How Do I Do A Cover Letter For A Resume

Start drafting your cover letter by reviewing your resume. Your cover letter is not just an introduction as many people think, but also a review of your most valuable experience and skills as listed in your attached resume. Moreover, many potential employers read the cover letter first, and if it doesn’t catch their interest; never even read on to the resume. This is why it is vital to get the best info, and in the write format in your cover letter for your resume-so you can get the interview. Here’s how to do it:

Start with a Heading: the first step in creating a cover letter for your resume is to begin with a heading that lists your full name, mailing address, and contact information. This way, there is an easy reference for employers to contact you for follow up.

Date: Next, include the day’s date.

Employer Contact Info: Next, on a professional cover letter for a resume, you should include the employer’s name, the contact full name, the address, etc.

Salutation: After the employer contact info, make sure to address the contact for the position with a “Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name” or something professional to this effect.

First Paragraph: The first paragraph of an effective cover letter is used not just to introduce yourself and your candidacy for their position; but also, to grab their attention. Few applicants know the importance of doing just this-but it can mean the difference between the hiring manager being bored with your formulaic approach and passing on to the next applicant and reading on with avid interest. Moreover, include your name and a brief introduction as to what position you are applying for and why-briefly-you are the best candidate.

Second Paragraph: The purpose of the second and sometimes third paragraph is to briefly describe why you are a great candidate for the position. This is where you should give an overview of applicable education, accreditations, how many years in the industry and/or particular position you have, and key accountabilities that they may have asked for in the job posting. You want to make sure that you customize your cover letter to the particular job, and address all requirements that they ask for in this posting. This could mean also including great skills and achievements you have had that relate to the position.

Conclusion Paragraph: When creating the conclusion paragraph, make sure to sum up the body of the last 1-2 paragraphs in a very concise fashion. Also, connect how these key strengths, years of experience, and education accreditation makes you the best applicant for the job. End this paragraph by thanking them for their time and consideration, and then say you will look forward to their reply or will be contacting them to follow up in a certain amount of days. Lastly, include the best contact information again for their easy reference.

Closing: Then close the letter by using “Sincerely,” or “Best Regards,” followed by your name. Note: if you are sending a paper resume, make sure to also sign your full name in between the Sincerely and your typed full name.