The Cover Letter: How It Compliments Your Resume
If I were to guess, I would say that around 8% of the applicants I review each day submit a cover letter with their resume when applying for a position. Of that 8%, maybe 3% of the cover letters include substantive and interesting information. The resume is obviously the most important document of the two but it is a mistake to ignore the cover letter. There have been many times that a well written cover letter has been the deciding factor of whether to pass a candidate along in the interview process or not. I can even think of a few times when the cover letter broke the tie between 2 or 3 great candidates. If you are going to invest time and effort into applying for a position, it's worth your while to build a great cover letter to compliment your resume.
So what is a cover letter and how do you write one?...
The great cover letters are not simply a collection of bullet statements that restate what is in the resume. Rather, they are letters to employers in full sentence and paragraph format explaining why your experiences will equate to success once hired and how you will add value to their company. This is your moment to really sell yourself and explain why you would be the best candidate in the running. Now, as far as how the cover letter is laid out, each resume writer will tell you something different. Much like the music you listen to, your resume and cover letter will be unique to your style. I personally like to lay the cover letter out like this:
_________________________________________________________________________
Your Name Your Address
Date
Company Contact Company Address
Dear Contact (If you don't know the name, do some online research or call the company)
Paragraph 1: State the position you are applying for and how you learned about the opening. If you were referred by a current employee, this is a good place to mention this.
Paragraph 2: Draw from the experiences you've listed in your resume and explain how those experiences have prepared you for this position. Be positive and "toot your own horn" here. Look back at the job posting for specific skills they desire and describe those which you have.
Paragraph 3: This paragraph can really separate you from the competition and set you up for your best shot at the interview. Do a little research on the company. Find a recent article about some initiative or accomplishment they have achieved. Once you have found something applicable, acknowledge their achievement and outline how your experience applies to their company vision. For example, if you find an article about how the company has recently decided to "go Green," draw on an experience from your past where you were doing your part to advance a Green initiative. This will do two things for you: 1) it will show the recruiter that you're interested in the company, not just the job and 2) it will give them a real life example of how your experience fits with their culture.
Paragraph 4: End the letter with a request for an interview and thank them for their time. Also include your preferred method for being reached.
____________________________________________________________________________
How you write your cover letter is ultimately up to you. The format is not nearly as important as the content. If you want the job, invest time into this process. The recruiter is looking for the right person and a well written cover letter can go a log way with tipping the scales in your favor.
As always, we are here to help you! Contact us at 859-539-9066 or email us at: lexingtonresumesolutions@gmail.com