John Murray offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print. Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum. ----------- PUBLICATION GUIDELINES - You have permission to publish this article for free providing the "About the Author" box is included in its entirety. - Do not post/reprint this article in any site or publication that contains hate, violence, porn, warez, or supports illegal activity. - Do not use this article in violation of the US CAN-SPAM Act. If sent by email, this article must be delivered to opt-in subscribers only. - If you publish this article in a format that supports linking, please ensure that all URLs and email addresses are active links. - Please send a copy of the publication, or an email indicating the URL to [email protected] - Article Marketer (www.ArticleMarketer.com) has distributed this article on behalf of the author. Article Marketer does not own this article, please respect the author's copyright and publication guidelines. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this article. ----------- Article Title: 5 Ways to Make Your Cover Letter Shine Author: John Murray Category: Career, Writing Word Count: 526 Keywords: resume cover letter,cover letter,cover letters Author's Email Address: [email protected] Article Source: http://www.articlemarketer.com ------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------
Your cover letter is like the gate keeper between you and the job that you want. Many people would even argue that it's more important than a resume. After all, the cover letter (and not the resume) is the first thing that your potential employer will see. Crafting an excellent cover letter should be a top priority. Here are five keys to making your cover letter stand out among the crowd of applicants. 1. Rethink the purpose of a cover letter. Your cover letter isn't just something that you slap on top of your resume to get it noticed. It should be a sales letter for your qualifications and your expertise. Top copywriters understand the keys to selling through writing. You can learn a lot from their techniques. They use persuasive writing techniques to encourage the reader. 2. Polish your professional image. Your cover letter speaks volumes about your professional capabilities. If you turn in a cover letter with spelling and grammatical errors, your resume will end up in the circular file. Make sure that you double check your cover letter before you send it off. Call ahead and get the name of the hiring manager so you can personalize the letter. Be sure to include your correct contact information and use a professional e-mail address. Don't try to use jokes or try to be overly creative. The best cover letters are simple and professional. 3. Create a winning first sentence Like the headline to a sales letter, the first sentence of your cover letter will give your potential employer an idea of what to expect. Your first sentence should really stand out from the others. Most people use a sentence like "I saw an ad that you were looking for an IT specialist" or something similar to that. Make sure your first sentence is fresh and interesting. Here are a few examples: "I'm a public relations manager with 7 years of experience and I hope to utilize my skills in your company." "Please accept this letter and my attached resume as an interest in your office management position." "During the last 3 years I've held a position in the manufacturing industry. My areas of expertise are..." 4. Understand why you want to be part of the company Many applicants use a lot of flowery language about what makes them a good candidate, but they don't pay any attention to why they want to become part of the company. Since this is a common interview question, it's a good idea to consider this during the writing process. When you learn to write a cover letter like a sales letter, you'll understand that by thinking about your purpose before you write you'll end up having a more persuasive letter. 5. Customize a pre-existing template. A cover letter template is written with a specific format that you can adapt to suit your needs. As long as you adapt the template, you can rely on that format to get your cover letter noticed. Templates will walk you through all of the important information that you need to include in your letter. Cover letters deserve your attention. By making some simple changes and using the techniques outlined above, you can start increasing your interviews. If you need a killer cover letter, download the free report Top 10 Secrets of the World's Greatest Resume Cover Letter at: http://www.careergoldonline.com ------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
