Writing Effective Cover Letters printable pdf download

Writing Effective Cover Letters

 Write a unique cover letter for every position, as best cover letters are customized for the employer

receiving them

 Don’t just talk about you; your resume talks about you.

 Demonstrate you’ve done your employer research and show them how you’re the best candidate for

them and how you will be a fit for what they need and want

o Identify the top 3-4 skills from the job description. Then, give specific examples where you

demonstrated those skills from your previous experience.

 Demonstrate professional, simple, and direct writing style while also expressing personal interest and

excitement

 As with your resume, your cover letter is a writing sample; proofreading for grammatical and spelling

errors, typos, and content / style is just as important, as mistakes can disable your chances of moving

forward.

How to Write your Cover Letter Paragraphs

Cover letters take some thought so following a proven technique for constructing them will

help you create a cover letter that will convince a hiring manager to give you an interview.

Harry Dahlstrom, in his book The Job Hunting Handbook, recommends using a technique called

AIDA, which stands for Attention, Interest, Desire and Action for craft ing the body of your

letter.

1. Grab Attention

In the first paragraph of your cover letter, grab the hiring manager's attention by telling

him/her why you are writing. For example:

 "I would like to apply for the Administrative Assistant position I saw advertised on

Craigslist"

 "I am interested in learning more about career opportunities for Administrative staff at

your company"

Writing Effective Cover Letters