Uncovering Cover Letters
New York -
Writing a cover letter like this puts your job search on the road to oblivion:
To Whom It May Concern:
I saw your ad, and I'd like to apply for the job.
I've got lots of experience, and I'm well educated, too. The money seems low for someone of my high qualifications, but I'm sure we can work something out.
Attached is my (impressive) résumé. Give it a look and then give me a call!
Your Friend and Future Colleague,
Zonus Q. Zilch
Such a letter conveys the applicant's unusually high opinion of himself, but tells the company nothing about his qualifications or prior experience. The tone shows ego, not confidence. In short, a letter like this is worthless.
A good cover letter is addressed to a specific person, explains why you're writing, tells the reader why you're qualified for the job, directs the reader to your attached résumé and states that you will follow up on the letter. Be sure to thank the person for taking the time to review your material.
"The point of a cover letter is to get the hiring manager person to turn page and look at your résumé," says Randall Hansen, a professor of business at Stetson University in Deland, Fla. "Hopefully, that will get you an interview. Keep the cover letter to about two-thirds of a page. Some cover letters are two pages long, giving mini-autobiography that no one will read."
One size doesn't fit all when it comes to cover letters. You must personalize each letter and peg it to the job offered. Blasting out the same letter in response to scads of ads will get you rejections from all.
Introduce yourself to the company in the cover letter. Appearance and tone count. Keep it formal without sounding like a dainty Victorian or a pretentious twit.
To succeed, your cover letter must be crisp, uncluttered and error-free. Run the spellchecker and proofread your letter. The computer, for example, won't know the difference between "from" and "form. You'll look like an idiot, and a lazy one at that, if you make this mistake or one like it.