I was wondering if anyone could offer some helpful hints to drafting a quality cover letter to go along with my resume. I've never done one before and am not sure how to structure it so it stands out from the generic template.

I'm a polished writer so the actual content shouldn't be a problem, but I was wondering if there were any formats/templates that are better than others. An idea would be:

- Introduction (a little about myself)
- Skills/Positions held (a brief, few sentence summary of my resume)
- Why I would fit the position I'm applying for, etc.
- Closure

Thanks for the help in advance as I'm not quite sure where to get started.

 

I once stated in a job interview that, "I'm passionate about this job, this is what I love to do. If I don't get hired here I will be working for your competition".

I was offered the job on the spot.

So, without being "over the top", let them know this.

 

Don't know if this is good or not but my standard goes like this:



Dear Blahbity blah,

I am writing to express my interest in the xyz position with your organization. I understand that it is a first class company and would love to be a part of it.

As you can see from my enclosed resume, I believe I have the skills you are looking for. In addition to the skills listed I have also done A, B, and C which I feel make me well suited for your needs.

I look forward to discussing my qualifications with you in the future and demonstrating why I would be a valuable addition. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Will Work for Food



The sad point is that there is no perfect solution. One person looking at a cover letter and resume might like one type, and somebody different might like another. Just don't make it too long.

I dated an HR person at a large organization once and went to one of her happy hours with coworkers. The HR people were all laughing and making jokes about the criterea they used at forwarding resumes. They were being very honest when they said they would toss some in the discard pile if they did not like the color of paper used or did not like the freaking font choice. I hate HR people.

 

That makes a good answer for the "Where do you see yourself in five years?" question. Just don't make it sound like if you get the job you are looking to jump for more money to the competition. I'd use it and just add something about loyalty.

 

I'd say both start and end with the why-I-fit-your-opening stuff. Tailoring content to the actual job posting is critical to grabbing attention.

 

Just remember that what you believe doesn't matter; it's what you can get them to believe that counts. I would suggest shortening and improving this sentence to, "I have the skills you need."

 

All good advice. Thank you. I want to make sure it captures the reader's interest without sounding too gimmicky or anything. I definitely agree that tailoring the content to the position in question is key.

 

In addition to what was said above, I've always been told to include specifics when possible (as goes for the resume too) and enhance your resume, not summarize it.

For example, if my resume states that I managed the account for XYZ company at my PR job, I might say on my covering letter how a trade show I attended on behalf, or how an editorial review I placed would benefit this position. Those wouldn't neccessarily be mentioned on my resume (depends on the job posting really), but it's a nice addition and provides a more well-rounded view of my previous work experience.

I've also been told to state when you ARE available, as well as your preferred contact method. That way you're not wasting the HR persons time if they're trying to contact you for an interview.

My covering letters are generally 3-4 paragraphs (intro/how I heard, one to two short paragraphs about work experience/why I'm the best for the job and one in closing/contact) and fit on a standard page (8.5x11" or A4, depending on your country).

I also make sure that any criteria (such as font size/format) are followed and check to make sure my resume and covering letter are BOTH consistent with these criteria.

 

"i posted at least 400 different .mpg files to this one thread about some guy named VLAD".

If they can't smell your qualifications from that, then you don't even want to work for them.

I hated cover letters.... I hate calling people "mr."....

YO BOB.... hire me....... bitch.... and I ain't work no overtime either...

 

Cover letters are a necessary evil and a lot of the jobs I want to apply for require them as part of the process.