Write a Cover Letter

5 Parts:

Why do you need to attach a cover letter to your CV or resume when applying?

Formatting Your Cover Letter

Additional Tips in Writing a Cover Letter

Sample Letters

Comments

Every time you Apply for a Job, whether it's online or in person, what's the letter that should go along with it? The older generation called it the "application letter". This generation calls it the "cover letter". The cover letter serves to highlight a specific set of skills that you think best show your abilities related to the job you are applying for. As such, the cover letter may make or break a job offer for you. It is never too late to learn to Complete a Job Application Properly.

When it comes to hiring employees, does the hiring manager or employer require cover letters? Indeed, they do, even if it is not stated in the job posting. Whether you Build a high quality free resume with LiveCareer.com's free resume builder or you know how to Write a Proper Resume, never send your resume without a cover letter. In preparing a cover letter, you must make it exceptional for you to stand out among the other applicants. You should know how to Prepare a Cover Letter.

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   Use it to signify your interest in the position

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   The cover letter clearly indicates your reason for communicating with the recipient. It should clearly indicate why you are writing and in what position you're interested.

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   Use it to explain how you heard about the position

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   For monitoring purposes, the recipient may need to know your information source. Some companies offer referral incentives to their employees when they're able to refer an applicant who fits the requirements. This also helps the human resources department identify which agency or job website brings in the highest number of applicants for future reference.

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   Use to pique the recipient's interest

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   Your cover letter should be interesting enough to make the recipient read through to the end of your letter and take some time to go through your resume. It should be able to showcase your personality and your background. Having an impressive cover letter can help you stand out from the rest of the pack.

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   The Salutation

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   The best salutation is your primary chance in making contact with your potential employer. This is one major spot where one's laziness sometimes wins out over due diligence "� the "Dear Sir/Madam" move. This is one generic salutation that is not positive. The hiring professional may misconstrue this as your lack of thought about who the hiring manager is. One staffing consultant and expert suggests that job seekers must take the time to find out the name of the particular hiring manager. You can sometimes find them via Linkedln or Google. However, if it appears in the job posting, you definitely must personalize the letter by mentioning his or her name on your salutation.

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   The first paragraph

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   In this part, you should state your intentions clearly. The reason should be logical, whether you are responding to a job listing post, inquiring about other positions, or requesting information relative to your job search. If you are responding to a job listing post, you should include where you've seen and/or heard about the job vacancy.

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   About you and your related skills

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   This is where a lot of applicants go wrong. They create a template cover letter and use the same cover letter over and over again, taking time to edit just the recipients and the position. Notice that when you do this, the employer generally does not contact you. You have to make sure that it is stated in this part of the cover letter that you have the particular set of skills they are looking for. Highlight the skills that you think you have in connection with the job specifications. By doing so, you are exhibiting not only your communication and writing skills, but you are also showing that you are a critical thinker.

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4. 4
   "Why the employer should hire you" part

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   This part is usually where the reader decides whether to continue to read the resume attached to your cover letter or not. This is the part where you convince the reader to take an interest in your application. As a job applicant, it is critical that you are able to mention the specific name of the company in your cover letter, followed by a clear explanation of why you're interested in working for the company. Make sure that you truthfully mean what you say. Hiring professionals can easily tell if you are being less than truthful. Keep in mind that the major objective of the company's human resources is to hire the people who sincerely want to work for them. As such, it is the applicant's job to convince them via their cover letters. Avoid making unrealistic claims, like saying, "I am your best candidate for the position." Recruiters, after all, will not know if you really are the best candidate until they have evaluated other applicants. Your cover letter must give the recruiter a glimpse of your background. You have to encourage them to become interested in you and your resume.

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   Make sure to state what is enclosed with or attached to your letter

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   Indicate if it is a reply or an answer to a request. Also ensure that you also include the name of the person who made the request.
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