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| ARTICLE LIBRARY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to our article library. Here, we'll post informative and interesting articles relating to corporate training, professional growth, and professional development. Check back regularly as we continue to update our library with new articles. This month's article focuses on writing an effective cover letter. To read past articles, scroll down to the Article Archives section at the bottom of the page. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
- Five Tips to Dressing Your Naked Resume With the Perfect Cover Letter
Did you wear clothes to your last job interview? Silly question, right? As unthinkable as it would be to arrive nude to an interview, you are
essentially committing the same faux pas when you send your resume to a potential employer unaccompanied by a well-written cover letter.
Three Indisputable Truths About Cover Letters
Whether we’re talking about a cover letter or your best interview suit, three indisputable truths apply.
First, like a good interview suit, a cover letter is essential. At some point in your life before you embarked on your career, a wise person
advised you to purchase a quality business suit. And you did just that. Somewhere in your closet hangs the black, navy blue, or gray suit
you’ve reserved for your interviews. No employer needs to tell a rational candidate that professional dress is expected for the interview.
Even in creative industries, it is understood that the candidate should wear a business suit, although more latitude is given for color and
style choices than in traditionally conservative fields. Similarly, unless the job announcement indicates otherwise, a potential employer
expects that the applicant will provide a cover letter. Although the announcement may not explicitly state that a cover letter is preferred, it
is always good practice to include one if for no other reason than to demonstrate how effectively you can communicate your ideas and
thoughts in writing.
Second, a cover letter complements your resume. One goal of any interview is to project a confident demeanor and a polished appearance.
In preparation for your interview, you’ll have your suit dry cleaned, the hems mended, and any loose buttons secured. You may also starch
your shirt or blouse and polish your shoes. To complete your ensemble you’ll carefully select the perfect accessory, perhaps a gold watch,
pearl necklace, or leather attache´. Just as the right accent piece can enhance your interview attire, so, too, can a well-written cover letter
add to the attractiveness of your resume. When you lay out your wardrobe for your upcoming interview, you would not plan to wear two
shirts, two suit jackets, and two pair of pants. Likewise, your cover letter should not merely be a duplication of the information included in
your resume. Think of your cover letter as the finishing brushstrokes on a painting masterpiece.
Third, a cover letter is tailored. Your interview suit is tailored to fit you perfectly. The pants are neither too short nor are the jacket sleeves
too long. You could lend your suit to a friend, but it wouldn’t look nearly as wonderful on him or her because it has been tailored for you. In
like manner, the most effective cover letters don’t read as though they could fit any and every position. Instead, they are individualized to
fit the specific position for which the applicant is applying. In other words, if you are submitting your resume for ten different positions, you
need to write ten different cover letters. Nothing signals a questionable work ethic more to a potential employer than receiving a generic,
cookie cutter cover letter where it appears the applicant did little more than change the date and cut and paste the addressee’s contact
information.
The COVER Formula to Writing a Cover Letter
Writing the perfect cover letter doesn’t have to be an ordeal. In fact, it can be as easy as spelling C-O-V-E-R. COVER is an acronym for a
five-step paragraph-by-paragraph approach you can use to write an effective cover letter. Over the next few pages, I will show you how
you can use the COVER formula and the announcement for the position for which you are applying as a handy guide to craft the perfect
complement to your resume.
To illustrate how this works, we’ll use an actual job announcement that was recently posted on a popular online job site. The entry level
position was for a human resources assistant at an Atlanta consulting company that, for purposes of this article, we’ll refer to as ABC
Consulting. Assume you’ve read the job announcement and wish to apply for the position. Your resume is ready. Now, let’s write the cover
letter!
Read the rest of this article here.
Article Archives
Eight Ps of Office Meeting Protocol
Rethinking Your Resume's M.O.
Ten Tips to Torture-Free Legal Writing
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