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Your cover letter could be the first thing a prospective employer reads before scanning your résumé or reviewing your job application. Take advantage of the opportunity to provide a professional, well-written first impression when you apply for each job. Investing the time and attention to detail in your letters will help you move to the top of the employer’s candidate list, and there are several things you can do before you begin to write.
Cover letters serve as both a chance to market yourself as a potential employee and as an introduction to your résumé. Before you focus on your letter, work on creating or updating your résumé. You will not simply restate your résumé in your cover letter, but you want to ensure that you have consistent information being provided to the employer in both documents. Check and verify your job titles, names of companies, contact information and dates of employment, and keep a copy of your résumé handy as you work on your cover letter.
A cover letter should accompany your résumé but should be more than just a summary of it. It is the chance to grab the interest of the hiring manager or interviewer, and explain or expand on your top qualifications and achievements as related to the potential job. Before you begin to write, make a list of your top strengths, talents, skills and experience based on your résumé and from examples during your career. This may include your accomplishments at a previous job or situations where you exhibited strong leadership or teamwork skills. Brainstorm all the things that you believe make you an excellent potential employee.
Once you have the top things you would like to highlight about yourself, you will need to relate this information to the job, company and industry. Review the job posting, and write down the key job requirements and qualifications. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes, and think about what you would be looking for if you were screening job applicants.
Also research basic information about the company, including the history, culture, products or services, and location or headquarters information. Know the basics about the industry or field in which you are applying. With all of this information, you will be able to cross-match your top skills, qualifications and directly relate it to this job.
If you have never written a cover letter before, look at examples online before you begin to draft your own. You may even be able to find a cover letter template or example within your specific industry or career field. Looking at examples is only to help you get started, though. Do not copy an example letter or template word for word as it should only be a starting point.
If you need additional help writing your cover letter, see if your local Workforce Connection Center offers any cover letter and résumé workshops. A link to all the centers around the state can be found at www.dws.state.nm.us.
All of this preparation to begin writing your cover letter will not only help you to successfully compose an introduction to your qualifications and résumé, but also prepares you for future interviews. Being knowledgeable, confident and professional in your cover letter will carry throughout your job hunt and will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the job.
This is a regular column written by the N.M. Department of Workforce Solutions. For more information, go to www.dws.state.nm.us.
