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A cover letter is a letter that accompanies your curriculum vitae when applying for a job. This is a great tool in seeking for a job as this will let them know why your resume is worth reading. You can write the best resume in the word that may make you highly qualified for the job vacancy but if your cover letter is poorly written and formatted, it can lose your chance to get the job opening. The cover letter is your first chance to grab the attention and interest of an employer that may decide him to read your curriculum vitae. There are several types of cover letter that are job related. There are some instructions on the internet that can teach you how to write a cover letter.
· Letter of Inquiry – This type of letter will be a sort of inquiry on any possible job opportunities that will fit your field of expertise and at the same time touch a general area where you are interested to work.
· Job Application Cover Letter – This letter is in response to the job advertisement you have read. The cover letter should indicate that your skills qualify for the job opening they advertised.
· Thank You Letter – This is usually done after you have been interviewed. This letter will clearly show the interest you have in the position you have applied.
· Acceptance Letter – This letter is made if you accept the job offered to you.
· Declination Letter – This will inform the employer that you are no longer interested with the job offered.
In every job application, a cover letter should always be on top of your curriculum vitae. It is normally addressed to the person whom your CV’s are sent to. If a name is not provided you address it to Dear Sir/Madam. End the Cover Letter with Yours faithfully and sign it over your printed name. These are some useful tips that you can use on how to write a cover letter that you can follow and apply for when you are going to write your own letter.
The first paragraph of your letter should tell the employer your intention to apply for a job and the position you want to apply for. Make this in two or three sentences. Keep away from the usual openings like” I wish to apply for”. Devise a different kind of opening that will make the reader pay attention and lead to reading your CV. If you got the information from a common contact or from a recruiting program, it is not important to specify how you became aware of the job opening. But if your letter is an inquiry for any open positions, state the reason why you are interested in working for the employer.
The succeeding paragraphs should clearly define your qualification and equate it to the requirements of the open position. Show eagerness and desire to help the company in reaching its objective. Define to the employer your capacity as an asset in the company. Avoid bloating or expanding your ability. Instead, make two or three solid points of your working capacity without getting too deceiving. Do some research about the company and relate some relevant details to let the employer know that you are interested in joining their company.
Include in the final paragraph a positive statement or question that will make the employer do a quick action. The closing paragraph should take only a maximum of 4 sentences. Inform the employer of your attached CV and define your availability for an interview. Assertion can sometimes bear fruit. You can therefore ask for a chance to contact them to set up a meeting time to discuss with them further opportunity with you as an employee. Provide your own contact number and e-mail address and let them know that you are waiting for their immediate response. The complimentary close should be finished off by thanking the employer for their time and consideration.
Proofread the letter by checking your spelling, punctuation marks and grammar. Keep the letter to one page to get the employer to your CV quickly. Remember to sell yourself and your skills in a very positive way. Again, there are lots of tips that you can find on the internet that can help you on how to write a cover letter.
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