Improving Your Resume Cover Letter

Improving Your Resume Cover Letter

If you’ve ever had to sift through thousands of cover letters, then you’ll know it’s not a pleasant task. You’ll also know of those tiresome days when you quickly look past the cover letters so that you can get to the actual resume, or the statement addressing selection criteria. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising when you find out that several employers are introducing application forms or cover sheets so that they don’t have to deal with cover letters anymore.  

Application forms (or cover sheets) provide the employers with basic information about the employees. An application would contain the following:

• Name of the applicant.
• Details about where or how the applicant may be contacted.
• Information regarding equal employment opportunity.
• Qualifications of the applicant.
• Details about the present employment of the candidate.

A cover letter is basically a letter that gives additional information about the applicant. It should explain why a person is applying for a particular position. Ideally, a cover letter should include the features mentioned below:

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  • It should appropriately introduce you as a candidate for the job.
  • It should clearly mention the position for which you’re applying.
  • It should highlight the special skills that you possess, which may prove to be beneficial to your employer.
  • Your resume and other relevant documents should be attached to the cover letter.
  • It should provide the information that is necessary for contacting you.

When writing a cover letter, the idea is to capture and hold the interest of the reader. Thus, it is essential for your cover letter to be interesting. The last thing you want to do is to bore your reader. Given below are some tips which can help you make your cover letter interesting while communicating the necessary information as well.

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    • It’s always a good idea to let your prospective employers know that you’re a professional. Make sure you use a layout that is appropriate for a business letter. Don’t try to appear fancy by using a layout that is “pretty” or “cute”. Since you’re appearing for a job, let them know that you’re competent and a professional.
    • It’s also a good idea if you can find out the name of the person to whom you’re applying, and specifically address the letter to him/her, rather than to address it with a conventional “Sir/Madam”.
    • Don’t go overboard in your attempt to make the cover letter interesting. The idea is to be brief and informative. Don’t go on about yourself for pages and pages, because that’s bound to bore the reader.
    • Zero in on your skills which can benefit your employer, rather than your qualifications and your abilities as a leader etc.
    • Let them know that you’re interested in discussing the position and your application, clearly stating your contact details.
    • When signing off, remember to do so with a “Yours sincerely”.

However, remember it’s never wise to force a cover letter on the employers when they’re not asking for it.