Writing a Good Cover Letter

Writing a Good Cover Letter Most cover letters follow the same basic format, but a lot of people need help with cover letters. First, they should be addressed properly at the top, with the name of the person you are writing to, their title, company name, and address. You should also include the date and and RE: (reference) marks as needed, ie, if there was some prior contact or a specific job code you are supposed to mention. Your salutation should be professional.

In your opening paragraph, you should quickly highlight why you are writing - any personal references or contacts you may have that directed you to the company, any special qualifications or experience that make you the perfect candidate for the job, etc. Keep the first paragraph short and to the point - 3 or 4 sentences at most.

The main body of your cover letter should then expound upon the introduction and go into more detail as to your background, education, experience, special industry contacts, and any examples you might provide of your skills or talents that apply to this job. You should try to keep a cover letter to one page, so your body should be perhaps one longer paragraph or two smaller ones - you don't need to spell out your life story here, as there will be plenty to talk about in the personal interview if your cover letter is successful. In the final paragraph, be sure to request an interview or whatever the next step would be, tell them the best way to contact you, and thank the reader for their time. Many people who like the pro-active approach instead say they will be contacting the company at some future time and they look forward to speaking with them. Personally, if I were a hiring manager, the last thing I would want is 50 people threatening to call me when I am not interested in them. It is up to you to decide which approach you are more comfortable with, but clearly the company DOES NOT want to hear from every applicant in person.