Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Top 10 Cover Letter Tips

If you're out there looking for a job, chances are you are being asked to provide a resume and cover letter. Here are 10 tips to help you with your cover letter.

1. Check grammar/spelling errors - Speaking from personal experience, spelling errors are one of the first things that will get an applicant sent to the "no hire" pile.

2. To whom it may concern - Avoid this introduction in your cover letter. Take the time to address your cover letter to the hiring manager.

3. Mr. or Mrs. - Trying to guess if Ashley Smith is a Mr. or Mrs. may offend your potential employer, especially if you get it wrong. Just go with (First Name Last Name).

4. What you can do for me - Your resume should convey how your experience can benefit the employer. This is your first chance to prove how you can be a valuable asset to the organization.

5. Copy resume - Remember the cover letter is a compilment to your resume not a reproduction of it.

6. Ending - Keep the power in your hands, let the employer know in your cover letter that you will contact them.

7. Keep it to 1 page - Make your points and stay concise, bullets work nicely.

8. Referral - Give credit where credit is due.

9. Power Verbs - Use powerful words to highlight your skills and be specific to the position.

10. Always include a cover letter with your resume - Again, from personal experience... applicants that don't include a cover letter rarely make it to the interview stage.

Good Luck!

http://top-10-list.org/2011/07/07/top-10-cover-letter-tips/

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