A cover letter serves as a great companion to your resume. If it is clear you are well qualified by reading your resume, a recruiter will typically proceed to read your cover letter. Cover letter resources online will give you varying recommendations for the layout of your cover letter, but ultimately the cover letter serves one purpose: to land you an interview.

A cover letter is important in displaying succinct and well developed communication skills as well as your ability to organise your thoughts. This means the letter should be no more than one page. In some cases, individuals applying for upper management executive positions should allow for two pages. With a precisely communicated letter, a recruiter will already know plenty about your skills, and if you do this well, it will help you stand out from the other applicants and land that interview.

So what do you include in a cover letter?
Be sure to know a proper letter template, including format, addresses and a date. Most word processors have templates, and there are also lots of templates online. Next, be sure to address an individual directly as opposed to writing “To Whom it May Concern.” You may have no option, but it may be a good idea to try cold-calling the company you are applying to and anonymously requesting information like the name of the hiring manager for a certain position.

There are a few things that you should include in your cover letter, the order of which are up to you. It is a good idea however, to start off by introducing yourself and explicitly stating which position you are applying for. If applicable, make reference to any job posting code. It is a good idea to mention any ties you have to the company. For example, if you met an individual from the company at a trade show or convention and he or she told you to apply, you can mention this in your cover letter.

Speak about your skills and experiences and how they relate to the position you are applying for. This is your chance to sell your soft skills, which is difficult to do within the limits of a resume. The recruiter will be able to tell by your resume if you have the education, training and abilities to perform the duties of a position. The soft skills you promote in your cover letter will show a recruiter your potential to cope with varying situations, manage people, improve business functions and successfully perform the duties required by the position.

Another section to include should state why you want to work for that company. This will show that you have done your research on the company and are truly interested in working with them. The recruiter will know you have taken the time to write a cover letter specifically for them, instead of writing a template and just changing names and titles.
In your closing, thank the recruiter for their consideration, state how they may contact you, and let them know your plans for follow up with a specific time frame.

Lastly and maybe most importantly: proofread. Have someone you trust read your cover letter. Do not allow a letter with any spelling or grammar mistakes into the hands of a recruiter.