What, Why & How To Write A Cover Letter
Tips for Writing a Cover Letter
Resume and cover letter. Resume and cover letter. Resume and cover letter.
You’ve probably heard this short phrase more times that you want to count since searching for a job. It’s because these two things - your resume and cover letter - will ultimately land you the job. Even if you networked well and “know a guy,” someone will look at your resume and cover letter before hiring you. It’s THAT important.
What Is A Cover Letter?
When applying for a job, a cover letter is your opportunity to explain the content of your resume. It is a separate document, written as a letter, addressed to the hiring manager or Human Resources contact for the job for which you are applying.
Why Write A Cover Letter?
Primarily, it allows you to highlight experiences, circumstances, or skills that are not obvious in your resume. For example, employment gaps, school/training status, career changes are all examples of situations that should be addressed in your cover letter.
Many online application systems mark ‘resume’ as required and ‘cover letter’ as optional. Always send a customized cover letter. It shows you want the job enough to put the extra effort into writing a cover letter and provides the opportunity to stand out in a stack of resumes.
How Do I Write A Cover Letter?
There are many tips for writing a cover letter. Keep your cover letter short, sweet, and to the point. Your cover letter often times decides whether or not the hiring manager ‘turns the page’ to review your resume, so it needs to get their attention quickly.
Below you’ll find a template that you can use to be personalized and customized for the position, and company you are applying for. This template provides a general idea of what you should include. You need to have a customized cover letter for every single position that you apply for - no exceptions. Hiring managers can spot a generic cover letter from a mile away.
Cover Letter Template
Full Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip
January 23, 2017
Mr. /Mrs.
Person title
Company Name
Address
Houston Texas, 77489
To Whom It May Concern:
I am excited to apply for the position of ______ (#_____) that was listed on the job site ______/your company careers page/your staffing agency website.
This role appeals to me because ____. My background makes me an excellent fit for this role because. (EXPLAIN ANYTHING ELSE THAT ISN’T OBVIOUS FROM YOUR RESUME IN 1-2 SENTENCES, SUCH AS SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT GAP DUE TO CHILD-REARING, SCHOOL, CAREER CHANGE, ETC.). I would love the opportunity to leverage my experience working with X.
I have attached my resume for your review. I welcome the opportunity to personally discuss my qualifications with you, and I’m very interested in your thoughts on what roles would allow me to make this transition successfully, as I am flexible in this area. Please contact me at ###-###-#### or email at your convenience.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to review my resume. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Full Name
###-###-####
The Wilbanks Consulting Group can help you understand the tips for writing a cover letter. Contact us for cover letter writing services.