Cover Letters and Thank You Notes
The cover letter is one of the most important tools in your job communication package. Do not make the common mistake of investing significant time working on your résumé but preparing your cover letter in haste. Recruiters read cover letters; often the cover letter establishes initial contact. As such, cover letters make the first impression, and thereby set the tone for your relationship.
Hiring managers reviewing large numbers of cover letters sometimes must sort out the candidates to be considered from the ones to be rejected on the basis of a moment's evaluation.
The cover letter introduces you and your credentials to the prospective employer. It articulates your reasons for your interest in the company and the position. When you compose your cover letter, put yourself in the shoes of the person who will read it: follow accepted business correspondence format. Write a cover letter that is brief, concise, and specific. Do not merely copy a sample letter; recruiters complain of receiving the same letter from multiple applicants.
For more information on how to write an effective cover letter, you can use the following resources:
* To view PDF files, you'll need Acrobat Reader. Download for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
|
