A cover letter accompanies the resume you send to a specific job posting. Its function is to briefly introduce you as well as introduce your candidacy. Its aim is to highlight some specifics of your resume, showing why it is worth reading with all the attention it deserves.
The Cover Letter should be taken to resume for the job interviews. Here is a quick review of the types of cover letters, how to write professional cover letter and how to submit it.
There are two types of cover letters:
Response letter to a specific job announcement
It accompanies a resume that is sent in response to a specific job announcement. It must refer to the advert, pointing references. The response letter should also highlights why the job profile is interesting your application.
Self-candidacy letter
Accompanies a resume that is sent to a company spontaneously, so that the company should you’re your candidature for future selections. It should show what motivated you to go for the position and what you can contribute.
The self-candidacy letter must meet the same requirements of writing a cover letter, in terms of format and content, and should be submitted in response to a specific advertisement.
Before starting to write down the content of your letter, take a moment to:
Notified of the company which you have targeted and about the position to which you aspire.Know about the company’s corporate culture. Summarize the key elements of the profile sought.Try to figure out who makes the selection of personnel and what is his/her position within the company, so you can send a letter to that individual. Increase the likelihood of being read.The letter of response to a job posting must be tailored to a particular company, depending on the work requested and keep it addressed to an individual.
The self-candidacy letter is usually directed to the manager who has the ultimate power of decision. These types of letters are not usually sent to the Department of Human Resources, and never to people with the same professional standards to which you aspire.
Make sure that your cover letter is:
Brief: Please avoid writing another resume. Your cover letter should not take more than one page. It should be short and crisp. Being monothematic is ideal. The hiring manager will appreciate your ability to streamline.
Formal: Beware of using “you” or “your company” in your cover letter. Use a cordial and respectful tone, but avoid begging.
Some tips to follow before submitting the cover letter:
Do not forget a space separating various paragraphs contained in your letter. It should look graceful to reader.Unless the company demands the letter in manuscript, stick to the print out version. Use same font as used in the resume, and avoid flashy and big fonts. If you have been asked for a handwritten note, then practice on rough sheets first and then make a final note of it. The cover letter should always be signed and dated.
Rashmi writes on behalf of Naukri.com, the no.1 Jobs site in India. She writes on topics like Cover Letter, Resume Format and increasing work concentration.
