A good resume cover letter can be as essential to getting your foot in the door for the job of your dreams as the resume itself. The resume cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself and explain why you think you are suited for the position. Before a potential employer even looks at your education, experience or references, they will read your cover letter, and it will be their first impression of you. An effective resume cover letter will get an employer's attention and make them want to learn more about you. Here are a few tips for writing a good one.
Keep it short
The resume cover letter shouldn't take too long to read, or employers won't bother to get all the way through it. Use short paragraphs that get right to the point, and don't have more than three or four paragraphs total. There is no point in an eloquent and well written cover letter than an employer simply skims through because it's too long to read. Keep it simple and keep it short.
Introduce yourself in simple terms
A resume cover letter isn't the place to tell your life story. Give the basics about who you are and what qualifies your for the position. There's no need to offer details about your education or your work history, as all that information is contained in the resume itself. Instead, give a brief overview of your skills and qualifications without any real detail. The goal is to interest the reader enough to move into the resume and learn more about you.
Avoid exaggeration
It's ok to say you think you are the best person for the job in your resume cover letter, but avoid exaggerating your skills or experience. It will ring false with the reader and when they move on to read your resume they may see more reasons to doubt you. Certainly you should use the resume cover letter to make yourself look good and impress upon the reader that you should be seriously considered for the position. But when you make exaggerated claims, you do the opposite.
Make it job specific
It's ok to have a standard resume cover letter you use for every application. However, you should take the time to make a few changes every time you submit your resume for a job. By inserting statements that are specific to the job for which you are applying you show a real interest in the company and the position. Mention the job title, and why this particular job is of interest to you, as well as what you feel you can bring to the company and position. When your resume cover letter is more job specific, it will be more effective in getting attention.
A great resume cover letter is one of the keys to getting to the crucial next step in the job search process: getting that call for an interview. Follow these tips for an effective cover letter that gets results.
