What If You Don´t Write a Good Cover Letter?

Without a good cover letter your resume may never be read. Even if you submit an amazing resume that shows off your best skills and qualifications, surveys have been done indicating that most hiring managers want to see a cover letter and many will disregard resumes that aren't accompanied by one.

Writing a good cover letter is just as important as writing a good resume. The employer will scan the cover letter first. If the cover letter is good and shows that the applicant is qualified for the job, they will then take the time to review the resume.

What Makes a Cover Letter Good?

The elements of a good cover letter include:

1. Applicants Name, Address and Phone number.
2. Salutation - use the hiring managers name and title whenever possible.
3. Summary of your skills and qualifications.

Make your first impression count! Begin by putting your name, address and phone number at the top along with other contact information. If you write the best cover letter in the world it won't do you any good if the employer doesn't know how to contact you.

When addressing the hiring manager it's best to have a name. Try calling the company's human resource department and asking for a name and title of the hiring manager. Be sure to tell them why you want it and be certain you get the correct spelling. Do Not misspell the hiring manager's name or title.

The body of a good cover letter will summarize your skills and qualifications. This is the first opportunity for the employer to determine what you can do for him if you are hired. Don't waste this space telling him what job you are applying for or how great you think the company is. Use it to make a great first impression.

All Good Cover Letters Follow These Rules:

1. No typos - check, double check and check again.
2. Short - keep to one page in length.
3. Readable print - not too small or too large.
4. Standard font type - must be readable online and off.
5. Clearly written - get to the point quickly

No typos. The hiring manager will use the cover letter to determine if you have a good grasp of English language (or preferred language for the job posted). The use of a professional writer may be worth the expense if you don't have a flare for grammar and writing style.

Keep it short - one page only. Employers take only seconds to scan the cover letter so keep it short and to the point. The purpose is to impress the employer enough to continue on to the resume. Think of it as an advertisement that grabs your attention and gets you to look for more information about the product.

Use readable print. Use a print size that can be easily read. Don't use tiny print just to cram your information on one page. Use a print large enough for the manager to easily read but not so large that it blares out at him.

Use a standardized font type. Different computers have different browsers and each browser has its own makeup. Most browsers properly interpret standard font types such as Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif, Geneva, Verdana and Times New Roman but they may not recognize some of the fancier font types. Staying with a standard font style will ensure the recipient receives a clear copy of your cover letter and resume.

Samples of a Good Cover Letter

I've included a sample of a good cover letter below. The names and information are made up for privacy purposes.

Mary L. Strunk
53 Highridge Drive
Phone:###-###-#### | Email: mary@cox.net

Mr. Dublin Stanks
PO Box 1111
Rockland, Maine 41159

Dear Mr. Stanks

Fifteen years in the banking industry with skills in account analysis, preparation of internal management reports, and overseeing administration of problem loans and repossessed assets has provided me with the skills needed for your Operations Manager position at PPC Financial.

A summary of my experience includes:

• Hired, trained and managed a staff of 30+ to oversee a billion dollar portfolio.
• Designed and implemented administrative procedures and controls for daily cash advances to clients.
• Ensured quality control of supporting collateral for multi-million dollar loans.
• Authorized to advance funds up to $5mm on a daily basis.
• Strong PC skills inlcude: Windows, Excel, Microsoft Word, and Access.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

I would like the opportunity to provide you with greater detail of the contributions I will bring to your team. Please contact me at (###) ###-#### to schedule a meeting.

More Samples of Good Cover Letters

The best source for learning how to write good cover letters is Robin Ryan's book Winning Cover Letters. Robin is the prize-winning author of several books including 60 Seconds and You're Hired!, as well as her amazing book Winning Resumes

Robin's book Winning Cover Letters includes several examples of good cover letters. She brings you through the process of taking a poorly written cover letter, discussing the bad points and re-writing it to look and feel professional. Your decision to investment in her books may be the best use of funds you will ever make.

You can check out all of my recommended resources in the right column. Don´t forget to sign up for my Free report The Secrets of Career Seeking.