You should not underestimate the importance of the cover letter in your job search. This letter that accompanies your resume or job application creates your first impression in front of your potential employer. When nicely designed, well written, as well as customized for your prospective customer, the cover letter is indeed a powerful tool that could help you get an interview without hassle. Without creativity and personalization, however, the cover letter could become a plain white paper sheet.
According to the experts, job seekers can take advantage of each opportunity and stay apart from other candidates. Writing a cover letter is fun-filled and exciting. With positive attitude, as well as the right perspective, you may see that it provides you with huge flexibility. No one type of format or style exists for writing a cover letter. You can present your skills, achievements, qualifications and credentials in a way that draws the immediate attention of your recipients.
There are multiple ways of how job seekers can prepare their cover letters in a creative way and make most use of them. Here are a few tips that you can follow to make a proper letter that works in your favour.
1. Go for catch phrases
Find details of your potential employers, such as their slogan, mission statement or catch phrase and brainstorm ways to include these things in the introduction of your cover letter. This unique technique can easily capture the attention of your reader. Such a letter also demonstrates that you are familiar with your prospective employer and make you stand out from your competitors.
2. Include your achievements
Include details about your professional achievements and qualifications. In this way you can allow your employer to understand that you are the most suitable candidate for the post.
3. Use relevant quotations
Start with a thought-provoking quotation that is relevant to the position that you have applied for and the objectives of your employer, as well as your target industry. Most people like to read and share important quotes. If you include one such quote in the cover letter, you can engage your reader in an effective way.
4. Add a smart headline
Make sure that there is an effective headline somewhere near the top of the letter. You must keep it short, yet powerful. A catchy headline also highlights your expertise and experience and you can use it to appeal to your employer.
5. Make use of graphic elements
In order to draw the attention of your prospective employers, you can also insert an exclusive graphic element. However, it is vital that the graphic element you choose would be attractive and appropriate.
6. Use P.S.
Do not forget to include “P.S.” at end of the cover letter. It is a sentence or paragraph that may be added after the main body of a letter. Recruiters often read this part of the letter first.
7. Incorporate testimonials
Another way to make a cover letter appealing is to include some testimonials in the body of the letter. People include testimonials from their previous employers or clients. These testimonials may highlight your achievements or skills and support the claims you make about your job expertise.
8. Be professional
Maintain your professionalism while preparing your cover letter. Always present yourself as a competent professional. Most employers wish to recruit competent people with strong abilities. It is often too risky to recruit people who appear to be unprofessional and emotional.
9. Don’t emphasize your weakness
Try to identify two to three qualities that you have developed to a greater degree than your existing competitors. Emphasize these qualities and present them as your strengths. Do not highlight your weaknesses and leave a negative impression to your potential employer.
Consider these tips or suggestions for preparing a cover letter and present yourself as the best candidate for your applied job.
Richard White, you are extremely unprofessional and should not be working for any employer.
This article is recycled and plagiarized practically point for point without any reference to the original source. In a professional world this behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Produce your own content instead of stealing from others.
Here is the original article whom Richard White plagiarized from:
http://www.careerbuilder.com/article/cb-1545-cover-letters-resumes-7-ways-to-improve-your-cover-letter-and-get-your-application-noticed/
Selena, thanks for posting the comment. I own Career Geek Blog, and use it for my personal writing and share the platform with a few other graduates and people in the industry who’d like to blog.
I did not know this article was recycled. I only saw the CB article when you posted it in the comment. I will let Richard reply to you directly. However from my side, I can assure you, I have asked for an explanation over this and I will work on getting a link to the CB article on this page.
Once again thanks for pointing this out and sharing the other article. I’ve got some lessons to be learnt here.
I hope Richard replies to your comment.