(Newswire.net — January 23, 2019) — Apart from your resume, employers look at the cover letter to determine whether or not they should call you for that interview. The cover letter you submit can break or make the chances of landing your dream job. It is likely that many people are applying for the same job, so through your cover letter you can make a favorable impression. Cover letters that are full of simple errors send the impression that you don’t care about the job. You have to make your cover letter unique and attention-grabbing. With that in mind, here are the essential qualities of a good cover letter.
Qualities of a Good Cover Letter
1. Make it Personal but Still Professional
Even after you have listed your professional qualifications in your resume, that is not enough. A cover letter allows you to get personal and explain in details why you are a good candidate for the job. It is where you write all your potentials. But remember, your aim is to let your personality shine so avoid being too personal.
2. Make it Targeted
A common mistake that many job seekers do is to write the same cover letters for different job applications. A cover letter is different from a resume. It sells you out. And therefore do not mass produce these letters. To increase the chances of getting the job you really want, you must customize your cover letter to fit that particular job description. Convince the hiring manager why you are fit for the interview by writing a letter that is targeted to that organization.
3. Well-Written
This should go without saying. It is the most important aspect of your cover letter. If your letter is full of mistakes, whether grammatical or spelling, you will not only look lazy but also unintelligent. The employer cannot trust your quality of work if you deliver a letter that is full of errors. Have in mind that you will be competing against aspirants whose letters are perfect, so make yours perfect too. Go through it as many times as you can. If possible print it out and distribute to friends to help you correct any mistakes.
4. Give the Details the Resume Left Out
No resume is perfect. It must always have some missing information which the employer would want to know. You can fill the missing holes in your resume on the cover letter. Explain them in a manner that the interviewer will be prompted to pick the phone and invite you for an interview.
5. It Should be Direct
Employers are overwhelmed with thousands of applications. So if you fill yours with lots of unnecessary information, there are little chances that it will be read. Be brief and straight to the point. When you are starting, address the letter directly to the human resource manager and not “to whom it may concern.” And in your closing indicate your next step. Don’t use common phrases. You can indicate “I will contact you next week for follow up.”
In Conclusion
Using these qualities of a good cover letter will help land you the job of your dreams. So be sure to use these characteristics. Many employers will judge whether or not to schedule an interview with you, depending on your cover letter. And while it may seem unfair that they put so much stock in a single part of your application, know that they receive a lot of applications. So remember to state your interest and go direct to the point. Don’t use fluff words that are not necessary. Make your cover letter as unique and as prompting as possible.