10 Cover letter secrets

10 cover-letter writing secrets. Ashraf Chaudhry reveals 10 Dos and 5 Don’ts

DOs1. Cover letters remain relevant and crucial. Why? Because it is your introduction and your opportunity to say why you are the best person for the job.

2. Your cover letter is your sales letter. Your cover letter the spokesman of the résumé. Give the spokesman an opportunity to speak.

3. Custom-made, tailor made. Always send a custom-made cover letter with your résumé – a person/company/industry specific cover letter. These details need to be correct and accurate.

4. STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD. Value addition to the company should be your watchwords.

5. Make a personal connection. Show why you are interested in this company, this position. Offer deeper insights than what is contained in your résumé.

7. Highlight achievements and how this may help your prospective employer. A good cover letters adds to the résumé.

Focus upon the company’s needs and how you could fulfill them. They hire you because they want a job done – so focus on that.

8. Shed light on the inherent attributes of your personality, your leadership style, your values, your motivations.

9. LASTING IMPRESSION. Ending the letter is just as important as the beginning and the middle. It’s your one chance to make a strong lasting impression.

10. The ending has to be creative and different from routine and conventional letters.

Don’ts1. Cover letters should never look like a circular.

2. A cover letter should never start with TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

3. Please find attached my résumé is not enough for an employer to consider you. When you do this you are at a disadvantage to the person who submits a professionally written cover letter.

4. Never just repeat what is your résumé. A cover letter is not a clone of your résumé.

5. Never talk about your needs in the résumé.

EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER BLESSING (contributed by Susan Christine McKenzie)
B: Burn the midnight oil and come up with a cover letter that fits the company to a T. Both a blend of confidence and humbleness are needed when discussing what you can offer the company.
L: Let your imagination run riot as to why you are the best candidate and then refine this to fit what the company really wants and needs (and what you would like to achieve with this company).
E: Evaluate the requirements in the job ad and then discuss point by point how you meet and even exceed these requirements.
S: Show enthusiasm and keep a positive attitude and your cover letter will take you far.
S: Seriously craft your cover letter into a tailor-made letter that addresses the wants and needs of the employer.

Y: Your cover letter is a crucial document in the job application process, so revere it and make it the best you can deliver.
O: Originality should be the aim.
U: Uniqueness and understanding of the company’s requirements should be evident in the cover letter.