons for your interest specific to that company and position to demonstrate your passion and expertise.
    

4. Use key words which are specific to the job and industry. Use “boomerang statements” in your cover letter. This will help your ranking if there is an electronic software which is screening your submission. (see Boomerang article for more information)

5. Write your cover letter in plain text. Do not use HTML, colored text, bold, italics, emoticons, etc. Some software programs can not read them and will automatically disqualify you.

6. Use standard business etiquette. Address the individual in the cover letter by name and if you do not know the name address it to the Hiring Executive. Reference the job number in your heading and follow any other company rules which may be specified regarding submission or reference numbers to include in your cover letter.

7. Use a signature line. Include contact information, including a professional sounding email address. Set up a separate account just to receive business correspondence.

8. Check, check and re-check spelling, grammar and punctuation. Walk away from it for an hour then print it and re-read it or send it to someone else to proofread.

9. Test your email. Send it to someone else or to yourself and open it up and see how it looks. Do not exceed 60 characters per line as some windows can not view beyond that and your email cover letter will look disjointed and have inappropriate spacing.

10. Make sure you fully understand and follow the company protocol. Many companies do not allow attachments and your email with attachments will be automatically rejected. Write the cover letter into the body of the email and then copy and paste a plain text or ASCII version of your resume also into the body of the email.

Many companies also require job reference codes to be included or for the electronic submission to be sent to a specific address. Make sure you precisely follow the directions. If in doubt, ask. Often times this is a first level screening process and any cover letter or resume which is not properly submitted will automatically be deleted.

Remember:

Your cover letter is an essential part of an effective marketing package with the  product being yourself. Take the necessary time to write a cover letter which demonstrates  your passion, unique characteristics and abilities for your chosen profession. All things being equal between candidates, the person who demonstrates these elements  most effectively gets the interview.

And if you have any further questions, drop me a line and share your experiences or additional questions about email cover letters.

Here’s to Your Success,

Dominique
Dominique@JobSeekersGold.com

Boomerang Cover Letters

Dominique Koukol

There is popularity amongst many sentimental email users to “send back” warm, fuzzy, complimentary emails to the sender from whom one received the email.  –Doing this say’s “right back at ya”… It means “I value you too...” 

In applying this in a professional sense, it is an effective tactic to use boomerang statements in cover letters and resumes.  

Generally when positions are posted and ads are written for positions, they highlight elements of the job which are important to the hiring personnel. Often, the hiring manager contributed to writing or tweaking the job posting or description, as did the HR manager contribute to writing or tweaking the ad.  

There is often an unconscious emotional investment on behalf of these individuals regarding the ad or posting. Generally, these same individuals will be involved in the screening process. This can be capitalized upon by savvy job seekers by incorporating boomerang statements in the cover letter and resume.  

When critical words or phrases from the ad or job posting are reflected in the cover letter, it resonates with the reader. Part of the success of boomerang statements is within the element that they are an indirect compliment to the reader. When a reader hears their words and implications reflected back to them it creates a connection to the writer. 

Boomerang statements also give the reader the interpretation “they get it.” It sends the message that you understand what they want, thus, presenting a strong influential case that you are an ideal candidate. Boomerang statements are an indirect and interesting way to state your case, without just reiterating your qualifications.  

To Your Success,
Dominique