When writing a cover letter, it helps to have examples to follow. The cover letter format is so specific that you don’t want to mess it up. Learn by example by looking at the samples at the following websites:
-About.com (http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverlettersamples/a/coverlettsample.htm) has several templates and examples of cover letters for you to look at.
- Career Services @ Virgina Tech (http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm) gives you information on how to write a cover letter, along with samples. This website is particularly good for any student (at any college) to use.
-Resume Cover Letter Examples (http://www.resumecoverletterexamples.com/) has samples for many different careers, including sales, education, nursing, engineering, and more. If you want a sample from your specific job niche, this is the place to look.
All of the above listed cover letter samples are available to you free of charge.
Note that all of these cover letters differ from one another in one key way: the information in the paragraphs in the body of the letter is different. While format is constant in every cover letter, what you write should be unique. There is no template or example that can help you figure that out.
So how do you know what to write in a cover letter? Well, do your research. Look at the type of information in each of the samples. Every one explains, in one way or another, why and how the candidate’s skills will help the company. Whether the letter says “my management skills will help me to streamline office production” or “my experience in customer service will help boost your annual sales figures”, in the end it means only one thing: here’s how I, the candidate, can help your company.
In short, the best way to sell yourself is to talk about the company you are applying to. Hiring directors aren’t interested in any of your skills besides the ones that will help them make money, improve efficiency, and get the job done. So use all of that valuable space on your one-page cover letter to tell the company what you can do for them. This will help your chances of getting the interview.
