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COVER LETTERS – HOW AND WHY?
How to Write an Impressive Cover Letter
So you’ve finished off your resume and now you have found the perfect job – how do you go about writing the most impressive cover letter that will land you an interview?
Remember that first impressions count, and that the reader will decide from the first look of your letter whether to read it or not. It has to grab the reader’s attention and create an instant and an impressive impact.
Find out who is responsible for reading the initial letters and resumes – address your letter or email to that person by name
Scour the advertisement to find who is doing the hiring. If it is not supplied, ring the company and ask, otherwise your letter and resume will end up being vetted by an assistant – you want your mail to go directly to the decision maker. ALWAYS send your letter and resume to a person, the person that is hiring!
The advertisement is the key
Your cover letter is the main tool that will highlight your career to date and what you can actually bring to the role. Whatever the advertisement states as requirements, ensure that you can meet them, don’t lie and always ensure that you can prove what you write.
Your cover letter should be brief and to the point
The person reading your letter will have many others to get through. All cover letters should be no more than one A4 sheet long. Roughly 3 paragraphs, 4 at the most.
First paragraph:
State where you saw the advertisement for the job
• Tell the reader the job you are applying for, where you saw the advertisement and when it was published.
Second paragraph:
Address your achievements and what you can bring to the role
• You will need to list key achievements relevant to the advertisement’s criteria and what experience you have that will enable you to meet those criteria.
Third paragraph:
Closing line
• Inform the reader how to contact you and when you are available for interview.
Sign off and make sure that the letter is free of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
Once you have checked your letter – check it again!
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