Resume Cover Letters

As any expert will tell you, a well-crafted Resume Cover Letter is often the difference between getting an interview and getting overlooked.

While most job seekers will expend a lot of time and effort in putting together a resume, many applicants treat Cover Letters as afterthoughts. In fact, sometimes Cover Letters are not written at all! Presumably these job seekers are of the mistaken opinion that a good resume makes a Cover Letter unnecessary.

But make no mistake about it, an effective Cover Letter complements a resume, and is thus an important and expected part of any job seeker’s application package.

Of course, a Cover Letter works best when it is tailored to a specific addressee or organization. That said, form letters should be avoided. While these are commonly used when mass-mailing resumes, be mindful that they are also apt to generate form letter rejections.

The first step in drafting an effective resume cover is to determine the type of letter you are writing, i.e., is it an application letter or a prospecting letter.

Application letters are used when responding to a job advertisement, or when a job seeker has knowledge that a particular vacancy exists. On the other hand, prospecting letters are used when a job seeker is networking and exploring job opportunities in one or more organizations.

In the next step, the job seeker needs to articulate answers to the following questions:

* What position am I writing for?
* What are my qualifications? (Experience, skills, training, etc.)
* What are my demonstrated achievements in like or similar positions?
* What personal work qualities do I bring to this position and employer?
* Does my resume support my stated qualifications for this position?

Once these questions are answered, the job seeker can begin the task of formatting the Cover Letter. Fortunately, there are many useful desktop and online resources available on this topic. As a starting point, the Related Links at the end of this Posting lists several useful and informative resources.

Your research will reveal that the following elements are common for all Resume Cover Letters:

* Salutation - Make sure you spell the addressee's name correctly and you use the proper title. If you are applying to a blind ad, use the P.O. Box Number or “Hiring Manager”.

* Reason for writing – See Step 1 above.

* Relevant experience, skills, or training - Summarize from the resume.

* Significant achievements - Describe with "action words" and be brief.

* Contact Information - Make it easy for the hiring company to reach you.

* Closing - Be enthusiastic and express gratitude for the consideration.

* Follow up plan - State how and when you will follow up (usually by phone call).

As with all Business Communications, make sure your Cover Letter is written clearly and persuasively. Keep in mind that you are writing a Marketing Letter for yourself, so be upbeat.

Finally, edit for brevity. For most job seekers, a one page Cover Letter will suffice; however, two pages is acceptable for individuals with significant work experience.