The following is an article I wrote for The Daily Muse as a contributing writer.
As a career coach, I can tell you that there are plenty of things that make cover letters stand out in a bad way. But how do you move past mediocre and get it to catch the employer’s eye in a good way?
That’s the burning question, when one sheet of paper stands in the way of your potential employer seeing your masterpiece of a resume.
If you're in in the job market, you should be aware that an effective cover letter is an absolute MUST for many employers. If you don't have a cover letter (and a good one, at that) there's a chance a prospective employer won't even glance at your resume.
Finding the right candidate for a job isn't all about the necessary skills, as skills are something that can be taught, where as traits are more innate. Personality, drive, and adaptability may prove to be well more worthwhile in a job environment than education.
Check out list great list from ProfessionGal.com if you are looking at a new position.
And here are a few things to remember:
Personalize your cover letter - Make sure it is addressed to an individual, not "To Whom It May Concern" or something equally vague. The content of the letter should also vary depending on the company and position - you shouldn't be sending the same exact letter when applying to multiple companies. They need to know you're interested in THAT job, not A job.
Relate yourself to the company. Do your best to tie your qualifications and the job in question rather than just rattling off a list of skills and accomplishments.
And make sure that you keep your letter to one page. This goes for your resume as well. Anything over a page in length is likely to be overlooked.
Any employers out there have any great cover letter tips to offer?
Ana
Athena
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[...] 5 Secrets to Making Your Cover Letter Stand Out Arthur Casey By Arthur Casey "My Office Doctor" http://www.business-office-solutions.com/ . Be Sociable, Share! Tweet Filed Under: Business Letter Format Tagged With: business, cover letters, Employment, job search, letters marketing, marketing tools, resume, resume cover letters About acbusnljI am a part time Online Marketeer,own and manage a Successful Business. Live in Queensland Townsville Austalia . Married with 3 grown up children. [...]