How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter

Tips for Personalizing the Resume and Attracting Employers

Oct 21, 2009

The resume highlights the candidate's core job skills, accomplishments, and objectives. The cover letter personalizes the application. Here's how to write a good one.

Many candidates skip the cover letter writing process in favor of a simple resume submission. However, the letter personalizes the job application package and further highlights skills relevant to the position. In other words, it’s an important tool used to sell the person to the employer. Here’s how to write a cover letter that gets noticed by hiring managers.

Writing the Cover Letter

Before putting pen to paper, carefully read over the job description to get a feel for the requirements of the position. These will be highlighted in the letter along with how closely they match the candidate’s competencies. For example, “Your job description closely matches my skills and experience in designing websites for non-profits.”

All cover letters generally follow the standard four-part format: header, introduction, competencies, and conclusion. The header contains all contact information. The introduction states the purpose of the letter and the position the person is applying for. The next section lays out skills and experience and how closely they match the requirements of the job. The conclusion is a final sales pitch to the employer, reemphasizing the close match between the candidate and the open position.

Types of Cover Letters

Most job seekers don’t realize that cover letters come in a variety of types depending on his or her employment situation. For example, those who are changing careers and thus don’t meet specific requirements for the position will want to focus on transferrable skills. Recent college grads will want to focus on internships and educational achievements. But for most workers, the traditional career letter focuses on how competencies and experience match the employer’s requirements.

Cover Letter Sample

Dear (Mr. or Ms. Hiring Manager, or if the name is unknown, simply Hiring Manager):

This letter is in response to your job listing for the position of Technical Writer posted on Monster.com. I read the position description with interest and found a close match between my core job skills and your requirements.

As a technical writer for over seven years, I wrote methods of procedure, user manuals, quick guides, safety documentation, and courseware for numerous Fortune 500 companies. In my last position as a Technical Documentation Manager at a midsize wireless telecommunications company, I supervised a team of four employees. My strong leadership and technical communications skills have won the accolades of clients and upper management.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss how my skills and experience closely match the position X Company is looking to fill. I can be reached at name@mailbox.com or my cell phone, 555-555-5555.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Cover Letter Tips

Keep the letter as short and concise as possible. Do not to repeat the resume word for word within the cover letter body; rather, provide a personalized summary of applicable competencies and how they match the job opening. Like the resume, use lots of action verbs (e.g., developed, managed, coordinated). In the conclusion section, remember to make the final push to sell the employer on the close match between job skills and the requirements of the position.

Writing an effective cover letter is very important to the job search. Not only does it serve to personalize the resume, it also serves to highlight the close match between the employer’s requirements and the person’s skills. A well-written letter grabs the attention of hiring managers and increases the chances the candidate will be contacted for an in-person interview.

The copyright of the article How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter in Career Advice is owned by Daniel Gansle. Permission to republish How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.