Because a cover letter is so important in giving a good resume, you need to make sure that your cover letter is of good quality. The basic idea of writing a cover letter is simple, but there are several variations. Following are the instructions for a regular cover letter for a resume and types on how to implement it with your resume. Using these directions and inserting your information and background, you can write a quality cover letter that will impress any potential employers.
Contact Information
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone number
Email address
Current Employer Contact Information
Contact Name/Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone number
Salutation
Dear ________: (disregard if you do not have a contact)
Body
The purpose of the body of your cover letter is to let the reader know why you are applying for this job and how your experience will help better their company or business. You want to first off give the person a reason to consider your resume and contact you for an interview.
Paragraph #1
This paragraph should answer the question “Why is this person wanting to apply for this job?”. You want to mention the position you are applying for and the name of your contact, if you have one, and how you found out that the job position was open.
Paragraph #2
What do you have to offer this potential employer? Here is where you let them know something about yourself: why you are qualified for the job, what you have to offer the company, and why they should contact you instead of all the other people that applied for this same job. Inform the reader of the qualifications you have that are unique for the job at hand. Remember, you aren’t re-stating your resume, you are interpreting it.
Paragraph #3
You want to close your cover letter by thanking this potential employer for their time and letting them know that you are available for an interview. Remember to stay respectful and humble; you want the reader to feel as if they would be doing themselves a favor by contacting you, but you do not want them feeling inferior.
Complimenting Close
Sincerely, Respectfully Yours, etc.
Signature
Hand written for mailed resumes, typed for digital copies and emails.
Keep in mind that this is often the first written impression that your future employers will have of you. You want to sound confident in what you have done and what you are capable of, but you also want to sound approachable. Don’t focus too much on telling your life story, or letting them know much about your personal life. When accompanied with your resume, the focus of a cover letter is to interpret your resume in a readable fashion that will encourage the reader to contact you for an interview.