Resume Cover Letter (Capture the Employer's Attention)

Resume cover letters act as your first opportunity to capture the employer's attention. The hiring manager is looking for someone who can effectively perform the job as described in the job advertisement.

Send or post a cover letter with your resume
Think of a resume cover letter as the answer to a job advertisement. Use this opportunity to...
• Set yourself apart from the competition by telling the employer that you are the most qualified candidate for the job.
• Highlight your skills and experience that relate to the target job.
• Emphasize what you can contribute to the organization.
Important note: Do not use the same letter for every job.
Customize each cover letter to match each individual job. This shows the employer that you did your research, and you are well informed about the position.
As a recruiter, I can tell the difference between an effectively written letter and generic one. Please take the time to customize your letter. This extra time will pay off during your job search.
I understand writing a resume cover letter is very difficult task, Just take it one step at a time and you will see that the task is not as difficult as it may seem.
Review sample cover letters for examples. Use them as guides as you write your own cover letter.
I recommend that you write your resume first. Then use your resume as a guide when writing a cover letter, but don't just repeat the information already in your resume.
Complement the resume, but avoid doing from duplicating it.

What is the Purpose of a Resume Cover Letter?
The cover letter's purpose is to…
• Introduce yourself as a prospective employee.
• Express your intent to apply for a specific job.
• Highlight skills and experience that relate to the qualifications in the job description.
• Emphasize your strengths that relate to the position.
• Tell the employer how you can apply your skills on the job.
• Refer the reader to your resume.
• Ask for a job interview.

Impress the employer!
• Create a good first impression.
• Use a professional, confident tone.
• Make every word count.
• Grab the reader's attention from the very first sentence.
• Clearly communicate your purpose.
• Convince the reader to take action.
• Show your writing and communication skills by using proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Research the company and show that you have an understanding of the company and of the job. To show that you are knowledgeable, mention something you learned, such as the company's...
• Mission statement
• Future goals
• Years in existence
• Major accomplishments

Before Writing, Ask Yourself…
• What is my purpose for writing?
• What 3-5 qualities do I have that relate to the job?
• What does the employer need?
• Do my skills and experience match the job description?
• What makes me want to work for a particular organization?

When Writing Your Resume Cover Letter…
• Have a clear purpose for writing the letter.
• Plan and organize each section.
• Put your most important ideas first.
• Keep your paragraphs short and your sentences simple.
• The letter should be brief, concise, and not too lengthy.
• Tell employer how you can use your skills on the job.
Keep the job description within reach, and review it frequently to make sure your letter matches the job description.

How to Write a Cover Letter
Each paragraph has its own purpose.
Opening Paragraph
• Tells why you are writing states your interest in the job or the organization.
Middle Paragraph(s) • Highlights your specific skills and experience that relate to the target job. Tell the employer how you will use those skills on the job. Give examples (e.g., leadership skills, education, customer service skills, etc.).
Final Paragraph 1. Identifies action for follow-up and thank the employer for considering you for the job.
2. Highlight transferable skills throughout the resume cover letter to show how your skills can transfer from past experience to the target job.
Note: If your resume shows gaps in employment dates and you feel the need to explain, do so in one sentence. Do not go into too much detail. You have more important topics to write about. Justifiable gaps that you can mention include:
• Layoff from a previous position
• Left to further your education
• Took time off to care for family
Don't just say, "I was unemployed." Offer an explanation. Explaining employment gaps in your cover letter is a proactive approach to addressing questions that may arise if an employer notices the gaps.

COMMON MISTAKES IN COVER LETTERS

Focusing on you too much
The company you’re applying to is hiring because they need someone to do something for them. Meaning that above all these, they want to know what it is that you can do for the company. While it’s key to share your accomplishments, get in touch with why you’re able to fill the void that they have in place. Then make your achievements known in a way that lends well to the duties of the position.
Writing a novel
Nothing is worse than long like novel; means that cover letter is not too long that makes the hiring manager tired just looking at it. Almost 70% of employers prefer a cover letter that’s half a page or less. Keep your cover letter concise and to the point.
Spelling and grammar errors
Use spell check to save yourself a lot of embarrassment. That error demonstrated a lack of preparation.
Writing in an unprofessional manner
Writing informally and using slang looks unprofessional. Cover letters should not include the same language you use in text messages in your phone.
Using a personal email address
Email addresses with words like “freak” or “party,” or that includes numbers demonstrate a distinct lack of professionalism. Create an email account specifically designated for your job search. Use your name in the email address and leave the “fun” address for your personal life. Make sure to include this new email address on your resume and cover letter, and respond to job listings using this new email address, to cut down on confusion. Have the email forwarded to your primary email address or check the email account daily, to make sure you don’t miss out on any job opportunities.
Addressing the letter to the wrong person
There’s absolutely no excuse for addressing your cover letter to the wrong person. If no name is provided then remember that you are targeted your job.
Forgetting to replace a company name or job title
If you're applying for job after job and tailoring your cover letter to each one, you may find yourself replacing words, names, and titles - rather than rewriting your cover letter from scratch over and over again - to save time. But be very careful when you do this. If you forget to replace the company name or job title, this will be a huge turn off to the employer you send it to.
Lying
This is pretty obvious - but don't fib, ever. It doesn't help anyone, and they will find out eventually.
Justifying why you were part of a layoff or why you quit your job
Candidates need to focus on the here and now. "Employer wants current information. “Why you were laid off or why you quit is not important. This becomes an immediate red flag and the perception of the hiring manager tends to be, 'this person isn't quite ready to move forward' or 'there is a lot of issues that are unresolved,' and those aren't the messages you want to send."
Listing references
Save the references for the end of the process. The cover letter is no place to start listing references or snippets from your latest review. "These names may have meaning to you, but to the hiring leader, these are unknown entities and they're simply a waste of time and space.