Cover Letter: For A Resume

A generic cover letter is considered “lazy” in the business world. You want to show potential employers that you are a hard worker and are ready and willing to roll up your sleeves and dig in and help right now.

There is no substitute for hard work. --Thomas A. Edison

So tailor your resume cover letter to the specific job for which you are applying, so that the reviewer sees that you haven't sent a generic letter to hundreds of companies but just theirs.

Here are basic guidelines about what to include in the contents:

1. Address: to person hiring

Call and find out the name of the person who will review your resume and address your correspondence to that person. This shows your interest and willingness to roll up your sleeves and do some basic research instead of writing blindly to, “Human Resources” or “Marketing Databases International, Inc.”

2. Use natural “professional” voice: grabber

State the position that you're applying for & reference where you heard about it – referral, ad, etc. And do this in a positive, active voice. For example, mention how an employment ad for a Marketing Representative in the Healthcare Industry in this month's newsletter “jumped out at you” because you just completed a course in the latest Internet Marketing Strategy and interned with a local health agency.

Be as specific as possible and do name-drop or mention any contacts you may have to connect you to the position, any experience you have in the field, latest books and newsletters you've read about the work, etc.

Employers today receive hundred of resumes with all of the online opportunities available out there, so any items you can mention to make yourself more familiar to them will help.

3. Share knowledge

Also let potential employers know that you have a specific interest in THEIR company as well as the industry. Check out their website and current newsletter. And research similar companies in the industry. Share your findings briefly and state how YOU can help the company. Sell yourself.

4. Use industry jargon

Write naturally and don't be afraid to use industry jargon. This will show you are experienced and will open the door of communication a little wider.

5. Call to Action

Tell what happens next. Will you follow up with a call, email, postal letter? Do you want an appointment for an interview? Write it down, “I will call you next Friday to schedule an appointment for an interview.”

6. Thanks

Conclude with a note of thanks along the lines of, “Thank you for opportunity to be of service.” And include complete, accurate contact information for yourself. For instance, make sure if you've left a fax or voicemail number, that the equipment on the other end works. And make sure your e-mail address is correctly spelled and does not bounce.

7. Spelling/Grammar Check

Run your work through a spell checker and look carefully through the content to check for grammatical errors. Print out a hard copy, wait 24 hours, then check one more time. Then send it.

Your hard work will be noticed big time in your cover letter and your chances of getting to the next stage in the hiring process will go up dramatically.

Brian Maroevich