The 4 Do's (and Dont's) of Writing a Cover Letter
When applying for a job, your cover letter is your sales pitch, where your skills, experience and attitude are all on offer. We've selected four tips to help you put your best foot forward, as well as three things to never do.
Do give specific examples. Get straight to the point and talk about the relevant experiences that make you great at the type of job you're applying for.
Don't keep the same cover letter for every job application. Not all jobs are the same, and each position requires a unique pitch. Plus, you leave yourself open to an embarrassing error like forgetting to change the company name or position title.
Do turn on spell check. When words are spelled wrong, your cover letter goes straight to the trash.
Don't write a book. Hiring managers read countless cover letters, so do their eyes a favor and keep it short and to-the-point.
Do read your letter out loud. Reading your letter aloud keeps the tone more conversational, and it'll help you spot mistakes.
Don't repeat what your resume already says. A cover letter should show more of who you are as a person and explain why an employer wants you over another candidate. Think of it as being supplemental to your resume.
Do tweak your tone to match the employer's voice. Every employer has a style or tone, and when you match it, it shows that you have gone through the trouble of learning something about them before applying.
Don't be cocky. There's a thin line between making sure they know why you'd be great for a job and coming off as full of yourself.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
