Free Cover Letter Example

Do You Need Help Writing A Winning Cover Letter?

Your cover letter is critical to your success. It sets the tone. It is read before your resume and includes vital information about you that every potential employer needs. If you don't have a cover letter, or if you have one that is poorly written, you're setting yourself up for failure. Knowing the crucial elements of a cover letter is imperative to getting in doors and moving your candidacy forward.

Your cover letter must function as a roadmap leading the reader from start to finish. It must be created with one thought in mind – to get you noticed. It must invite, it must compel, it must drive the reader to a very specific conclusion: 'This candidate is qualified; in fact, not only qualified, but the best fit for the position.'

Your resume will then be read. If your resume is as powerful as your cover letter, an interview will be scheduled. So how should a winning cover letter be constructed?

There are a number of ways to actually begin the letter. You could pose a question, you could make an extraordinary statement to grab the reader's attention, or you can quote someone famous. Whatever you do, make sure it is appropriate to the advertised position and to the skills you possess. Along with this opening, you want to note the specific job to which you are responding.

Your letter then needs to state your worth, your applicable accomplishments and their relationship to the responsibilities of the position. This can be a couple of paragraphs, but keep in mind that less is more as long as significant content has been included. It's critical that your cover letter be at most one page.

The final paragraph is your call to action. It is where you state your follow-up plan. This is where you create continuity to ensure your success.

Make sure you do not include any salary information in your cover letter. It will either disqualify you or lock you in to compensation that does not match your worth. If the job ad requests your salary information, you can always state that it is negotiable. While not being specific, doing this will keep you in the running.

Regardless of your field of endeavor or level of experience, you can write an attention-grabbing cover letter which, in conjunction with a powerful resume, will grant you access to the right opportunities and lead you to a successful job search conclusion.

Copyright © 2005 TopDog Group All rights reserved.

David Richter is a recognized authority in career coaching and job search support. He has spent many years in recruitment, staffing, outplacement, counseling psychology and career management spanning most industries and professions. David founded TopDog Group in response to the needs of job candidates to have a higher quality of career coaching and support available on the Internet. David understands the mechanisms for success. He has formulated specific strategies anyone can use to secure interviews and receive offers. His extensive knowledge and experience sets David apart in this field, allowing him to offer a wealth of information and a vast array of tools, resources and strategies not found anywhere else. He has shown countless job seekers how to differentiate themselves and leverage their potential to the highest possible level, making a real difference in their careers. David holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology. David's website address is: http://www.procareercoach.com

Cover Letter Success
COVER LETTER If you want an exciting, higher paying job ... ANY job for that matter ... you've got to grab the employer's undivided attention! You’ll do this perfectly with the Amazing Cover Letter Creator

MORE ARTICLES:

Writing a cover letter for a new Construction Job
When applying to a new construction job, your cover letter is the first thing an employer will read, even before a CV, so it is one of the most important things to get right!

Make em READ Your Cover Letter Using This Killer Secret!
Got your attention? Great. That was my intention.

How to Create Your Cover Letter When Switching Careers
You have recently made the decision to exit one career and enter a new one, which can be both exciting and a little bit scary But while the choice to make the career switch was probably a grueling one, the prospect of explaining your lack of job experience to potential employers is probably downright terrifying

Pair Your Powerful Resume with a Great Cover Letter
Every great resume deserves a great cover letter.A cover letter is crucial because it's the first thing the hiring manager sees.

Cover Letter Sample -- For the Corporate Flight Attendant
Writing a cover letter to send with your résumé can be both confusing and frustrating. What exactly should you say? Are you saying too much? Are you only speaking about your needs vs.

Writing a Cover Letter: Research Tips Worth Exploring
The process of applying for a job can be taxing to say the least But the process of writing a cover letter can be downright exhausting - especially when you?re unsure of how to express your interest in that job you?re applying for

Cover letter NO NO?s for Construction workers
When applying to any type of Construction Job, there are several things you should make sure you DO NOT do. Do not??.

Your Cover Letter MUST Ask This Question
Imagine receiving a letter from a salesman who wants to sell you an exciting new widget. The letter focuses on all the reasons why this is such a great item.

Resume? Or Resume NOT? With Screening Software Becoming More Prevalent, Your Cover Letter Is Key To Getting Job Interviews
Don?t forget to appeal to the human reader, suggests WallStJobs.com as "robo-resume-readers" make the first cuts.

The Not-So-Effective Cover Letter
Here's a newsflash: Cover letters work, plain and simple. This is why I'm intrigued by the fact that a) jobseekers rarely submit them and b) hiring managers seldom read them.

Using Your Cover Letter To Turn Weaknesses Into Strengths
When applying for a new job, it can sometimes be difficult to explain a huge gap in employment, or lack of relevant employment, when all you have is your resume to do the talking This is why it is recommended that you include a cover letter with your resume

The Art of the Cover Letter
Hiring managers often receive hundreds, or even thousands, of applications for a given job. To avoid having your resume sink in a sea of paper or electronic files, it?s essential to write a cover letter that stands out and makes a great first impression.

How to Create a Cover Letter that Will Command Attention
The first thing you need to do is grab the reader's attention. You must get the reader's attention before he or she can become interested and desirous of your offer to come in for an interview. We're all busy and we all have several things going on in our lives. So how do you cut through the clutter and grab the reader's attention?

Creating Your Cover Letter When Feeling Overqualified
Are you highly skilled in your profession, yet seeking a job that for which you are probably overqualified It is never bad to come into a position already encompassing a boatload of skills