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Jobseekers frequently underestimate the importance of resume cover letters. A well-written cover letter can mean all the difference in the world, or at least become the deciding factor in whether your resume gets read or cast into the circular file.
Jobseekers commonly make the mistake of duplicating their resume when they write the cover letter– although many of them just plain forget to write the cover letter to begin with! However, you need a cover letter that expands on and complements your resume.
Put yourself in someone else’s place and imagine that you have to sort through a bunch of different resumes. All of them are printed on decent white paper. All of them are covered in objectives and skills.
Quite a few of them have letters, some of them very long. Overwhelming, isn’t it? Set yourself apart. The cover letter needs to get attention from the reader and give them plenty of good reasons for them to turn the page.
So where to start? You can always learn by example. There are many example resume cover letters online. They are available in several formats, for dozens of different types of jobs. Use your favorite search engine to find them easily.
Don’t be afraid to mention the name of someone who has both referred you and is well known to the company or interviewer– provided you have that person’s permission, of course. Networking referrals are a powerful tool, and can ensure that your resume at least gets read.
Look over the job description carefully. Reference it in your cover letter, mentioning appropriate skills that make you a great candidate. This is where it can be tempting to simply repeat what’s in your resume, but it offers a great chance to go a step further. Talk specifically about how your skills suit you for the job and how you’ll benefit the company.
First and foremost, imagine that the interviewer is reading and asking, “What’s in it for me?” Chances are that’s exactly what the interviewer’s thinking every time he or she is reading resume cover letters. If your answer sounds good, you’ll get the interview!
Need the Perfect Resume? Visit Make a Resume. We cover everything from Resume Objectives to Free Resume Templates for Accounting Positions and every other position you can think of.
- Carlie Evie
