Effective Cover Letter

A few tips to help you produce a superior cover letter:

Just the facts
A cover letter is not an autobiography. It should be short and sweet, brief and to the point. The cover letter and resume should demonstrate that you meet or exceed the requirements listed in the job description, that you are interested in the position, and that you are available. Any additional information is superfluous and can be counterproductive.

Avoid negatives
It’s been said that no politician ever lost an election over a speech that wasn't made. Don't lose the election. This is not the place to explain why you left or are leaving an employer. Negatives are best delivered in person so that your personality and humanity can counter them. If a recruiter or hiring manager likes your resume and wants additional information, she'll schedule an interview.

Avoid providing a salary history
A salary history is more likely to cost you a job than not. If the job ad says that resumes without a salary history will not be considered, give a historical salary range and state that your salary requirements are flexible.

Make your cover letter easy on the eyes
It should be easy to scan and have a logical progression. Bunched up text in long paragraphs will frustrate anyone who has to review hundreds of resumes and cover letters a week. Don't repeat your resume. Your cover letter is not a summary of your resume - listing previous employers and job roles can be counterproductive.

Don't repeat worn platitudes and clichés
Experienced gatekeepers know that almost every candidate promises "excellent written and verbal communication skills", and the ability to "think outside the box" and "juggle multiple tasks" while walking and chewing gum. Be different. Demonstrate your written communication skills by writing a good cover letter.

Offer a solution to their problem
Most employers hire people because the employer needs to accomplish a task—not because they want to provide employment opportunities to the public. Your cover letter should be solution-centric; not "I" centered. Keep the "I would like" stuff to a minimum.

Personalize your cover letter if possible
Your cover letter should be addressed to a specific person whenever indentifying information is available. Form letters insult the reviewer's intelligence and indicate that the writer is broadcasting her resume to every employer or has not made an effort to learn more about the company. Generic/canned cover letters can lead to failure. Even if you do not know the name of the recipient, if you conduct basic research, you can customize the cover letter to suit the position and the company. Tell the reader that you are interested in the company and the position, and why.