Career And Employment Tips - Writing A Cover Letter

Speaking of attitudes, the first thing you want a cover letter to convey is your personal attitude, even though you're also trying to introduce yourself to a potential employer and set the stage for your resume at the same time. Of course, this is no mean feat when you're trying to confine the cover letter to one single page in length. Consider the attitude you want to convey from the start, and then set out to write the cover letter in that mindset.

The first parts of a cover letter are simple. Your name, address, and contact information are centered at the top and should be easily visible. The date, as well as the name, title, organization and business address of the person you're sending the cover letter to goes below that, aligned to the left (as will be the rest of the cover letter). Below that information, open your covering letter with a simple "Dear Mr. or Ms. (last name of your employer here)," as per any normal letter you would send. There, that wasn't so bad, was it?

After that, you'll want to open your cover letter with something that will grab the reader's attention from the start. This attention-grabber is the lead-in for a short paragraph of three to four sentences, in which you establish a connection with your reader, as well as telling the reader what position you're applying for and where you heard of the employment opportunity. Catching and holding a reader's interest is a task of the most utmost importance, as a bored reader will quickly move on to something else and you'll lose your chance. Keep in mind, though, that you need to also show your professionalism and avoid writing anything that may turn the reader off completely.

Now that you've established a rapport with your reader and potential employer, it's time to write the mid-section of the letter. This mid-section should carry on for about one or two short paragraphs at most. Remember, individuals today don't have much time and the world is a fast-paced place. Traditionally, this mid-section of the cover letter is where you discuss your qualifications, but another quirk of the business world is that you're not supposed to sum up your resume. Highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job and describe your intangible qualifications, such as enjoying working with people or your love of an intellectual challenge.

Closing off your cover letter is as important as any other information you may have put into it. Letting your employer know what you plan to do next is vital, and you should state whether you'll be calling in a few days for some news on your application or whether you'd like the employer to contact you for an interview. Don't leave any room for confusion or miscommunication, and show your potential employer you're assertive and self-confident.

Once that's done, all that's left is to write a "Sincerely Yours" above your name, as well as the phrase "Enclosure: Resume" at the very bottom of the page. If your cover letter goes on for longer than a single page, go back and edit it carefully so that it's only a single page long. That's all there is to it! You may have to write many more cover letters before landing a job, but if you keep and convey the right attitude, the task will seem more and more an additional way to get the job you want.