cover letter

5 essential cover letter tips

BY: Tracey Mesken10/07/2014

​Cover letters are still considered a vital part of a formal job application and should be approached accordingly. It is generally the first point of contact you will have with a prospective employer, and plays an important role in highlighting to them the key skills and competencies that make you a strong candidate for the job.The goal of you cover letter is to complement, not replicate your resume. A quality cover letter when structured well and succinctly written, should provide an interesting summary of your achievements and encourage an employer to continue reading your resume.Here are a few essential tips to writing a strong cover letter.1. Structure the cover letter logicallyStart by introducing yourself, the position you are applying for and in a few sentences, clearly explain why you are interested in the specific role or company for which you are applying. An employer doesn’t want to see a generic cover letter. Use the body of the cover letter to demonstrate the suitability of your background to the experience and skills that the position requires, and succinctly identify your most relevant strengths and accomplishments. Close out your cover letter with a strong finish by thanking the reader for their time and consideration, and include your contact information. Keep in mind that your email address (and your phone voicemail message) should be professional.2. Know the position you are applying forBefore you even start writing your cover letter, read through the position description for the job so you understand the requirements well. While you shouldn’t regurgitate the position description requirements word-for-word, it will be useful to pick out the essential ones and demonstrate how your particular skills and experiences will help you meet them.3. Dot the i’s and cross the t’sA surefire way to have your resume ignored completely, is by failing to pay attention to the most basic of details. Clearly read through the application instructions and make sure your cover letter addresses everything that has been asked for. When writing out multiple job applications, mistakes tend to happen, so check that you have included the correct company name, addressed the right person and referred to the correct role.4. Keep it succinctRemember that a cover letter should only be a summary of the information you put in your resume, so keep it brief and no longer than a page. Use the limited space more efficiently - and also make it easier for an employer to scan through your qualifications - by listing them under bullets. Keep your cover letter format consistent by using the same font and style used in your resume. For easy readability, the generally recommend font is Arial (font size 11).5. Language, Spelling, GrammarYour cover letter is the first opportunity you have to make a good impression and set the right tone, so take the time to consider the language you use. Using buzzwords, acronyms or jargon can make your cover letter seem like more fluff and less substance, so keep the language simple and to the point. And as with your resume, triple check that the grammar, punctuation and spelling used in your cover letter is of the highest standard.Follow these basic principles and you will have a cover letter that gets you noticed.

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5 cover letter blunders that could cost you a job

BY: Tracey Mesken27/03/2014

​Are cover letters still relevant in the job application process? The answer is a resounding “yes”. Whilst employers may have changed the way they filter candidates, your cover letter can still be an essential part of getting your foot in the door when applying for any job.It is the first opportunity you have to makes a strong, upfront and specific case for why you are the best fit for a position, so it's worth taking the time to get them right.​Here are five of the most common mistakes people make when writing a cover letter that might just cost you your dream job.1. Leaving out the company name or job referenceFailing to quote the job title or job reference in your cover letter suggests an inability to follow instructions, and can often result in your application not being processed. When writing out multiple job applications, candidates often send through applications addressed to the wrong employer – so also make sure to check that all details are correct before sending!2. Being too casualTo make sure that your cover letter hits the right note, you need to use the right style, tone and language. Firstly, be sure to use a formal greeting when addressing your Cover Letter. For the main body, you should certainly feel free to show a little personality and your enthusiasm for the role, but always be professional and concise.3. Failing to cross your t'sAttention to detail is incredibly important when writing a cover letter. Always take the time to triple check your cover letter and go through it with a fine toothed comb for accuracy of names, job titles, spelling, grammar and punctuation.4. Forgetting to add contextExpressing your skills and capabilities without any context, will generally not convince employers about your suitability for the job. Back up your statements by referencing a job or role where you successfully employed that strength.Example A - "I have leadership experience and have had notable success in my past roles."Example B - "I worked at the Industroplex Company as a general manager for 3 years. While there, I improved operating efficiency in my department by 21 per cent."5. Using an old cover letterEach cover letter you write should be unique and written for the specific role for which you are applying. That means not reusing the same cover letter from application to application and keeping the content relevant.Also keep your cover letter up-to-date. If you haven’t updated your cover letter in the past year or when your responsibilities or qualifications changed, it's very important that you update it before you apply for your next job. An out-of-date cover letter suggests indifference or lack of attention to detail.

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