Whether you are in a transition or trying to locate a better position, a cover letter is part of the application process. Lots of people worry about what to include in a cover letter in order to make it most effective. Why not write yourself a cover letter template that you can customize for each opportunity you are interesting in applying.
The opening should set a cheerful tone with an upbeat greeting noting how you came to know about the opportunity. Try something like “I am pleased to submit my resume as application for the administrative assistant position advertised on Careerbuilder.com”
The next part of a cover letter should include a few sentences about why you are the right candidate for the position. Look over the position specifications and find ways to illustrate your value. Try something like “At Acme Products, I was responsible for the entire marketing plan for the cabinet manufacturing division” Include roughly three examples of this sort that make clear why you should be interviewed for this position.
After illustrating your value simply craft a respectful closing. Write something like “Thank you for reviewing my credentials. I look forward to entering into a mutually beneficial dialogue”.
The object of the cover letter is not to persuade the reader to make a hire. Rather it is to convince the hiring authority that time would be well spent interviewing you. So open with a positive greeting, illustrate your value as a candidate, customize your cover letter for each position and close each with respectful anticipation of an interview. Making your template and customizing it for each opportunity takes the work and worry out of cover letter submission. Try it.
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