Writing a cover letter can be challenging, but by following a few simple steps you can make your cover letter stand out!
1. Cut out extraneous words: Make your words count. Try to avoid any unnecessary verbiage. Cover letters should be concise and to the point. Often when people are trying to sell themselves they end up overcompensating with hyperbolic language or verbosity. This can distract from what is important: explaining how your skill sets align with the job and why they should consider interviewing you.
2. Tell the recruiter something they don’t already know: Do not simply repeat/re-iterate the information in your resume. Tell your story in more of a narrative format. It is important to connect the dots from the information you provided in your resume. This is a place where you can give specific examples of the skill sets you previously laid out in your resume.
3. Customize your cover letter: Be sure to research the job description and company website so you can personalize your cover letter. Each application that is submitted should include a customized cover letter. This is more than simply updating the date, address and company name. Be sure to include specifics on how your skill sets line up with the job opening. Many job applicants don’t take the time to customize their cover letter, but taking the time to be thorough can make the difference in landing the interview.
Putting together an outstanding cover letter can be as easy as 1,2,3. If you take the time to follow these simple steps you can make your document stand out from the rest of the competition.