How-To Write Your Own Killer Cover Letter

Get more resume writing and cover letter tips, by downloading Blogging4Jobs’ FREE career toolkit including resume and coverletter templates.  Click here.  

There you are. Sitting in your chair, reading the headline of this blog post, wondering … “Really, do I even need a cover letter anymore?” And, the short answer is: Sometimes. There are some hiring managers that still want to read cover letters and require them as part of the screening process. You see, many people get assistance in writing their resumes, but the cover letter is often left up to the job seeker to write. Unassisted.

Cover letters give the reader insight into your personality, achievements and writing skills. So, just like your resume, be sure that your cover letter is free of grammatical errors. Here are a few other tips for writing your own killer cover letter.

COVER LETTER TIPS FROM AN HR PRO

When possible, address your cover letter to an actual person, then begin with a strong opening statement that demonstrates your interest in a specific job. I also like when candidates tell me where they saw the job posting, as it helps me gauge the ROI on advertising sources.

Dear Ms. Smith:

When I read ABC’s posting for a Human Resources Business Partner on LinkedIn, my interest was immediately sparked.

The cover letter is a great place to highlight some of your significant career accomplishments. Can you name three to five things that make you an awesome candidate? Good. Include them on your cover letter. Entice the hiring manager (or recruiter / HR generalist) to want to read more.

As a motivated human resources professional with more than XX years of experience working at DEFG Co., I contributed to the company’s success by:

• Really significant accomplishment

• Quantifiable career highlight

• Huge project that put your name on the map

• Major kudos received for doing this

Since you are essentially selling a company on why to choose you, your cover letter and resume become your most important marketing tools. Like any pitch, you want to close strong.

During my last review, the vice president referred to me as “a key member of the DEFG team … that delivers results and builds cohesion along the way.” As you can see from my background, I have the experience you are looking for in an HR Business Partner. In addition, I am very interested in becoming a key member of the ABC team and in speaking with you further. I can be reached at 301.XXX.XXXX.

A FEW OTHER QUICK TIPS ON COVER LETTER WRITING

1. Keep it short and sweet. No one wants or has time to read through a novella.
2. Include your heading at the top, similar to the one you use on your resume.
3. Read over it aloud a few times to ensure everything reads well.
4. Proofread it again and again; don’t rely on spell check to pick up all errors.

Have any other cover letter tips? Feel free to share them below.

Get more resume writing and cover letter tips, by downloading Blogging4Jobs’ FREE career toolkit including resume and coverletter templates.  Click here.  

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Article by Shannon Smedstad

Shannon Smedstad spends her days leading HR social media and employment branding at GEICO and has more than 14 years of recruiting experience. She’s a work@home mom raising two awesome girls who also enjoys reading, traveling and her morning coffee. You can connect with her on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. (Opinions are her own and not those of her company.)

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