How to Write a Good Cover Letter

There are several alternative or alias terms for a cover letter, such as covering letter, motivating letter, letter of motivation, cover attachment, cover note, letter of intent, etc. On the whole, a cover letter can be defined as an introductory page for the entire resume or CV. Writing a good cover letter is thus an important task as it is the first impression that is created upon the employer. This can be a cause of worry, as the letter has to be definitely very good. A really good and crispy letter will get you shortlisted for the written tests and an interview.

Cover Letter

It is not necessary that a cover letter has to used by a job seeker. Plenty of people can write a cover letter, such as businessmen answering a requirement advertisement, companies approaching highly educated scholars with jobs, law firms taking up a new partner, etc. The letter can be deemed to be a cover letter as long as it fulfills the duty of introducing and establishing a context. When you are writing a cover letter bear in mind that it should have the following characteristics:

• Briefly informative and introductory: This kind of letter writing is a bit different. Your cover letter should be brief, crisp, short and must provide your reader with the information that he needs.
• Contextual: Your letter must swiftly establish a good context between the purpose and contents of the letter. Your reader must understand the meaning and intent of the letter as soon as he starts reading it. Thus being contextual all the time is of essence.
• Impressive and to the point: Being impressive and to the point while writing the letter is of essence, due to the fact that people reading the letter would not be interested to read facts that they need not know, a long letter or for that matter any letter with irrelevant facts is a strict no-no.

How to Write a Good Cover Letter

Moving on to cover letter writing, but before you begin writing a cover letter, it would not hurt to read a few tips to write a good cover letter. For the sake of an example, let us start with resume cover letters. When you are answering a job advertisement, maintaining a good cover letter format, is simple, but of absolute essence. Principally a good cover letter would extend up to 3 sections. One section can be divided into two or more paragraphs, but sticking to the limit of 3 sections is of absolute importance. Here's how it goes...

• Section 1: The cover letters for resumes are usually written with reference to a job advertisement or a person who has informed you about the job opening. Your job application must thus start with a cover letter. The first paragraph principally establishes the context with the said advertisement. Part from establishing this context, you will also have to state the job position, or post for which you are applying. When you write a cover letter, make it a point to keep this paragraph as short as 3-4 lines long, and if possible even less.
• Section 2: Here you will have to do a little bit of research on the company itself. Mention how your qualifications suit the company in a brief manner, explain why you want to work with the company. While doing so, make it a point to put less emphasis on the concepts 'me' and 'I', talk more about why you find the company attractive.
• Section 3: In the last paragraph, make it a point to conclude as fast as possible. While concluding, mention that you would like to work in the company and would provide associated references and experience proofs upon request. Make the ending quick and crisp

There is no ideal or recommended cover letter format and hence, you can use all freedom while writing the letter, use as many creative statements as possible and the job is yours. The last thing that I would like to advise is that please avoid using templates for a cover letter. Your application might end up in the shredder.