Why The Best Cover Letter Must Accompany The Best Resume, If You Want The Job

How important is the cover letter (letter of introduction) that accompanies your resume? It’s possible that you have the very best written resume in the world and be the very best candidate for the job, but if your cover letter is poorly written, you can pretty much throw your chances out the window. The cover letter is your first, and sometimes your only opportunity to grab an employer’s attention and let them know why your resume is worth reading. Remember – you have only a few seconds to grab that hiring person’s attention or you are just another resume to them.

Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., of Quintessential Careers says “A resume is useless to an employer if he or she doesn’t know what kind of work you want to do. A cover letter tells the employer the type of position you’re seeking — and exactly how you are qualified for that position”.

According to the Career Services division of Virginia Tech the basic rules of writing a cover letter are:

1. Explain why you are sending a resume.

2. Don’t send a resume without a cover letter.

3. Don’t make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation.

Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization — a web site, a family friend who works at the company. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write. Convince the reader to look at your resume.

If you are currently employed in the field you are applying for mention that in the cover letter.

5. But be brief and to the point. Your cover letter should be one page in length and perfectly centered. The cover letter and resume are never folded. They are placed in an envelope large enough to accommodate them unfolded.

Katharine Hansen further points out: A cover letter can serve the same function as the “job objective” on your resume, and expand upon it. Some applicants are reluctant to limit themselves by putting an objective on their resume. Although it is best for a job-seeker to target the type of work desired as specifically as possible, you may be open to more than one option.

Finally, a cover letter is a little window into your personality. A good cover letter can suggest to an employer, “I’d like to interview this person; she sounds like someone I’d like to get to know better. This seems like just the kind of dynamic person this company needs.”

If this sounds like something you are not sure you can do well may we suggest that you visit our website. We offer lots of help not only for cover letters, but the follow up letters also after the interview and of course the best resume. We will show you how to write the best resume and if you still are unsure direct you to the absolute best professional resume writers in the industry. In many cases having a professional writer do your resume is the best investment you can make.