Each morning hiring managers all over the country open the day's mail. They read a line or two from each cover letter they receive and then make a quick decision—to save it, shred it or file it away in the recycle bin.
What can you do to avoid the shred it pile? Take these six essential steps when you write your cover letter.
1. Greet the hiring manager with a friendly opening sentence.
2. Mention what you know about the company and the job requirements.
3. List facts that qualify you: where you worked, what you did, how you succeeded.
4. State what you can bring to the new position.
5. Ask for an interview and give thanks to the manager for considering your letter and resume.
6. Fit your message on one page and leave plenty of white space for easy reading.
A sharp, focused, and well written cover letter is essential if you hope to capture the attention of an employer—especially during tough economic times when jobs are scarce. Such letters produce results. All the rest end up in the shredder!
Writing a great job-search cover letter does take time and commitment. But it doesn't have to be difficult or mysterious. The most important thing to keep in mind is honesty. Include the ingredients listed above in a style that is uniquely and truly you. Send it off and then trust that the perfect job for you will turn up at just the right time.
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Author: Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Tough Times Job Tips."