5 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter That Gets Job Interviews

5 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter That Gets Job Interviews5 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter That Gets Job Interviews18Writing a titelblatt letter can be a tedious task. After youve been on the job hunt for some time, you may be tempted to cut corners and start cranking out generic titelseite letters. After all, writing a cover letter specific to each and every job that youre applying for takes a whole lot of time, with no guarantee that youll even get a call back from a hiring manager. Here are some tips for writing a cover letter that is more effective, authentic, and will help increase your chances of getting a job interview.Be quick. Many job seekers will start off writing a cover letter in the exact same way. Theyll write something like, Im applying for the _________ position that I recently saw posted in the ____________ location. (Snooze.) Or they will be overly cocky with Stop reading other resumes now I am the perfect candidate (Sure you are, along with the other 200 applican ts who claim that. Yawn.)The first sentence of your cover letter should grab your reader, not tell him or her something they already know. Instead, let the hiring manager know why you want this particular job with their particular company. Researching the companys website and showing them youve done your homework before applying will differentiate you from 95% of the other candidates right off the bat. Your enthusiasm for THIS opportunity should shine through from the first sentence.Be personal. Sure, it may be frowned upon to name-drop socially, but when it comes to finding a job, knowing someone at the company who can vouch for you really goes a long way. Considering the fact that most bosses tend to hire people they know (or are personally referred to), its in your best interest to show a connection to your prospective boss within the first paragraph or two of your cover letter. But dont simply mention your shared connections name explain your connection to that individual, along with how that person has helped you during your career or what you have learned from him or her ideally. Being personal whenwriting a cover letter can go a long way towards getting an interview.Be practical.Gone are the days of addressing your cover letter To whom it may concern. To a hiring manager, that can be a clear indicator that a job candidate hasnt done her homework. Through sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter, it is fairly easy to find out who the person doing the hiring is, and as such, you should use their name when you address them in your cover letter. A generically addressed cover letter could easily wind up at the bottom of the pile, or worse, in the garbage.Be a problem-solver.You read through the job description a few times and understand the demands of the position inside and out. But what about the rest of the companys needs? Do a little digging and find out how your potential position ties into the overall workings of the company. Then, when writing your cover le tter, discuss the challenges that the company faces and offers your insights on how you think you could help the company overcome them- if you were hired. Not only does this show that you took the time and effort to find out more about the company, but that youre also a solutions-based person who will work as a team member to fix any issues. Both of these are very strong (and desirable) qualities that a potential boss is looking for in job candidates.Be patient.From the job posting, the position sounds fabulous. It aligns with your career goals and interests, and your workplace skills and successes make you a cinch for the position. Problem is, you really need a telecommuting job, and the ad doesnt say anything about remote work being an option. As eager as you may be to find out if you can work at home, you should remain mum in your cover letter about your desire to telecommute. Instead, wait until youre offered the position before bringing up the work-at-home option (that is, if t he issue hasnt already been brought up by your prospective boss). That way, you can give him the opportunity to really get to know you (and like you) without having to contend with the issue of you working from home.While having a strong resume is an important part of your job application, its really your cover letter that can get you to the next level in your job search. So take the time to make it memorable, and youll be on your way to job search success in no time.Readers, how much time do you spend writing a cover letter? Do you customize them for each job, or are you (ahem) secretly cutting and pasting parts of previous cover letters into the current one? Let us know your cover letter tips and tricks in the comments section below