Your cover letter is your introduction to a prospective employer. It’s an opportunity to make a great first impression and to tell them why you’d make a great hire.
So you can’t afford to mess it up!
The cover letter is where you promote yourself, describe your ambition and express your enthusiasm for a new role and company in a way that’s different than your resume.
Use fewer words to say more.
- Start with an attention-grabbing introduction that expresses your enthusiasm about the position and the company. If you have a referral, drop their name here.
- This is your sales pitch where you address your top skills, accomplishments and attributes, and explain why your qualifications relate to this particular role or company.
- Finally, restate briefly how you can add value, thank the hiring manager for their consideration and initiate the next step by saying you’d like to follow up with a call or an interview.
Tailor your cover letter to a specific job.
Don’t use a one-size-fits-all cover letter template for all the positions you apply for. If you do, you’re missing the point: Only a letter that’s targeted to the job at hand will make a positive impression.
Download our free Resume + Cover Letter templates here.