| Cover letters can
help you explain parts of your resume that may not be
obvious to your prospective employer, like how how your current responsibilities resemble
those in the open position. They can also help you smooth over any rough edges or
inconsistencies in your resume. In your cover letter you can mention that you took a
few months off to care for a sick relative, or explain that you changed careers a few
years back. Without your cover letter as a guide, a prospective employer would not know
how to interpret your resume in these instances. Here
are some things to keep in mind in creating your cover letter:
- For cover letters that will be in paper form, make sure you
always use high quality paper
- Be sure to mention the specific job title you are applying
for in the letter
- Tailor the letter to speak to the specific qualifications
they have asked for for this position - don't send a form letter
- Express that you are excited about the position and feel you
would be a good fit
- Close the letter by saying you will give them a call in the
next week to follow up
Cover letters are a good vehicle for elaborating on the
experiences you know the employer is looking for. Cover letters allow more space for
providing details than a resume. If your target job requires
a lot of proofreading, you can expand on your relevant job responsibilities in greater
detail in a paragraph of your cover letter. Use our list of resume phrases for ideas on how to craft strong sentences
that clearly convey your achievements.
To get an idea of what a good cover letter looks like, look
at different samples and try to incorporate the ideas you see in them. Don't copy
the actual text from a sample cover letter though, no matter how good it looks. For
all you know, someone else may have had the same idea. You want to create a
letter that is uniquely your own that sells your qualifications and expresses your
enthusiasm as only you can.
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