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What Makes a Good Cover Letter?

by Nicholas Nigro

  • Overview

    When you are searching for a job, the cover letter accompanying your resume should never be given short shrift. It's what hiring personnel see first. Consequently, a cover letter can often be more significant than the sum and substance of your resume. Your cover letter introduces you to a prospective employer, and first impressions count in employment decisions. A solid cover letter increases both the odds that your resume will be considered, and that you will eventually get the job you are seeking.

  • Be Brief

    Ideally, a good cover letter should be several paragraphs long, and never more than a single page. There is no reason to impart your life story in this introductory missive, nor should you chronicle the minutiae of your resume. Your attached resume contains all that your potential employer needs to know about your work history, accomplishments, and skill-sets.
 

  • Talk About the Job

    A first-class cover letter should include a paragraph on the position you are applying for, and information on where you learned about the particular job opening. In addition to acknowledging the essence of the job you are interested in, it's important that you succinctly explain why you are uniquely qualified to fill it. Again, it is an exercise in redundancy to recite your resume from top to bottom. Several sentences extolling how your qualifications and prior work experiences jibe with the available job are sufficient.

  • State Your Objective

    If you are utilizing a cover letter---meaning that your resume is being mailed or e-mailed---then this is the forum to explain your overall job objective. When you can include it in a cover letter, it is unnecessary for an objective to be part of the actual resume. In a couple of sentences, describe what you want to achieve in your future employment; what work challenges you wish to tackle; and what career goals you would like to make reality.

  • Knowledge of the Employer

    A well-crafted cover letter should display some knowledge of the company you are interested in working for, as well as its particular industry. If you show a hiring manager that you have done your homework, and are no novice in the field, you increase your chances of both getting an initial interview and the eventual job. Your cover letter is an indispensable open volley. Use terms and phrases in it that reveal you have a working knowledge, or more, of the job you are after.

  • Clean Copy

    Carefully proofread your cover letter for typos. Check your grammar and spelling. Computers and the very latest printing technology can churn out sharp-looking copy for sure, but your words matter more. You are the author of your cover letter. Carelessness in this key communication can prove fatal in achieving your aim: the job.

  • Professionalism

    A high-quality cover letter should be addressed to a real person and not the generic Sir or Madam. It is worth the time to research the proper recipient within the organization you want to join. It should also be written in your own words and voice. Avoid a boilerplate style. Use your cover letter to showcase your individuality and what you bring to the workplace. Make a would-be employer want to learn more about you. A well-crafted cover letter is act one. Having your resume considered and being invited for an interview is act two. The denouement is being hired for the open job. A good cover letter sets the stage for your eventual success.

    References & Resources

    • 101 Best Cover Letters, Jay A. Block and Michael Betrus, 1999
    • Cover Letter Magic, Wendy S. Enelow and Louise Kursmark, 2006
    • JobStar Central
    • QC
    • monster
       
       
     
     

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