Personalize the letter. Whenever
possible, address your cover letter to the individual responsible for
filling the position. A generic salutation sends the message that you
are unfamiliar with the company/employer.
Be natural. Use simple, uncomplicated language and sentence
structure. Don’t try to sound like someone else; rather, write as you
would speak. Say things in a simple, straightforward way, and use action
verbs to create dynamic sentences.
Be specific and get to the point. Your cover letter must be
intriguing enough to get the reader to look at the resumé, but should be
only an introduction to the resumé, not a repeat of it. Make sure you
answer the question, “Why should I hire this person?”
Be positive. Don’t complain about your boss or describe your
present or previous work experience as “boring.” Nobody wants to hire
someone with a bad attitude. Above all, don’t sound like you are begging
for a job.
Be confident, but not arrogant. Don’t be negative or too humble.
Tell them you are qualified for the job, but don’t demand it. Don’t
profess to know more about the company/employer than you really do.
Explain why you find the company/employer attractive and leave it at
that.
Be polite and professional. You may be a comedian with your
friends, but a potential employer should be treated with respect.
Be efficient. Don’t waste space on unnecessary details. Respect
the employer’s time. Make sure every sentence has something to do with
explaining your interest in the company, illustrating how you will fill
the company’s needs, and how you will contact the company in the near
future.
Type your letter. Make sure you change all customized statements
if using a similar letter to be sent to numerous companies/employers.
Carefully read each letter before you sign it.
Be available. Remember to tell the employer how to reach you.
Give a phone number that will be reliably answered by either a person or
an answering machine. If possible, include an e-mail address. Don’t
leave the ball in the employer’s court. Indicate what response you
expect from your letter and how you will follow up.
Proofread. Check carefully for grammar and spelling mistakes, and
then check again. Typos and grammatical errors say a lot about the kind
of work you do. Don’t depend entirely on the spell-check function of
your word processor.
Sign it. If you forget this, the employer may feel like you sent
a form letter.
