Best Cover Letters

It is not necessary that a cover letter has to follow some set rules and pattern to highlight one's resume. It is a business letter that gives, as the name suggests, a cover to our resume. That is to say that it is document that is submitted along with the curriculum vitae (CV) which serves as a summary of the contents of other accompanying documents. A cover letter is written in reference with many other things apart from a CV, for example, a press release.

As explained, a cover letter is a piece of business writing, it should therefore, be concise and highlight what are the documents that you submit to someone so that rather than going through all the documents, it can be seen like a brief introduction. The key to come up with a precise and accurate cover letter are following the points mentioned below.

• End the letter in one page. Keep it short and precise. It should function as a cover and not a detailed note.
• Personalize the letter. Research about the company. Find out the addressee's name. It shows your sincerity and willingness to be associated with the firm.
• Use 'Give them what they want' principle here. The purpose of this etter writing is to advertise yourself in minimum words. Include your mutual contacts if it serves any purpose for highlighting you and segregating you out of the pile of letters.
• Always include a follow-up and gratitude line. To make your cover letter work, it is advised to give the addressee a call for the purpose you are writing the letter.

Format

Salutation: The first part of any letter is the salutation and so is the case with salutation for cover letters. Though you can use the 'To Whom It May Concern' salutation, it is always good to know whom you are addressing beforehand, for any letter. This holds more true in case of cover letters because it is a document accompanying your business intentions and more personalized it is more stronger is the impression you have. Opening: The opening or introduction paragraph should give the motive of your letter. You should mention in a line or two as to what the purpose of writing the particular letter is. The introduction sentences should have your reference, i.e., the letter is in response to which add or newspaper article, or the person's name who is known to both of you, etc. In the same paragraph you can also write why you think you are eligible for being interviewed. Body: The body of the letter should be precise, stating what all qualities or qualification you have that should give you an edge above other candidates applying to the same person, in case it a human resource manager you are writing to or an editor of some newspaper. Closing: The closing paragraph of a cover letter usually include a 'thank you' line, thanking the reader for his time and consideration for having read your letter. It should be then followed by a 'looking forward' sentence and 'follow-up' sentence. You can end the letter by signing off with your name and signature with the formal, 'yours sincerely,' 'yours faithfully,' or 'respectfully yours,' etc.

Now that you know how to write a cover letter, hope this article threw enough light on factors responsible for making the best cover letters. Wish you all the luck for your endeavors!