When an employer seeks for a resume, it is understood that the resume must have a cover letter. Cover letter and resume are like bread and butter—they should go together.
Writing a cover letter is like introducing yourself to your employer. It highlights significant information in your resume as it specifically applies to the job you are seeking for. It can set up your meeting with the employer—through scheduling an interview. The cover letter's main purpose is to reveal your strengths. Aside from that, the cover letter will gauge your writing and reporting skills.
Ideally, there should be one cover letter per employer. But if you are sending a lot of resumes, you may reduce it to one cover letter per industry.
In the first paragraph tell how you come about to apply for such position. Have you seen the job opening in the papers? Have you heard about it on the radio or seen it on TV? You can also include timely information that led you to apply for this job—news of the company's good performance in the last quarter, perhaps.
The body of your cover letter should make the employer interview you in the soonest time possible. Write interesting facts about yourself; describe your assets and highlight your qualification. Never write bad points: you should never mention your lack of experience or have a deficiency in one language. The body of the cover letter is like selling yourself.
The last part of your cover letter asks for an interview schedule. Say that you can come for an interview at your employer’s convenient time. Leave your contact number.
With that formula you are sure to capture your employer’s attention. Remember, arouse interest, sell yourself and schedule the interview (ASS).
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