How to Write a Cover Letter That Works

How to Write a Cover Letter That WorksHow to Write a Cover Letter That Works54For many job seekers, writing a strong cover letter to accompany your resume can seem like a waste of time. After all, your entire work history is neatly- and succinctly- organized on your resume. But a cover letter can tell a prospective employer far more about you than your resume ever can. Heres why andhow to write a cover letter that will work to get you the job.A cover letter shows effort. You find a telecommuting job that seems like a perfect fit in your never-ending quest for work-life balance. You send in your resume andnothing. One possible reason for not hearing back from a hiring manager is because you didnt send in an accompanying cover letter. When Im hiring someone, any application sent without a cover letter is automatically rejected, says Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of . Most job listings will require a cover letter, so when you dont send one, youre automatically cutting yourself out of the competition because you didnt follow the rules.It allows you to expand on your skills. Lets face it Even on an 8 x 11 piece of paper, theres not a whole lot of room on a resume to accurately (and creatively) describe all of your work experience. A cover letter allows you to flesh out all the pertinent details from your previous positions, such as the time you saved your company millions in a corporate merger. However, its important to note that even though you have extra space, you should fill it with only the most relevant experiences and accolades. That way, your potential boss can get a better idea of your potential- without getting bored.You can showcase your personality. Your cover letter doesnt have to be a dry, unfriendly essay. In fact, it should be the opposite. Its perfectly acceptable to use your own voice when you write your cover letter. It will allow a hiring manager to be able to better assess who you are as a person- and what you can potentially do for his company. So feel free to inject some humor or personal anecdotes as they relate to your work experience.You can customize your job application. Even though the position specifically asked for a marketing maven, youd be surprised how many non-marketing professionals are applying for the same position. Due to a variety of factors (e.g., laziness, desperation from being out of work for so long, or even not paying close attention to what the job asks for), many job seekers are applying for jobs that they are not qualified for and probably dont even really want either. The cover letter is your opportunity to sell yourself (in a professional way) on what makes you the perfect candidate for the position. It is your chance to fully encapsulate your work experience as it applies to this position and what specifically about the job excites you.You can flex your writing skills. No matter what sort of position youre applying for, youll need to be able to have great writing skills. Writing is one of tho se few skills that crosses across all job fields and is a necessary part of any job. After all, if you misuse the words your and youre in your cover letter, it can be a sign to a potential boss that your skills are not up to snuff. Writing catchy, coherent (and grammatically correct) sentences is an added naturalrabatt that any employer will appreciate.While writing customized cover letters can be time-consuming and laborious, they are an integral part of the job application process. Take the time to craft a great cover letter, and watch the job interview offers flood in.Readers, what do you think of writing cover letters? Do you customize them for each job application? Let us know your own thoughts in the comments section below