Everyone who sends out a resume does! Even if
the cover letter never "came up" in conversation or wasn't mentioned in an
advertisement, it's expected that you will write one.
It is regarded as a sign of laziness (sorry
about that) to send out a cover letter that is not tailored to the specific
company. In the days before word processors, you could maybe get away
with it. Not anymore.
Yes, it adds to the wear and tear of looking for
a job! But the good news is: the cover letter gives you another
chance to emphasize what you have to contribute to the company or organization.
Don't give the person screening the resumes a second to entertain the thought:
"But how can this person help US?" Your cover letter will
answer that question in your own words. Your resume will also answer that
question but in a somewhat more rigid format.
- No spelling or typing errors.
Not even one.
- Address it to the person who can hire
you. Resumes sent to the personnel department have a tougher time of
it. If you can find out (through networking and researching) exactly who is
making the hiring decision, address the letter to that person. Be sure the
name is spelled correctly and the title is correct. A touch of formality is
good too: address the person as "Mr.," "Ms.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Dr.," or
"Professor." (Yes, life is complicated.)
- Write it in your own words
so that it sounds like you--not like something out of a book. Employers
are looking for knowledge, enthusiasm, focus.
- Being "natural" makes many people
nervous. And then even more nervous because they are
trying to avoid spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. If you need a little
help with grammar (do they still teach grammar?)--check out the classic work
on simple writing, Strunk & White's
Elements of Style, published in 1918 and now online. A
good place to begin is
"Chapter 5: Words and Expressions Commonly Misused."
- Show that you know something about
the company and the industry. This is where your research comes in.
Don't go overboard--just make it clear that you didn't pick this company out
of the phone book. You know who they are, what they do and you have
chosen them!
- Use terms and phrases that are
meaningful to the employer. (This is where your industry research and
networking come in.) If you are applying for an advertised position, use the
requirements in the ad and put them in BOLD type. For
example: the ad says--
"2 years' experience processing
magnetic media (cartridge, tape, disc); interface with
benefit plan design, contracts and claims; and business background
with strong analytical & technical skills--dBase, Excel, R&R, SQL."
Make sure your cover letter contains each of
these requirements and shows how you measure up.