7 Tips for Writing Winning Resume Cover Letters

Writing a good resume cover letter is something you should seriously consider when preparing to send off your resume to potential employers.

Here are seven important cover letter writing tips:

  • Address the individual by name. If you don't know their name then use: "Dear Sir or Madam" or "Dear Human Resources Director".

  • Attract attention with a strong opening paragraph. Create impact. Give them a reason to keep reading about you.

  • Refer to your enclosed resume. Be specific in describing your skills, experience and accomplishments. Use actual examples of things you've done.

  • Let the employer know what you can do for them. What can you bring to their organization?

  • Keep the letter's tone of voice positive and professional. Be persuasive but don't come off like a cheap used car salesman. Remember to ask for the interview!

  • Double check your spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Have someone proofread the letter.

  • Sign your letter and keep a copy for your files.

    Writing a strong cover letter will help you (and your resume) stand out from the crowd. Hopefully, your cover letter will give employers a reason to pick up the phone and invite you to that all-important job interview.

    About The Author

    Copyright 2004

    Donna Monday writes employment related articles for http://www.get-a-job-interview-quick-tips.com.

    In The News:


  • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Finding a Career in Harmony with Your Life Path

    Which of the following would you chose? Doing your lifework... Read More

    Is Your Resume Doing ITS Job?

    Is it opening doors to new opportunities? Does it compel... Read More

    Change Your Career, Change Your Life!

    Lots of times I see and talk to people who... Read More

    Job Hunting Tips: Taking Care of Yourself

    Looking for work is generally a miserable undertaking. No matter... Read More

    Nonverbal Interview Behavior

    Non-verbal interview behavior can drown out your verbal self-presentation.Practice interviewing... Read More

    Get In Career Shape

    Research suggests that as many as 8 out of 10... Read More

    Job Search Blurts

    I coined this word to draw attention to the nervous... Read More

    Hiring the Perfect Fit Through ELance.com

    Outsourcing has moved upward in the most-improved columns of efficiency... Read More

    Match, Meet, and Mesmerize at a Job Fair

    Are you considering another trip through the career maze? Attending... Read More

    Kill the Hype

    She was waiting for me when I returned from a... Read More

    Your First Summer Work in the UK - Picking Strawberries The Right Way

    Most jobs on farms in the UK involve picking strawberries... Read More

    What You Need To Know Before Committing To Vocational Retraining

    You've thought a lot about the kind of work you... Read More

    Reinvent Yourself in a New Career

    Some people reserve the word "vocation" for religious calling. Contemporary... Read More

    The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done

    Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will... Read More

    Three Ways to Transition to a New Career

    As a Certified Personnel Consultant working for Find Great People... Read More

    Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews

    It takes a lot of time and effort to get... Read More

    Preparation is Key

    Interviewing for a new job, or a promotion, can be... Read More

    Illegal Interview Questions -- Be Prepared

    I'll quickly cover the following:A) Why Employer Ask Illegal Interview... Read More

    Consultants - If We Cant Laugh At Ourselves?

    There are hundreds of varieties of Consultants these days. We... Read More

    Effective Resumes

    A resume is normally the first contact point between an... Read More

    Marketing You and Your Career

    Imagine if a business invested years into the research, design,... Read More

    The Changing Values Landscape of the U.S. and How It Impacts Midlife Job Searchers, Part Two

    The values landscape of our nation is changing, and with... Read More

    Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters

    As a job seeker, you shouldn't overlook the importance of... Read More

    The Musketeer Approach

    Stories of intrigue, treachery, politics, lies, double crosses,... Read More

    Necessary Psychological Skills When Working in the Executive Protection Field

    The "hard" skills necessary for an executive protection specialist (EPS)... Read More

    Seven Success Tips For Recent Graduates Entering the Professional World

    1) Build a Relationship With Your BossLike it or not,... Read More

    The Chicken or the Egg?

    Even before I checked my calendar on Monday... Read More

    How to Make More Job Contacts Faster, through Viral Marketing

    Are you in the job market? Sick of every blog-byte... Read More

    Lets Talk About Trust

    I agree with Brooker T. Washington, "Few things help an... Read More

    Salary Negotiation Secrets Revealed

    Before you go into the interview, it is important to... Read More

    Career Search from Within

    Seeking meaningful and fulfilling work can become a discouraging, confusing... Read More

    Mid-Life Crisis: Its Not Just for Men Anymore!

    A recent story in Career Journal begins:"The "midlife crisis" has... Read More

    Resume Writing - Importance of a Professional Summary

    The Summary is the preview of your entire resume. This... Read More