Cover Letter Guide
The cover letter is an opportunity for an applicant to convince the recruiter that their resume is worth reading. At its worst, the cover letter is an unorganized, generic letter that restates or summarizes what is already on the resume. At its best, however, the cover letter propels a mediocre candidate from the “no” pile to the “must interview” pile. Unfortunately, most cover letters lack both direction and purpose.
Great cover letters are written specifically for each position and take into account the following three factors.
- Why Are You Applying? Be creative. How is your interest in the firm different than other applicants?
- Establish Your audience: Is it an HR manager or your future boss? Your audience determines your content and tone.
- Value to Employers: Compared with other applicants for this position, what makes you stand out?