7 Tips for Writing Winning Resume Cover Letters

Writing a good resume cover letter is something you should seriously consider when preparing to send off your resume to potential employers.

Here are seven important cover letter writing tips:

  • Address the individual by name. If you don't know their name then use: "Dear Sir or Madam" or "Dear Human Resources Director".

  • Attract attention with a strong opening paragraph. Create impact. Give them a reason to keep reading about you.

  • Refer to your enclosed resume. Be specific in describing your skills, experience and accomplishments. Use actual examples of things you've done.

  • Let the employer know what you can do for them. What can you bring to their organization?

  • Keep the letter's tone of voice positive and professional. Be persuasive but don't come off like a cheap used car salesman. Remember to ask for the interview!

  • Double check your spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Have someone proofread the letter.

  • Sign your letter and keep a copy for your files.

    Writing a strong cover letter will help you (and your resume) stand out from the crowd. Hopefully, your cover letter will give employers a reason to pick up the phone and invite you to that all-important job interview.

    About The Author

    Copyright 2004

    Donna Monday writes employment related articles for http://www.get-a-job-interview-quick-tips.com.

    In The News:


    The Associated Press

    Kennedy seen as model for re-entry women
    The Associated Press - 10 hours ago
    Kennedy's bid for the Senate has reignited the "mommy wars" between mothers with careers and those who take a break from paid employment. ...

    Elusive employment in Valley: Thousands seeking work in crowded ...
    TMCnet - 15 hours ago
    "Men who have spent their entire careers at some of these plants are looking for even part-time work. I've never seen anything like it before. ...

    Monster US online jobs index stumbles in December
    Reuters - 23 hours ago
    Monster Worldwide Inc, an online careers and recruiting firm, said its employment index fell to 131 points last month from 143 in November. ...

    Career Expert Helps Professionals Remove Personal Barriers and ...
    PitchEngine (press release), WY - 13 hours ago
    With all the “noise” about the current state of employment, career professionals find themselves at a crossroads. The tough decision to switch careers, ...

    AsiaOne

    Job seekers flock to CityCenter Careers web site
    MSNBC - Jan 7, 2009
    It's being called the largest, single new employment opportunity in the country, and it's happening right here in Las Vegas. ...
    Construction flaw causes delays at CityCenter KVBC
    all 216 news articles

    Great careers in the media
    Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 5 hours ago
    ... who will be speaking on macro trends of the employment market, Azizah Talib from the Malaysia Employers Federation who will speak on career growth, ...

    Opportunities: Career Advantages of Collaboration
    ScienceCareers.org, DC - 4 hours ago
    You might come up first in their minds when an employment opportunity opens up. You develop opportunities for scientific collaboration the same way you ...

    Examiner.com

    Job shadowing: The benefits and how it's done
    Examiner.com - 16 hours ago
    ... a subtle way for future employment opportunities including internships,” said Rick Smith, PhD, director of career development at the Smith Career Center ...

    AsiaOne

    Retooling for encore careers
    AsiaOne, Singapore - 12 hours ago
    He will speak at the Reinventing Retirement Asia conference that opens tomorrow on 'encore careers', the subject of a book he penned in 2007. ...

    Madison center offers career training courses
    Clinton News, MS - 22 hours ago
    Class supplies and materials and the instructor's salary are provided by a grant from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the US ...
    careers employment - Google News
  • Learn a Language for Career Advancement

    To learn a language for career advancement is one of... Read More

    What Do You Want From Life?

    The tragedy for millions of people is that they never... Read More

    One Cover Letter Secret You Cant Afford To Miss

    Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high... Read More

    How To Write The Perfect Cover Letter: Be Brief--And Be Gone!

    The best cover letters are 'one-page wonders.' Why? Because they... Read More

    Negotiating Skills: How to Obtain the Salary You Want

    Salary negotiating is an important topic that must be addressed... Read More

    Culture Shock

    Today we hear much talk of the 'global village'. People... Read More

    Writing Resumes That Attract Your Perfect Job

    Let me introduce you to Ben. He made it happenBen... Read More

    Smokin? Up a Storm: Clothing, Smokers, and the Job Interview

    You're nervous. You're so nervous that you crave a smoke.... Read More

    Bullseye Interviewing

    An interview is much like a blind date. You have... Read More

    Dynamic Pre-Hiring Practices

    The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. Much time and... Read More

    Little Mistakes That Keep You Unemployed

    If your job search is dragging on and on, you... Read More

    Sample Resume Objectives: What They All Tend To Miss

    Sample resume objectives. When a harried and possibly panicked job... Read More

    Tips on Finding Employment as a Corporate Flight Attendant

    I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic... Read More

    How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II

    In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's... Read More

    Why Use a Resume Writer or Resume-writing Service?

    Here are some of the questions we have been asked... Read More

    Image and Style Count

    When I was a child, there was a pool nearby... Read More

    Is Pursuing a Career in Patent Law the Right Move for You?

    What's It All About? The field of patent law is... Read More

    Resume Writing - Things to Consider

    You are looking for a job and you are out... Read More

    CDL Practice Test ? Offers Practice Tests To Prepare For The CDL Exam

    As you take CDL practice test, you do become more... Read More

    Dont Forget to Say, Thank You

    One of the biggest mistake for job seeks is to... Read More

    Tips For Surviving As A Corporate Refugee

    In her book "Are You A Corporate Refugee", Ruth Luban... Read More

    3 Ways To Succeed On Your First Job (Or Any Job)

    You've heard the real estate clich: the three factors that... Read More

    Resume Outline - Add Structure & Flow to Your Resume

    Building your resume, based on a resume outline will give... Read More

    When Bad Interviews Happen to Good Candidates

    Going through the motions of a bad interview is like... Read More

    Three Tips for Successful Networking

    I generally shy away from using the word "networking" when... Read More