Intro: About Cover Letters

Cover letters are not necessary, but are recommended to be used when submitting a resume. They give the employer just a little bit more information, but will only be read if the employer actually likes your resume. The cover letter may be the first 'page' of your resume, but it is always the first page an experienced resume-reading employer will skip. A cover letter should not cover any information about you, that is what your resume is for: a common mistake. It should be about your targetted company and/or goals.

These days, some of the larger companies are starting to use middle-man companies that do all of the hiring for them. These middle-man companies exist only to read resumes and tell the employers who they think would be best suited for the job, and those recommendations are typically taken to heart and those people usually get hired. (Click Here to see what online companies provide these services.) That being said, making many copies of your resume and cover letter and sending them out is not as effective as it used to be. If you're desperate to get hired, and quickly, your best bet is to use one of the online services listed here as they reach millions of employers.

If you absolutely are having a horrible time writing your own cover letter and you've lost all hope, never fear, there are many professional cover letter and resume writing companies out there on the internet that can help you. For professional help to have someone write your resume for you or subit your resume online to millions of employers, Click Here.


Writing a Cover Letter: Basics

Usage

Like mentioned previously, you don't always have to use a cover letter. It is recommended to use it in some cases, and not recommended in others. Since your cover letter is supposed to be about the company you are sending it to, not researching the company and taking a leap of faith that what you write about them in your cover letter will actually be 100% accurate: not a good idea. Research the company before writing your cover letter.

Design

Be personal and positive. If you are printing a hard copy for submission, spend the extra money on a quality printing job. Let them know that you will be following up on your submission, either by phone, personal visit, fax, or email. Waiting by the phone for an employer to call you back will get you nowhere fast. If you don't make any effort to contact them, why should they bother to contact you - is the attitude of employment. They will only work as hard for you as you do for them, even before you are hired: if it comes down to it, "annoy" your potential new boss until they either tell you to leave them alone or tell you you're hired.

Format

The format of your cover letter, of any cover letter, is practically always the same standard business letter format.

- Top Left: Name, Title, Company, Address
- Salutation
- 1st Paragraph: Be what they want you to be: match their needs.
- 2nd Paragraph: Look at your resume, pick out your best skill(s) and list them here.
- 3rd Paragraph: You are the product, you are marketing yourself: close the deal, what is it about you that they absolutely should be dying to have?
- "Sincerely," (next line) "John Doe" (next line) Hand write your signature.

More about cover letters

Writing your resume and cover letter like you are marketing yourself as a product, you should specifically mention what you can do for the company by explaining what benefits you will bring to the company, as well as what it will take for them to obtain you. If you have no idea how to explain both of these to the targeted company/employer, then maybe you should reconcider sending your resume to the targeted company at all. (You might not be well suited for the job you are after.) If you can bullshit your way through the resume and cover letter process and end up getting an interview, just by talking with you they should be able to figure out if you are or are not suited for the job. Screwing up on an interview wouldn't be any fun, would it?


Writing a Cover Letter: Quick Checklist

Cover letters should not be very lengthy, so neither is this checklist. These are all important:

- Limit to 1 page only: 2+ pages is bad.
- Type it, don't hand write it. I don't care if you are the best calligraphy-writer in the world, don't hand write it.
- Type the envelope address as well.
- Be personal. DO NOT write to "Sir or Madam" or "To whom it may concern", figure out at least the last name of who you are sending it to.
- Make sure you get the spelling 100% correct: Company name and the name of who you are sending it to.
- Personally hand write your signature at the bottom of the cover letter.
- Cover letter is first page. Resume always starts on the 2nd page.
- Seal the envelope normally: don't wax it, tape it, or glue it shut.
- FOLLOW UP ON YOUR SUBMISSIONS! Or else all of this effort was a waste of time.



Free Cover Letter Sample

123 Elm Street (your address)
Dallas, TX 12345

Month DD, YYYY (today's date)

Mr. James Anonymous
Some Company Name Where You Are Mailing This To
456 Cedar Street
Austin, TX 34567

Mr. Anonymous:

I found out about your company by one of your employees Mr. Jake Johnson, a manager in your marketing office, who told me that your Some Company Name is looking for qualified individuals to fill a few positions in your sales department.

I have more than four years of sales sales experience, as well as being a telemarketer for an additional two years prior. I graduated last year from the Texas University with my Bachelors in sales. I feel that my experience and knowledge about sales would be a great contribution to your company.

I live in the Dallas area and you can call me at any time at 555-123-4444 so that we can set up a time which we can meet to talk more about my experience and your needs. If we have not yet talked before next tuesday, I will contact you by phone to check about a possible meeting date.

Sincerely,
John A. Doe
(hand write your signature on this line)

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