You’ve got your resume together, and found the perfect job listing. But now you’re stuck: what should you include in your cover letter?
Cover letters should be concise, professional, and highlight aspects of your resume that relate to the job listing.
Step one, your greeting. Don’t be afraid to be basic and to the point. Example:
Dear [person's name if at all possible, and avoid the antiquated “sirs”]:
Thank you for accepting my resume for [name of position] as advertised [where you saw the ad].
Step two, the body of the letter. This should directly address items listed in the job posting, and should reference your resume. Example of job posting:
F/T Office Assistant. Minimum requirements; must be organized, positive attitude, customer service experience and QuickBooks knowledge a must. Must know word and excel programs.
Example of cover letter body:
As you can see from my attached resume, I have a number of years of experience as an office assistant, which required advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and QuickBooks. I also have strong organizational skills and consider customer service one of my strengths.
Step three, the closing. Be brief, and include a call to action. Example:
Thank you again for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you so that we may further discuss this opportunity.
Sincerely,
[your name and full contact info]
Proofread carefully, and don’t forget to attach the resume.
