Someone asked, “What is a cover letter and what role does it play in my job search?”
Well, welcome to what is a cover letter – 7 facts.
First, your cover letter is a document, preferably one page. It is formatted as a standard letter that has a header, which consists of your contact information. The letter also has a greeting or salutation, the body or content of the letter, then a close.
Next, your cover letter is a companion. It works with your resume to tell your unique career story. That brings us to number three.
Your cover letter is a story teller. It tells prospective employers how you’ve used your job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities to contribute to your employer’s business success.
Fourth, your cover letter asks for the job on your behalf. After you tell your career story through your cover letter, you ask for the job. You might do so by writing something like, ” I would like to become a member of your team.”
Fifth, your cover letter says, “Thank you.” You begin the closing of your cover letter by thanking the reader for the time the have spent reading your letter. You also thank them for their continued consideration, hopefully as a viable candidate for the position that you have applied to.
Sixth, your cover letter is an open door. As you end your closing, you leave the door open for the reader to contact you to discuss your qualifications in more detail.
Seventh, your cover letter is a relationship builder. You initiated interactions with your prospective new employer by giving them a strong idea of the contributions that you could make to their team and to the organization. This could be the start of a very productive professional relationship that could result in your getting an offer.
So, there you have it, the seven characteristics of a cover letter and its role in your job search.
If you like what I’ve shared with you today, do me a favor. Scroll down and leave me a comment.
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Simply well written, thanks.
Love this thank you!
Hello Liliomga,
Thank you for taking time to comment on my blog.
Sincerely,
Cynthia O.
Great clarity on how a cover letter should work, thank you for the insight.
Hello Norma,
I am so happy to know that the information that I share is helpful. Thank you for your comment.
Kind Regards,
Cynthia O.
My Cover Letters work as a soft skills introduction to the hard skills introduced by the resume. Your definition is totally correct but an addendum would be to accent that it is a living document modified to
illuminate the job description for the position desired. Standard templates are OK, contingent on the position desired, but are also generic to positions. Thanks for the information. Jimmy McRoberts
Hello James,
Points well-taken. That’s why I love interacting with others because I learn something new every day and each person’s perspective is valuable. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you again in the near future.
Kind Regards,
Cynthia O.