Writing Cover Letters

Far too many people underestimate the importance of this document. In a sense, a well written covering letter works like an agent on your behalf. It tosses a sales pitch for you to the employer, explaining why you should be at the top of the list for interview calls.

Taking the time to write a compelling letter tells the employer you are willing to go above and beyond; not just simply slap a resume in an envelope and mail it

The competition is intense in the job market these days and so it has become very important to have the benefit of an eye catching cover letter.

Not All Resume Cover Letters Are Created Equal

No two letters should ever be the same; each one should be uniquely tailored to the job for which you are applying. A generic cover letter is insulting to an employer and will quickly find its way into the trashcan.

When writing cover letters keep the following tips in mind

Tip #1: Address resume cover letters to an actual entity, not just a generic "To Whom it May Concern" or "Personnel Director." If you are not sure who to address, find out and then make sure you spell their name correctly. Do not just assume.

Tip #2: State who referred you or how you found out about the job opening. "Linda McCain mentioned that you might be hiring a new computer programmer soon." or "I learned about your opening for a Sales Associate from your posting in the San Francisco Sun and would like to discuss a few ways I can contribute to your team."

Tip #3: Resume cover letters should discuss how you can help the employer, not about why you need the job. The employer has posted a job opening because they need that position filled and they need the best candidate to fill it. Convince them why you are that person.

Tip #4: Do not just repeat what is written in your resume. The cover letter is meant to compliment it and not simply restate what is already written in your resume.

Make Yourself Stand Out from the Crowd

Demonstrate you know something about who the employer is and what they do. If you don't know anything about the company, find out what products or services the company offers, their competitors; any recent or upcoming changes. Employers will be impressed with your knowledge, especially if their company services a specialty niche that isn't well known.

Do not discuss salary requirements in resume cover letters

If the job posting requests that you respond with salary information, simply state in your cover letter "I would be pleased to discuss my salary history in an interview." Then quickly move on to what you can offer them in terms of your talent and skills.

Give an exact date when you will follow-up to discuss an interview. Don't depend on the employer to follow-up with you.

Keep it Short and to the Point

Do not say 'enclosed please find my resume.' This wastes valuable space which you can devote to highlighting why you are perfect for the job.

State what you need to, but don't draw it out. Keep resume cover letters to one page, preferably about four short paragraphs.

Neatness Counts

Proofread your cover letters and then ask someone else to proofread as well. Don't eliminate yourself from the candidates called for an interview because of a simple typo or misspelled word. Don't rely on your computer's spell check. It does not always catch everything.

Make sure your letter is neat. If at all possible, spend a little extra and print it on nice, professional paper. Make sure there are no wrinkles, folds or smudges.

Following a few simple rules can help your resume cover letters stand out from all the rest and get you in the door for an interview and on your way to that great new job!

Samples can be quite useful to use as a template in assisting you to compose your own unique cover letter. There are however a number of costly mistakes you should avoid if you use a sample cover letter.

The following four samples represent the most popular types in use:

• Free Cover Letter - Advertisement
• Free Cover Letter - Referral
• Free Cover Letter - Broadcast
• Free Cover Letter - Recruiter

You are welcome to use any of the resume cover letters on this site for your  personal use.

You may not use or reproduce any of these samples for
commercial purposes without written permission.

Take a look at our job specific, sample cover letters:

Sample Circus Performers Cover Letter
Sample Clergy Cover Letter
Sample Clerical Cover Letter
Sample College Students Cover Letter
Sample Cruise Job Cover Letter
Sample Automotive Mechanics Cover Letter
Sample Beautician Cover Letter
Sample Casino Cover Letter


Always remember to let the hiring manager know how you got to hear about the vacancy ... Accountants Cover Letter

Make your strong points stand out so that you get noticed by the recruiter ...   Farmers Cover Letter

If some mutual acquaintance told you about the job, then always be sure to name the person in your letter ...  Architect Cover Letter

Give your reasons on why you believe you are the best person for the position ... Chef Position Cover Letter

Experience and skills that are particularly important to the vacancy should always be displayed clearly where the employer cannot fail to see them ... Pilots Cover Letter

A good technique to encourage the hiring manager to read your resume, is to make specific reference to it ... Bank Managers Cover Letter

Always try to use the buzz words that are specific to the occupation you are in ... Bank Tellers Cover Letter

It's not always possible to include everything you want in your resume, but you can discretely slip in some important facts into your covering letter ...  Cocktail Mixers Cover Letter

If the job requires you to be creative, then it's an excellent idea to display your creative ability in your letter ... Movie Star Cover Letter

Try and ltell your prospective employer in a positive way why you left your previous job and want this position ... Chiropractic Cover Letter

Need more resume cover letter formats? ... then click this link.