This is where you tell employers who you are, why you’re writing, and how you heard about the organisation or the specific opening. Here’s what goes into each of the four main sections of a cover letter: THE BEGINNING If you’re bewildered by how you’re actually going to write a cover letter, it can help to break the letter down into its various parts and concentrate on just one section at a time. When you’ve addressed these five issues, you’re ready to put fingers to keyboard and start hammering out that letter. Why do you want to work for this particular organisation or person? What do you know about them? What is it about their products or services, philosophy, mission, organisational culture, goals and needs that relates to your own background, values and objectives?.How can you match your experience to the job? What are at least two specific accomplishments you can mention which give credence to the qualities you identified in question number three?.If you’re not applying for a particular job opening, then think of which skills, knowledge and experience would typically be valued. What are three to five qualities that you would bring to this employer or this job? If you’re responding to a specific job listing, look for “clues” that will tell you what they are really looking for.What are your objectives? Are you applying for a specific job, trying to get an interview, or simply hoping to get someone to spend 10 or 15 minutes on the phone with you discussing opportunities in general at that organisation?.What is the prospective employer looking for? Which skills, knowledge and experience would be an asset in the job you are targeting?.This will help you build a foundation for your letter and will make the actual writing go much more smoothly. Example” point, ask yourself the following five questions. If you find yourself struck by writer’s block at about the “Dear Mr. Five things to think about before writing These three components often amount to three or four paragraphs, but there are no hard and fast rules about exactly how you break up the information. Like lots of things in life, they have a beginning, middle, and end: usually an introduction saying who you are and why you’re writing, followed by a sales pitch of what you have to offer and then a closing in which you propose steps for further action. A cover letter also demonstrates that you can organise your thoughts and express yourself clearly and appropriately in other words, it reflects your communication skills and, to some extent, your personality.Ĭover letters are typically one page documents. It gives the reader a taste of what’s to come–not by simply summarising the resume, but by highlighting the aspects of your background that will be most relevant to the position. You also need to understand what to include–and not to include–and to be aware of some cardinal rules of cover letter writing.Ī cover letter is an introduction, a sales pitch, and a proposal for further action all in one. To make the best first impression, you need to know exactly what a cover letter is and to put some thought into it before you start writing. How detail oriented you are(i.e., are there typos or other errors?).What your experience and qualifications are-briefly.Many prospective employers view the cover letter as a way of getting their first impression of you. If you think you don’t need to put much effort into writing cover letters-or don’t need to send them at all because nobody reads them-think again.įor every person who says the cover letter is not important you’ll find another who says it is.