There is an ongoing debate on whether to or not to include the cover letter along with the resume. Considering cover letter as an important aspect of personal branding, it is always advisable to include the cover letter. he cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself to an employer, tell them a little about yourself, and explain why you think you’d be the best fit for the job. So while working on your cover letter take care of the following do's and don't:
Do's for a cover letter
Personalization is the key: Try to find out who is the receiving person and personalize the letter by addressing by name instead of generic addressing. If you don't get any luck, then "Dear Hiring Manager/ Dear HR Manager" will work.
Follow KISS Rule: Don't narate a story about yourself, instead try to make it not more than three to four short paragraphs. Mention from where you saw the job listing, how do fit into the role and what you have to offer to the organization. Use bullet points to explain your skills, and achievements which are relevant for the applied position.
Include your Contact Information: When you end your letter with your name, also include your phone number, email address, current place of residence, and in some cases, your online presence. Include your social footprint, and personal website (if available) About Me page link.
Don'ts for a Cover Letter
Don't use a general template: Your cover letter must be custom made and not copied from online. Customize your resume and cover letter matching the job requirments.
Don't just elaborate your resume: Your cover letter and resume are two different things so don't just copy and paste your resume in the cover letter. Therefore instead of enlisting all the skills just state one or two skills relevant to the job applied.
Don't end on a passive note: Your cover letter should reflect to the employer that you care for the job. So instead of just ending with, "I look forward to hear from you soon", write that yu will follow up within a week and to hopefully set up a time to discuss about the position. Don't forget to follow up.
Do's for a cover letter
Personalization is the key: Try to find out who is the receiving person and personalize the letter by addressing by name instead of generic addressing. If you don't get any luck, then "Dear Hiring Manager/ Dear HR Manager" will work.
Follow KISS Rule: Don't narate a story about yourself, instead try to make it not more than three to four short paragraphs. Mention from where you saw the job listing, how do fit into the role and what you have to offer to the organization. Use bullet points to explain your skills, and achievements which are relevant for the applied position.
Include your Contact Information: When you end your letter with your name, also include your phone number, email address, current place of residence, and in some cases, your online presence. Include your social footprint, and personal website (if available) About Me page link.
Don'ts for a Cover Letter
Don't use a general template: Your cover letter must be custom made and not copied from online. Customize your resume and cover letter matching the job requirments.
Don't just elaborate your resume: Your cover letter and resume are two different things so don't just copy and paste your resume in the cover letter. Therefore instead of enlisting all the skills just state one or two skills relevant to the job applied.
Don't end on a passive note: Your cover letter should reflect to the employer that you care for the job. So instead of just ending with, "I look forward to hear from you soon", write that yu will follow up within a week and to hopefully set up a time to discuss about the position. Don't forget to follow up.
No comments:
Post a Comment