How To Write A Winning Cover Letter (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

your resume will never shake off. In fact, there are some cover letters I’ve seen that are

so bad, I’ve thrown them away rather than show them to a hiring manager because I

knew they reflected badly on the candidate and would hurt their chances.

Many hiring managers feel that the cover letter more accurately reflects the "real world"

ability of the candidate. Those managers make serious judgments while reading them.

Using a sample cover letter will tell the hiring manager you are boring and lazy. You

can't afford that.

Advice, Tips, and Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Your cover letter should be targeted to a the same, specific position as your resume.

Your resume and cover letter should work harmoniously for the same goal: Get your

phone ringing.

Common Mistake: Cover letter is generic and not targeted.

It’s imperative that your resume persuasively argue which specific problems you can

solve for the hiring manager. Your cover letter should skillfully highlight where your

skills match the critical success factors of the job. Imagine what the hiring manager

might deem important for success and what problems he might be trying to solve with

the hiring of a new person. Tell him what he wants to hear.

Common Mistake: Cover letter does not sell you as a value to the hiring manager.

The best cover letters are BRIEF. Half a page AT MOST.

Common Mistake: You guessed it. The darn thing is too long, too vague, and a waste

of space. Long cover letters are NOT READ by anyone.

Your cover letter should ask for an interview.

Common Mistake: Most cover letters never ask the reader to do anything. It would

seem that most applicants never expect to be called. Truly excellent candidates always

expect to be called. Their cover letters politely communicate this to the reader and

generate an impression that the candidate must therefore be good.

Cover Letters Are Critical

Many people think that a cover letter is not important. In fact, some folks ignore it

altogether or just throw one in the envelope as an afterthought. On the contrary, the

cover letter is SO IMPORTANT that it should NEVER be an afterthought. It’s a key part

of getting your resume noticed and deeply read.

How To Write A Winning Cover Letter Page 2