The Importance of a Cover Letter
When it comes to job hunting, you will undoubtedly find yourself applying online. The art of walking into a business, asking for the manager, shaking their hand, and leaving your resume for them to look over, is all but dead and forgotten. Efficiency has taken over and almost every job posting you see asks that you apply by emailing your resume; which let’s face it, is a huge time saver! But because you no longer get to shake hands and introduce yourself, you need to make an impression in another way. That’s why sending a cover letter is so important!
The sad truth about cover letters is most applicants are too lazy to write one, but that’s good news for you! With a few short paragraphs you will grab your future employer’s attention and give them a better idea of why you are the best candidate for the job and why they want to work with you.
So how do you write a cover letter? The trick is to keep it simple and to the point!
Start with a brief introduction of yourself. Tell them a little about your education, relevant training, experience, and hobbies.
In the next paragraph formally apply for the position and tell them why you would like to be considered – what you bring to the table, what you have to offer, etc. A common mistake is outlining why the job is good for you instead of why you are good for the job. Remember, they are looking for someone to enhance their team, tell them why you’re that person!
Lastly, let them know your availability and possible start date. If you are enrolled in classes or looking to add to your work week, be up front about your schedule.
Finish off by thanking them for their time.
It’s that easy! Even though job hunting can be stressful and a cover letter may seem like an unnecessary hassle, taking the time to introduce yourself and verbally shake hands will boost your application to the top of the pile and have them scheduling you for an interview!