Introduction
The cover letter is one of the most important parts of your job search. It’s the first impression you make on a hiring manager, and it can mean the difference between getting an interview and not getting one at all. In this book, you’ll learn how to write a cover letter that will help you stand out from the crowd and get your foot in the door of the company you want to work for. You’ll also learn the dos and don’ts of the cover letter so you don’t make the same mistakes that other job seekers have made in the past. This book will teach you everything you need to know about writing a winning cover letter, including:
– How to write the perfect cover letter
– The best cover letter mistakes to avoid and how to fix them
You’ll also discover the top 10 cover letter tips that you can use to make your cover letter stand out and get you the job you want. This is a must-read book for anyone who is looking for a new job, whether you’re looking for your first job out of college or you’ve been out of the workforce for a while and are looking to get back into the job market. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, this book will show you how to make a great first impression and land the job of your dreams!
Whether you’re applying for a job at a company you’ve never worked for before or you’re an experienced professional looking for that next step in your career, you’re going to need a great cover letter. A cover letter can be one of your most powerful job search tools, but it can also be your biggest job search mistake. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you get it right. With this book as your guide, you won’t have to worry about making a bad first impression or wasting your time and energy on a job application that won’t get you any closer to your dream job. You’re about to discover the secrets to writing the perfect job search cover letter and using it to get the job that you want!
The Cover Letter
When it comes to the job search, there’s no such thing as a bad cover letter—as long as it’s written correctly. A well-written cover letter will get you an interview, and a poorly written cover letter could be the reason you never hear back from the hiring manager. If you want a job, you’ve got to be willing to do whatever it takes to get it, and that includes writing a killer cover letter! In this chapter, we’ll talk about the different types of cover letters, and we’ll show you the best way to write one. We’ll also show you some cover letter examples so you can see what a good cover letter looks like and what a bad one looks like. Then we’ll give you some tips on how to avoid the most common mistakes that job seekers make when writing their cover letters. Finally, in the last section of this chapter we’ll tell you what you should and shouldn’t include in your cover letters and give you a checklist to help you make sure that you’ve covered all of the important points. By the time you’re done reading this chapter you’ll be able to write an effective cover letter for any job you apply for, and you’ll know exactly what to include and what to leave out so that you get the interview you want and the job offer that you deserve. Let’s get started with the basics of writing a great job application cover letter:
1. Know What Type of Cover Letter to Write
There are two main types of job applications: the online application and the paper application. The online application is the one you fill out on the company’s website. The paper application is a paper form that you mail in to the company. Both of these types of applications have their pros and cons, so it’s important to know which one you should be using before you start applying for jobs. For example, if you have a lot of experience in a certain field, you may want to apply for jobs in that field, but if you’re just starting out in a new field, it may be better for you to apply to jobs in your current field. The type of cover letter you write will depend on which type of job application you’re using, so let’s take a look at both of them and see which one is best for you.
If you’re filling out an online application, you should use the same cover letter format that you would use if you were filling out a paper application, and vice versa. The only difference between the two is the type of application form you use, so make sure to choose the one that’s right for you before you fill it out.
Online Applications
Online applications are the easiest and fastest way to get a job. All you have to do is fill out the form on the website and submit it. You don’t even have to print it out—you can just fill it in on your computer. Online applications are great because you can fill them out at any time of the day or night, and they’re easy to fill out and submit. The downside to online applications is that they’re not as personal as paper applications, so you may not get as many interviews as you would if you applied for a paper job. The good news is that online applications are much easier to write than paper applications.
The most important thing to remember when writing an online cover letter is that it should be short and to the point. Don’t waste your time writing a long cover letter when you only have a few minutes to do it in. The cover letter should be no more than two or three paragraphs long, and it should include the following information:
1. Your name and contact information (phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address)
2. A brief explanation of why you’re interested in the job (for example, “I’m interested in this job because it’s a great opportunity for me to advance my career” or “I’d like to work for this company because I’ve heard great things about it”)
You don’t need to go into any great detail about why you want the job, but you do need to explain why you think you’d be a good fit for the position. If the job posting doesn’t tell you anything about the person who will be interviewing you, it’s up to you to convince them that you’re the right person for the job. In your cover letter, you need to make it clear that you have the skills and experience that the company is looking for, so be sure to include information about your relevant work experience, education, and any other skills that you think will help you stand out from the other applicants. If there’s a job posting for a specific position, you can use that job posting as a guide for what information you should include in the cover letter to make your application stand out.
3. Your resume
4. References
5. Salary requirements
6. How to apply
7. When to apply
Paper Applications
Paper applications are the traditional way of applying for a job—you fill out a form, mail it in, and wait for the company to get back to you. Paper applications are a little more time-consuming than online applications, but they’re also a lot more personal. You get to write a cover letter that’s tailored to the position you’re applying for, you get to include more information about yourself than you would on an online form, and the company gets to know you a little better before they decide whether or not they want to interview you. The downsides to paper applications are that they take a little longer to write and they can be a little harder to submit, so if you don’t have a ton of time on your hands, paper applications may not be the best option for you—but if you do have the time, they’re a great way to make a personal connection with the hiring manager and get your foot in the door. Here are some other things to keep in mind when you’re writing a paper cover letter.
Don’t use a generic cover letter—make sure to tailor it to the specific job posting you’re responding to. If you’re not sure what kind of job you want, ask the company what they’re looking for in a candidate. If they don’t give you any information, ask them why they’re hiring and what they hope to get out of the person they hire. You can use this information to help you write a more personalized cover letter for that specific job.