| Are you planning on writing a cover letter yourself | | | | some highlights from your resume that |
| but you don't know where to start? Do you feel | | | | demonstrate how qualified you are for the |
| a little overwhelmed by all that you might have | | | | position. It's key here to keep in mind that you |
| already researched about cover letters? Try not | | | | don't need to write your resume word for word. |
| to stress too much; writing a cover letter is really | | | | Only highlight those parts that pertain to the job. |
| a piece of cake as long as you keep a few things | | | | This is where you really sell yourself. This is the |
| in mind. | | | | paragraph where you should dress it up to |
| As you are more than aware, your cover letter is | | | | impress. Put yourself in the employer shoes, and |
| more or less a sales letter. You are the product | | | | ask yourself if you meet the company's needs |
| that you are selling. In a nut shell your cover | | | | and how you meet them. Chances are this will be |
| letter needs to show the employer why they | | | | your longest paragraph but don't get too carried |
| would be crazy not to hire you. You letter will | | | | away. There is no need for the employer to |
| need to demonstrate your specific qualifications | | | | know that you volunteer at your local community |
| that make you better than any other candidate | | | | center every weekend teaching young kids how |
| for that position. Your letter allows you to | | | | to play ball. Remember, these employers are |
| personalize your resume. | | | | looking for that one person who best fits their |
| Another thing to keep in mind when writing your | | | | needs. Use this paragraph to show them that you |
| own cover letter is to keep it short and too the | | | | are exactly what they are looking for. |
| point. Remember you are not the only person | | | | Your final paragraph or your closing paragraph is |
| applying for the position. Chances are the | | | | where you make yourself readily available for |
| employer or hiring manager has a stack of | | | | that interview. After all the whole purpose of the |
| resumes and cover letters sitting on their desk. It | | | | cover letter is the land the interview. A good idea |
| is unlikely that they are going to sit and read a | | | | is to tell the employer to expect a call from you |
| long cover letter that goes on and on. They will | | | | in a specific time to discuss the opportunity |
| more than likely get through a sentence or 2 and | | | | further. End your letter thanking them for their |
| lose interest and toss your resume with your | | | | time and that you look forward to meeting them. |
| cover letter aside. Therefore your cover letter | | | | You might be tempted to use one of the free |
| should never be more than a few paragraphs long | | | | samples of cover letters that you can find |
| and it should never, under any circumstances be | | | | anywhere online. I don't recommend this. Writing |
| longer than a page. Anything longer than a page is | | | | the cover letter yourself is much more |
| almost guaranteed to make a trip into the black | | | | personable than a generic sample letter. A cover |
| hole of cover letters that never get a second | | | | letter written by you is customized by you for |
| glance. | | | | that specific company and position. If you were |
| Start your first paragraph off with your | | | | to send a basic letter, chances are it will just be |
| introduction. Address the letter to a specific | | | | tossed aside. One last thing to remember is to |
| person whether it's the hiring manager or HR Rep. | | | | keep the page itself simple. Make sure your |
| It's important to remember to have this name | | | | spelling and grammar are all correct. There is no |
| spelled correctly and their correct title. This is | | | | need to go crazy with funky fonts and strange |
| where you introduce yourself and your reason for | | | | margins. It's key to keep the cover letter neat, |
| contacting them. It's here that you tell them | | | | basic and easy on the eye. |
| exactly why you want to work for their | | | | Writing your own cover letter is nowhere near as |
| company. It's a good idea to have done some | | | | hard or as intimating as it seems. Keep in mind |
| prior research of the company and include that in | | | | these simple tips and your cover letter will be |
| this paragraph. | | | | opening doors for countless opportunities. |
| In your second paragraph you should incorporate | | | | |