by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: March 06, 2009

Writing a flawless and professional cover letter is an important part of the job application process. The cover letter is optional; however, a well-written cover letter along with an up-to-date resume goes a long way to impressing interested employers.

Writing a quality cover letter simply takes an understanding of the purpose of the cover letter, its structure, and tips to keep in mind along the way.

Why the Cover Letter is Important

When the candidate applies for jobs online, the cover letter is generally an option. But it is a stated fact that a well-written cover letter increases the chances of landing an interview.

The cover letter serves to personalize the candidate's job application. It provides a brief summary of the candidate's objective, desired position, skills summary, work history, and an explanation of why the candidate is a good fit for the position.

Cover Letter Structure

It is important to follow a logical cover letter structure where the main points can easily be scanned by busy HR managers. Here's how:

1) Initially, the cover letter structure should include an introduction, job title, and objective. For example, "Hello, my name is Mark Mays. I am an experienced accountant seeking a position in the healthcare industry where I can use my accounting skills to benefit a growing healthcare organization."

2) The cover letter body should include a brief summary of the duties and accomplishments of the candidate's current or prior position. The key here is to be concise and focused, getting the point across in no more than 3-4 sentences.

The body should include lots of action verbs: created, coordinated, managed, developed, etc.

3) After the current or prior position summary, the candidate should devote 1-2 sentences to discussing the duties and accomplishments of other positions held in prior years. This can be written as a general, broad statement such as, "In my other positions, I designed graphics for advertising firms, corporations, and non-profits."

4) Before closing, the candidate should devote one sentence to explain why he or she is a good fit for the job opportunity. For example: "Your graphic designer job opening fits well with my strong background in corporate design, branding, and marketing."

5) The closing should thank the employer for consideration of the job opportunity. It should also express interest in following up with the hiring manager. For example: "Thank you for considering me for this position, and I look forward to discussing this job opportunity with you in greater detail."

6) If the letterhead displays the candidate's address and contact information at the top of the page, there is no need to re-insert it under the signature line. Furthermore, all contact information is provided on the resume.

Writing a flawless, professional cover letter isn't difficult. The candidate should always keep in mind that HR managers are very busy and have the time only to briefly scan the cover letter. Therefore, the cover letter should be brief, concise, and well-written; logically summarizing the candidate's skills and background and why he or she is a good fit for the position.

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