A cover letter is the first thing that grab’s an employer’s attention, so you want to make a good impression with it. When you have a well-crafted resume cover letter then you are one step closer to gaining access to an interview.
Your cover letter should be written after your resume and make references to your resume, but it should also include any other thoughts that you’d like to express to the employer.
There are many different ways to write a resume cover letter, but the main elements are always the same:
Heading
The heading consists of your address and the company’s address:
- Your address – This should be written in the top right-hand corner.
- Date – Put today’s date under your address.
- Company’s address – Skip about four lines and write the company’s address on the left-hand side.
Body
This consists of three paragraphs:
- First Paragraph – Introduction (2-3 sentences)
- Introduce yourself and the position you are applying for.
- Mention where you learned of the position.
- Tell them why you are interested in the position.
- Second Paragraph – Qualifications (number of sentences vary)
- Open with a strong introduction about why you are qualified to fill the position.
- Provide specific examples of your work experience and accomplishments to show them how you will benefit their company.
- Incorporate some aspects of the job description and the company’s profile into your examples.
- Final Paragraph – Closing Statement (2-3 sentences)
- Mention the enclosed resume.
- List your contact information (email and phone number).
- Thank them and welcome them to get in touch with you for an interview.
You should always conclude the letter with a “Sincerely” or “Regards” followed by enough space to sign your name, and then your name typed on the final line.
Now that you know how to write a cover letter, you can see a cover letter example here.
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