A resume cover letter is often a one-page document that accompanies a resume when applying for a job opening. Its overall purpose is to explain the contents of the resume by giving a summary of the contents and explaining the suitability of the candidate for the job opening.
Format of the Resume Cover Letter
A cover letter differs not so significantly from your ordinary formal letter. Below are the contents and structures that the letter ought to contain:
- Your Contact Details – As always, start with your own contact details. These are the breakdowns of your physical address and other contact information. They include official names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses.
- Salutation – This is an official greeting of the hiring manager. As the best way forward, avoid using generalities like “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam.”
- Opening Paragraph – Start your cover letter in a way in which it can grasp the attention of the reader significantly. The start should be eye-catching and straight to the point.
- Main Body – It is the main body that forms the core of the letter. The body typically covers 2-3 paragraphs. It is in the main body that you indicate the contents we touched on above.
- Action Request – Though it may seem too obvious, it is always wise to close the letter with some ‘call for action’ to the hiring manager. Ask him to consider calling you for an interview to discuss your credentials in finer details and possibly take up the job.
- Signatures and Dates – Finish off the letter by appending your own signatures and incorporating the dates there below.
Basics of a Resume Cover Letter
The cover letter comes with different sections that are significant to any application.
EDUCATION
The resume cover letter, in short, explains the furthest you have gone with education and if you majored in the post currently in opening and also from a certified institution.
WORKING EXPERIENCE
This letter explains how long you have worked in this position and with what companies. The cover letter must have the person’s goals and visions about the project or position in question. Performance of the previous company matters; it shows the potential of the person looking for the job.
AREAS OF INTEREST
The resume cover letter also shows;
- What other networking plans you have if you qualify for the job
- How to tackle challenges
- If one is ready to work with internal and external management in order to give profiting performance to a company.
Sample Cover Letter
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Telephone Contacts]
[Today’s Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[Company Address]
[Company City, State, Zip Code]
[Telephone Contacts]
Dear [Mr. /Mrs. /Ms.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Re: Resume Cover Letter
I draft this letter to official express my interest in and submit my applications for the vacant position. My confidence stems from the fact that I possess the requisite academic qualifications and professional work experience.
Outside my core competencies, I also have strong interpersonal communication skills, the ability to network and play as a team, and great enthusiasm for work and professional growth.
Kindly peruse my resume to find out more about what I have to offer and potentially bring on board. It is my hope that you will ask me to come over for an interview and possibly get the job.
Best Regards,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
Resume Cover Letter Examples
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
Resume Cover Letter Samples
What to Include
As stated, this letter basically summarizes the contents of the resume as well as indicating how the candidate is suited for the job opening. Below are some of its contents:
- A match between the experience of the candidate and the demands of the job opening.
- How the skills possessed by the candidate match the requirements of the job.
- The push or motive behind the candidate’s desire to work for the said firm
- When you are available to start working
- Salary and remuneration packages
What to avoid in a Cover Letter
As with any other piece of write-up, there are things you should never do while drafting the cover letter. Here are some things you should avoid in a cover letter:
- Making the letter too long, typically by exceeding the one-page threshold.
- Speaking negatively about your previous employer or job position.
- Lying about your past remunerations packages. It pays, to be honest, all along.
- Incorporating fake details about your past work and career
- Furnishing some irrelevant pieces of information supposedly to boost your chances of being picked for the job.
- Failing to proof-read the cover letter before submission.
How to Submit your Cover Letter
There are certain things you have to get write before finally submitting the cover letter. We highlight and explain them here below:
- Eliminate all errors from the resume and the portfolio work.
- Balance your professionalism with your personality while drafting and handing in the cover letter.
- Structure it in such a way as to capture the interests of the reader from scratch through to the finish.
- Customize the letter to line up with the job description of the opening you are applying for.
- Fill your cover letter with examples that are more likely to up your chances of success.
Conclusion
We now believe you have what it takes to draft your next resume cover letter. Simply follow the steps we have delineated and explained above to get to the root of the matter. What more could we possibly do for you? Please share and circulate the contents far and wide!
