Mastertracks.net

One of the most important keys to improving your chances of being hired is your resume cover letter.  It is the first thing an employer will read about you and your chance to peak their interest in further exploring your resume.  A good resume cover letter will have an employer eager to move on to your resume and get the details on your education and experience.  To make sure your cover letter is the best it can be, follow these easy tips.

Don’t make it too long

A resume cover letter can only do the job of getting an employer interested if they actually read it.  If it is too long or too wordy, odds are they will skip over it, and your chance to introduce yourself and offer the reasons why you are the best candidate for the job will be lost.  Try to keep your resume cover letter to around 4 paragraphs, and keep each paragraph to only a few sentences.  Shorter paragraphs are easier to read, and quality, not quantity is what matters here.

Don’t get too personal

The resume cover letter is where you introduce yourself to potential employers, but giving out too much information will turn people off.  Don’t offer anything that is too personal, and keep it on the simple side.  Talk about who you are and what qualities and skills make you right for the job.  Be careful not to wander off into a long story about your life.  The details are found in the resume; the cover letter is only meant to make the reader want to learn more.

Be realistic and truthful.
Yes, you want the resume cover letter to get attention, but if you exaggerate the truth it might not be good attention.  There is no reason you shouldn’t speak highly of yourself and let the reader know why you will do a great job if hired; just be certain that what you say is accurate and won’t come back to haunt you later.  Sell yourself on who you really are and what you really can do.  Exaggerate claims are more likely to hurt your chances because the reader will find them hard to believe.

Focus on the job

Using a template or a basic version of your resume cover letter is a great idea to make it easier when you are applying for numerous positions.  But for the best chance of interesting an employer, make some changes to tailor the cover letter to the particular position for which you are applying.  Be sure to use the job title and specifics about the position.  This shows the employer that you really are interested in their company and the job, which can go a long way.

A great resume cover letter is your ticket to a new job and a bright future.  Make sure it stands out from the crowd and gets you the attention you deserve.