By Carla Vaughan-Bosteder

Writing a great cover letter often seems like a particularly daunting task. It sort of feels like your life is on the line, right? What if you don’t word something well enough? What if you say something that a prospective employer disagrees with? If you take the writing process one step at a time, you’ll soon be confident about writing letters to send with your resume.

A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out. I’m sure you already know that, but I want to make it clear. This letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and having your resume ignored, so, it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing it as well as possible.

The cover letter should complement, not duplicate your resume. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual resume and add a personal touch. This letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, thus creating a critical first impression.

Here are some tips for you to create a great cover letter:

• Be natural, but professional.
• Don’t make a single typo.
• Address the letter to one person.
• Use language the prospective employer will relate to.
• Specifically relate your qualities to the position (ad).
• Let your personality shine through.

A great cover letter shares just enough to get the employer interested in you, but not so much that the employer is bored reading your letter. Don’t be afraid to communicate “who you are” via your business character, such as: punctual, artistic, enthusiastic, etc.

Another aspect to consider is the negative associated with some letters. One thing that I hear prospective employers getting frustrated about is reading a letter that doesn’t explain why it is being sent. Make it easy on the employer. Clarify the position you are seeking and how you found out about it. Do that in the first paragraph so they aren’t guessing as they read your letter. Be specific and concise.

I hope this information is helpful. Writing a great cover letter isn’t mystical or scary – or it least it doesn’t have to be. You just need to take your time, read tips like this and work through it a bit at a time.

Best of Luck!

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Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com

Carla is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.

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