A compelling cover letter is just as crucial as a well-crafted resume in today’s competitive job market. Serving as a primary support document, your cover letter always accompanies your resume, whether submitted via traditional mail, email, or other electronic means. While various tools are essential in your job search, the cover letter and resume are paramount, preceding follow-up letters, thank-you notes post-interview, reference sheets, salary histories, and job acceptance letters. Mastering both cover letter and resume writing sets a strong foundation for composing these subsequent documents.
The primary objective of a cover letter, much like a resume, is to capture the hiring manager’s attention. However, the approach differs. While a resume comprehensively details your professional journey, spanning one to two pages, a cover letter serves as a concise introduction, ideally kept to a single page. Effective cover letter writing demands directness, conciseness, and the ability to quickly engage the reader, enticing them to delve into the attached resume.
A common pitfall in cover letter writing is excessive detail. Instead, aim for brevity and impact, highlighting two or three key achievements or skills from your resume. The proven strategy of ‘tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them’ applies equally to resume and cover letter composition.
Consider a scenario where you’re a materials handling manager for a defense contractor seeking a new opportunity. In this field, keywords such as MRP, lean manufacturing, ISO 9000, and cost savings resonate strongly. Your cover letter should strategically incorporate these terms to underscore your value proposition to potential employers. While your resume provides in-depth explanations of your accomplishments, the cover letter should succinctly highlight them to the hiring manager. For example, the body of the letter might include bullet points such as:
* Proven expertise in quality assurance, quality control, MRP, ISO 9000, QS 9000, and Lean Manufacturing.
* Demonstrated success in achieving significant cost savings for employers through inventory reductions and ensuring on-time supplier delivery.
Given that hiring managers often spend a mere fifteen seconds reviewing each resume and cover letter, your writing must be exceptional to compel them to examine your resume closely. Similarly, your resume must be equally compelling to secure an interview. Ultimately, exceptional interviewing skills are essential to secure a job offer. This sequence of events begins with strong cover letter writing capabilities, culminating in job satisfaction and financial stability.