Writing a Cover Letter

Besides your resume, the cover letter you write to your potential employer holds significance in securing an interview for the vacant position. Not only does the cover letter act as an introduction of yourself, it is also a representation of your personality and presentation skills. Many employers are looking for candidates that are capable of providing the best and precise information and by looking at the way you structure and sentence your cover letter, they are able to see if you can organize your information well.

To start, the cover letter must follow the standard formal letter format. At the top right hand corner of the letter, always have your name and your address and perhaps contact number or email. Just below that on the left hand side of the letter, you should put the employer's name and address. This is to be followed by a sentence stating what this letter is about. (eg. "RE: Application for the program manager position")

Your letter should be addressed to someone. Look carefully in the job advertisement to see if there is a person responsible for hiring the new employee, then always open the letter with Dear so-and-so. The "To whom it may concern" line should only be used if there are no indication of who the application should be sent to, or for those only sending generic vacancy queries to human resources companies.

Your cover letter should then start with a brief reason for your letter, then with a brief introduction of yourself. Look for keywords in the job advertisement to focus on. Are they looking for people with language skills? Do they want their employee to have a can-do attitude? Those are the words you can include in your cover letter to enhance the employer's interest in you. However, since everyone will be using this strategy, you will need to find something to make yourself stand out. If you have a language skill, what makes you different to those who also does? Perhaps you can mention your experience with study abroad in the country of the language origin, your knowledge of the local customs and the social network you have acquired while overseas. Not only do these small things confirm your abilities, it also adds a bit more competitive edge to single yourself from the pool of applicants out.

However, don't lie. If you do not have certain skills or abilities, then don't mention it. You will only expose yourself negatively should you be requested to be tested on the skills you claim to have.

The cover letter should also briefly state your relevant employment experiences. Choose only one or two to describe as experiences that qualify you for the newly advertised job. You do not need to go into detail of your roles as these should be clearly stated on your resume.

Lastly, cover letters should be kept at one page long. Employers will be receiving many applications they need to go through, and will not have patience to read through everything. They are more likely to read something short but clear rather than a letter that is long and boring. By keeping your cover letter short and straight to the point also demonstrates your ability to manage information to provide the best possible ways of presenting it.

Writing good cover letters require some effort however a good cover letter will assist you in advancing into securing an interview, and possibly, land you the job you've always wanted.

Good luck job hunting.