Three Cover Letter Must Haves

Making confident and credible first impressions with potential employers is critical for your professional success. However, when that first impression hangs by an email thread, how can you make sure to stand out from the competition?

There are three must haves for a successful cover letter that cannot be compromised. And they are not as difficult as you may think.

First, whenever possibly, find out the name of the person hiring for the position and address them by name in the cover letter or email inquiry. Generic statements, such as To Whom It May Concern or Dear Hiring Manager, are never to be used. Their impersonal nature makes it seem like you recycle the same cover letter for every job of interest. Most listings will include the contact information of either the recruiter or the hiring manager - use that information to address your cover letter. If the information is missing, make a few calls. Contacting the company directly and ask for the name of the manager or the recruiter. While this may seem a bit aggressive, all you are doing is making sure that your inquiry reaches the right person. Double - no, triple - check the spelling of your contact's name, as well as their title. There is nothing more embarrassing then misspelling someone's name or including an inappropriate title (especially if that title is lower in rank than the one they actually hold).

Second, include the title of the position you are applying for in the first paragraph of your cover letter - even if you are applying through the company's Web site posting. If you are sending an email inquiry, make sure that the job title is included in the subject line. Capitalize the job title and indicate how you learned about the opportunity. If you are interested in more than one position with the same employer, make sure that you can objectively explain why you are qualified for each. Employers receive a lot of emails, inquiries, and faxed cover letters - you must make sure to eliminate any guesswork and clearly state why you are contacting them.

Third, present yourself in a professional way. Do not get creative with your cover letter in an attempt to stand out. Your sense of humor may be one of the greatest things about you, but your cover letter is not a place to showcase your comic talents. While you want to show your personality, the fact remains that a cover letter serves as an introduction of your professional self. Therefore, your language and a manner in which you construct your sentences must be professional.

I leave you with this final thought. Make sure that your cover letter is error proof. Edit for grammar and spelling - if those are not your strengths, ask someone else to proof read your letter and resume. Error-free inquiries will help set your best foot forward with your potential employers. And that is really all you are trying to do. Your sense of humor can wait for the first day on the job.