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writing cover letters

Posted on January 19th, 2008 in Cover Letters by

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Very few people pay attention to cover letters.  They think of it as a trivial thing that is sent along just as a formality. This however should not be the case as a cover letter is extremely important. If you write your cover letter properly it will really open up avenues for you and people will keep you in mind next time they are interviewing someone for a job.

A very well drafted cover letter is essential so that you get noticed among the thousands of applications that come in. Employees get hundreds of letters in response to a job opening and usually the ones without cover letters are ignored completely.  Here are a few pointers which will help you get yours just right:

Avoid using titles like Mrs. or Miss. using simply Ms. as a greeting.  Also do not use salutations such a Dear Sirs as it is generally frowned upon. When in doubt address the person with the full name such as Mr. John Doe.

Get to the point in your first paragraph itself. Don’t beat around the bush. State your purpose so that the employers realize why it is you whom they should recruit.  Your letter should be aggressive. You need to market yourself, to sell yourself so that they have no doubts when they come to picking the right person for the job.

In the next paragraph write about all your achievements, skills and qualifications. Avoid using words like ‘I’, ‘me’ and’ my’ because it looks very amateurish. If you have a high number of achievements list them in bullet format. Be sure to type them out because otherwise you could come off as lazy.

In the closing paragraph you need to ask to be given an interview. Provide a contact number and also salary requirements if any.  To show interest say that you will telephone within a week.

To sum up a cover letter is a great way to get you noticed.

 

COVER LETTER

Posted on December 23rd, 2007 in Cover Letters, Job Searching by

A cover letter is something that is sent to a company that you are applying for along with your resume or C.V. The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself and also make it known that you know a good deal about the company, the work it does etc. If a cover letter is not drafted well it makes a bad impression on the employer as it may send signals that a person is uninterested or has poor drafting and writing skills.

A cover letter should explain what you are looking for; whether it is employment or merely an internship opportunity, you should explain how you came to know of the availability of the post you applied for and should also draw attention to the things that you intend to highlight.  It should reflect your personality, attitude, qualification and communication skills and should also answer any questions which may have been asked in the advertisement but not specifically referred to in your resume.

It should put across what you intend to convey to the employers and make you seem like the best option for the job. The purpose of a covering letter is to state your purpose and make your case strong.

Cover letters are also used as marketing tools which perform the function of drawing the reader’s attention to certain details, summarize the content of the other documents attached and in general make arguments that support your being considered for the job.

It is important that you do some research about the company or organization you are applying to so that they know you are serious and interested in your job. Try to portray your awareness about what they do, what your job will entail you do and all such relevant information that relate to the position you are seeking.