How to Write a Cover Letter that Gets the Job Done!

So what is a cover letter and why is it so important? Now a days it seems more and more companies won't' even look at a resume without a cover letter. Why all the sudden interest in cover letters. Well a cover letter's job is basically to tell the employer that you are the right person for a job and they would be crazy not to call you in for an interview. Of course it doesn't say it in those exact words but you get the idea. Your cover letter is an excellent chance to make a good first impression. It's the one chance you get to let your personality shine through before they meet you. We all know that you can't put personality into a resume. A resume needs to sound professional. Your cover letter though is your chance to shine. Your resume can't ask for an interview, but your cover letter can and more importantly should.

When we say personality, there is a fine line between just the right amount of personality and too much personality. A cover letter is not the ideal place to put the latest knock knock joke you just heard, but it is a great opportunity to show how passionate you are about your work. Telling a prospective employer that your real goal in life is to open up a restaurant, or retire filthy rich is probably not a good idea. But telling them how much you enjoy coming up with new and exciting ideas to increase productivity could be fine if it pertains to their needs.

So how and where do you start when it comes to writing a cover letter that gets the job done? The job of course being getting your phone to ring for an interview. It's a good idea to first sit down and research the company a little bit before you start the cover letter. Research exactly who the cover letter and resume are going to and address the letter directly to them. Your first paragraph is going to sum up why you want to work for the company. What is it that draws you to the company and more importantly why you need to work for that company? The fact that you took the extra time to learn more about the company will not only make the employer feel a little more special. It will also show them that you have a real interest in working for them.