Cover Letter Writing and Editing

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How important is the Cover Letter?

The cover letter is your introduction to a potential employer. What you write in it is the first impression the person gains about your, your capabilities and your personality. Therefore everyone who sends out a resume needs a cover letter. Whether you send it by mail, e-mail, fax or delivered by hand, is immaterial.

Every job offered has different requirements and, it is therefore essential, that you write a specific cover letter for every job application. There is no such thing as a "general cover letter". Most potential employers see a general cover letter as a sign of a lack of genuine interest in the job and, your chances of being considered for the offered position will be significantly hurt. Therefore, take the time and make the effort to send a cover letter that is tailored to the specific job and to the company you are applying to. Although, it creates additional work, the positive side of the cover letter is that it provides you with an additional chance to emphasize what you have to contribute to the job, the company or organization.

Remember, the person looking at your submission will ask himself: "How can this person help us?" Your cover letter has to answer that question in your own words. Your resume will provide the detailed support of the answer.

The Essential Rules for creating an effective Cover Letter

The Cover letter must not have any spelling or typing errors. Have it read by someone else and checked before you send it.

Is is important to get the hiring manager's name so that you can address your application to a specific person. If you send your resumes uninvited to the personnel department, make every attempt to find his details . Sometimes a phone call will give you the information about who makes the hiring decisions. Be sure the person's name is spelled correctly and that you have his or her correct title. Address the person with his or her proper social title, e.g. "Mr.," "Ms.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Dr.," or "Professor." Keep the Cover Letter formal and to the point.

Write the Cover Letter in your own words and do not use a standardized "copied format letter". Do not be chatty or too personal: Keep it formal! In order to be effective, the Cover Letter should transmit and highlight your relevant experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, and focus on the potential job in a logical and systematic manner. Group the items you specifically want to address and be concise within each paragraph.

Do not use slang, "Internet jargon ", or other expressions which some people consider "natural" (as opposed to academic or formal!). Today, many employers are seriously concerned about the "sloppy" and inappropriate use of language. They may deduce, once you become an employee, you will communicate using inappropriate language. On the other hand, do not use words you picked from the Thesaurus without being absolutely sure, that you understand their proper meaning and the context in which a word or expression is used. If you are not sure about your grammar, there are books you can purchase. If you submit an application for an international job, remember that writing styles and grammar differs from one English speaking country to another.

Indicate in your Cover Letter that you have acquired some knowledge about the company and/or the industry. Do some research before you write the resume and the cover letter. But keep the communication of this knowledge within clearly defined limits. The purpose of showing your potential employer that you know something about them, is to make it clear, that you did not pick the company at random. You want to show the hiring manager, that you know who they are and that you have deliberately chosen them!

Use language that is appropriate and relevant to the employer. If you are applying for an advertised position, use the advertised requirements and work them into your resume or cover letter, if necessary emphasize them in bold script. Be sure to address the specific requirements and shortly indicate how you can fulfill them.

Some useful Books from amazon.com

Resume and Cover Letter Writing Services

We have a resume writing service that offers a written resume sent to you by e-mail based on your data, plus a generic Cover Letter (or a specific one, if you want that). Turn around is usually 48-72 hours. MS Word format (.doc not docx) or html. Please send the supporting material (resume draft, cover letter draft in .doc or .txt format only, and a short description of job applied for) after the payment to the address given in the order acknowledgement.

Special services such as translations or the writing of a Curriculum Vitae are also available.

Editing your Resume and Cover Letter

We will edit your existing resume and a specific cover letter. You send us your resume and cover letter by e-mail and we will edit it to help it along and make it appropriate to the job you apply to. Obviously we will need a short description of the job as well (we do not need the employers name, but the country location would be useful since resume and cover letters can different from one country to another). Please send the supporting material (resume, cover letter in .doc or .txt format only, and a short description of job applied for) after the payment to the address given in the order acknowledgement. We will normally edit your resume/cover letter within 72 hours.