How Do You Format a Cover Letter?
Job seeking can be as competitive as selling products and services to prospective consumers knowing that you have several competitors. When it comes to a job application, it is just the same, except that you are not selling any product or service, rather, you are promoting yourself to prospective employers.
One great tool that every applicant should have apart from a resume, is a cover letter. It is a letter of introduction that is attached to another document such as a resume or curriculum vitae. To entice an employer’s attention and to make sure you stand out above other applicants, you need to have the best cover letter.
Since a cover letter format is a formal document (as you can see from our sample cover letters). In terms of formatting, here are a few guidelines you can follow.
- On the top, both your recipient’s and your:
- Name
- Address
- City, State Zip Code
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Salutation – If you do not know the contact person, or are responding to a blind job post, you can write, “To Whom it May Concern:”.
- The Body of the Cover Letter – This section is where you’ll explain to the employer what position you are applying for, why the employer should consider you for an interview, and how you will make a follow-up. Divide this into 3 paragraphs:
- First Paragraph – Write your purpose for writing and where you found the job opening.
- Middle Paragraph – Describe what you can offer to the employer. Explain how your qualifications match the job you are applying for.
- Final Paragraph – Wrap up your cover letter template by thanking the employer for their time.
- Closing – You can write something like “Respectfully yours” or other relevant closing terms.
- Your Signature – Don’t forget to include your signature.
If you want to view some cover letter samples, are what you need.
Tips in Writing a Cover Letter
Remember that your main goal when applying for a job, is always to stand out and secure a slot for an interview. You can use cover letter examples as guidance or you can follow these helpful tips to write a great cover letter.
- Never recapitulate what you have on your resume. Rather than repeating what you already have on your resume, make use of your cover letter templates in word to explain details that you were not able to describe on your resume.
- Think about what you can do to the company and not the other way around. Employers are aware of what they can provide to you, instead, they want to know what you can do that can benefit the company.
- Time to show off your skills. If your past experiences don’t sell you as a great candidate, instead showcase and focus on your skills.
- Education is really not that necessary. Fresh graduates need to focus more on their educational background. Employers care more about your work experience and not from what school you’ve graduated.
- Highlight the appropriate experience. These are the experiences that will tailor to the job position you are applying for.
Stand out from the competition and do not sell yourself short. Use these tips to help you land your dream job.
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