ADD TO YOUR My Job Search WORD DOCUMENT...

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The next SECTION, the fifth section, after RESEARCH should be titled: “Cover Letter” Make that Heading 1 style.

Your actual Cover Letter will be on it's own page just after the “Cover Letter” section head.

REMEMBER: this is your document, you choose what fonts, sizes, styles, colors, layout, graphics and picture to use. Be creative. Be you.

Your contact information

The first section of your cover letter should include information on how the employer can contact you. If you have contact information for the employer, include that. Otherwise, just list your information.

Your Contact Information
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email Address

Date

Employer Contact Information
Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

The salutation

When you're writing a cover letter or sending an email message to apply for a job, it's important to include an appropriate salutation at the beginning of the cover letter or message.

When You Do Have a Contact Person

If you have a contact person for your letter, be sure to include their name in your letter.
The following is a list of letter salutation examples that are appropriate for cover letters and other employment-related correspondence.

Cover Letter Salutation Examples

Dear Mx. Jones (gender nuetral)
Dear Mr. Jones
Dear Ms. Jones
Dear Jane Doe
Dear Dr. Haven

Follow the salutation with a colon or comma, a space, and then start the first paragraph of your letter. For example:

Dear Mr. Smith:

First paragraph of letter.

When You Don't Have a Contact Person

Many companies don't list a contact person when they post jobs, because they don't want to be contacted by candidates.

If you don't have a contact person at the company either leave off the salutation from your cover letter and start with the first paragraph of your letter or use a general salutation.

General Salutations for Cover Letters

Dear Hiring Manager
To Whom It May Concern
Dear Human Resources Manager
Dear Sir or Madam
Dear Company Name Recruiter

 

Information on why you are qualified for the job

The most important part of a cover letter or an email message applying for employment, is the body of your cover letter. The body of a cover letter includes the paragraphs where you explain why you are interested in and qualified for applying.

The body of your cover letter is the section of the letter that tells the hiring manager what position you are applying for and why the employer should select you for an interview. You're selling your candidacy to the reader, so it's important to be specific about your qualifications as they relate to the position.

First Paragraph:

The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you saw the listing. Include the name of a contact, if you have one.

Middle Paragraphs:

The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Make strong connections between your qualifications and the position requirements. Mention specifically how your skills and experience match the job you are applying for. Use several shorter paragraphs or a bulleted list of your qualifications rather than one large block of text.

Final Paragraph:

Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up, if you have enough

Keywords

When you are writing a cover letter, it's important to make sure that every word counts. Keywords are a vital element of a persuasive cover letter which portrays you as a highly qualified applicant for the job. These words fall into three general categories:

• skill words
• results oriented words
• words which show recognition for achievements

Keywords work in a couple of different ways. First, the keywords you include in your resume and cover letter will be used to match your application with the skills required by the employer. Secondly, they will show the hiring manager how and why you are highly qualified for the job.

Skill Keywords

Look at the job listing and identify the skills required for the job and include them in your cover letter. It will be more genuine if you mention the skills in your ow words as opposed to listing them just as they were written in the job ad. Skill words are most effective when connected to a specific role or project where you used them.

For example, instead of saying "My computer gaming skills would be an asset to your organization." you could say "I used my computer gaming skills to bond with our coffee shop clients; my gaming tips kept them coming back and buying more coffee."

The skills keywords included in your cover letters (and your resume) will help your application get selected by the software employers use to find candidates to hire. They will also show the hiring manger, at first glance, what skills you have that are related to the job he or she is hiring for.

Examples of skill keywords include: wrote, analyzed, quantified, planned, programmed, designed, created, built, taught and trained.

Results Oriented Keywords

Your cover letter should showcase your accomplishments, not just your skills or personal qualities. That's why it's critical to integrate results oriented language into your cover letters.

Think about what was really important for each job on your resume and how you might have made things better in your role. "When I decided to reorganize the parts in my aunt's auto shop they were able to find the right part much quicker." By using these types of keywords you are clearly showing what you accomplished in your previous roles.

Examples of results oriented keywords include: increased, reduced, redesigned, upgraded, initiated, implemented, reformulated, generated and produced.

Recognition Keywords

Hiring managers will be more likely to believe that you will be an outstanding worker if it is clear that previous employers have seen you in this way. One way to do this is to incorporate language which demonstrates that employers have recognized your contributions.

Ideally, recognition phrases will include the type of individual who noted your achievement and the basis for your recognition. For example, one might say "Because I had the best attendance record the manager put me in charge of the redesign project." Recognition keywords attest to how you have excelled in your previous jobs and how you have accomplished more than was required.

Examples of recognition related keywords include: honored, awarded, promoted, selected, lauded for, received a bonus for, recognized, chosen and credited.

A closing statement

When you're writing a cover letter to apply for a job it's important to close your letter in a professional manner. The following is a list of letter closing examples that are appropriate for cover letters and employment related correspondence.

Cover Letter Closing Examples

Sincerely
Sincerely yours
Regards
Best regards
Kind regards
Yours truly
Most sincerely
Respectfully
Respectfully yours
Thank you
Thank you for your consideration

 

Your signature

Follow the closing with a comma, a space where you will sign your name (signature), and then your full name. You may add your contact information at the end—especially if it is not at the top of your letter as it may not be in an email cover letter.

For example:

Best regards,

Antoni Gaudi
a-gaudi@gmail.com
408-223-4448