Tip: Don't include detailed information about yourself in a cover letter. Direct people to your resume where the information is complete. The cover letter is an introduction, not a replacement for your resume.
The first paragraph of the cover letter is your introduction. It includes information about how you heard about the position and why the position is of interest to you.
The second paragraph is when self-promotion starts. Armed with the knowledge of what the company is looking for in terms of an employee and skills, you identify your skills and abilities to match what the company is seeking. If a position is advertising for a systems administrator, outline your skills, training, and experience specific to that area. Similarly, if a company is advertising for certain values, such as the ability to work under pressure or work in a team-oriented environment, match your values to those being sought.
Tip: Even though it is unlikely that you would do so, never make your cover letter more than one page in length. If you find that your cover letter is getting close to this limit, you are probably including too much information.
The third paragraph should continue your self-marketing. In it you should provide a litde more information on your training and experience. However, try not to duplicate information given on your resume. Instead, briefly describe your relevant training and experience. If the employer is advertising for a job as a programmer, you need not include the workshop you attended on PC troubleshooting.You can save that little nugget for the resume. Remember, the cover letter is a hook meant to catch the readers' interest and make them curious to read more. This paragraph requires a balance between over promoting and under promoting.
That should be it for the self-marketing portion.Your resume should cover the rest of your skills and experience. The final paragraph on your cover letter requires a little assertiveness on your part. This is your chance to encourage the employer to contact you. Make it easy for them by directing them to your contact information on the cover letter or resume and offering to be available for an interview at short notice and at flexible times.
Tip: Although it appears on your resume\ always include your contact information, such as your address, phone numbers, and email address, on your cover letter. If these documents get separated, your contact information will be on both. Make it as easy as possible for the employer to contact you.
Some career experts suggest that the onus rests on you to contact the employer to arrange an interview. This is a bold move indeed. Even if you were given to such directness, you may find yourself in an awkward situation during the phone call. Not only do many companies discourage such contact, stating that they will contact individuals who are selected for an interview, a great number of other companies have a personnel department that acts as the intermediary between the hiring manager and the potential employee. In such a situation, a call to arrange an interview may in fact be damaging to your job prospect. After all, if your cover letter and resume have done their intended job, chances are that the employer will be contacting you.
As always, there are exceptions. If the company is small enough and you get to speak to the hiring manager, then your call to set up an interview may be appropriate. However, if you want to strike some middle ground, perhaps a good way to finish your cover letter would be to add something like, "I will call you next week to discuss my suitability for the position." It sounds a little less presumptuous than, "I will call you next week to arrange a time for my interview." Keep in mind that although they may have been seasoned by years of recruiting, managers and recruiters are still people.
To round off your cover letter, include a brief paragraph thanking the employer for their time in consideration of your resume.
Tip: Remember to be polite and courteous in your cover letters. They are a reflection of your personality, and you want to come across as a friendly and likeable person.
When you have finished your cover letter, read it through and ask yourself how you would feel if you read such a letter from someone else. Once you are happy with it, get a second opinion.
