Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Anatomy of a Cover Letter

KMG Consultants Cover Letter
Flickr CC via .scarlet.
KMG Consultants is a sales and business consulting firm based out of Southfield, MI.

If the resume is an outline of a professional career, a cover letter should tell the story. To make it stand out, it should flow so well that it would be hard to put down. Creating an awesome cover letter doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. By understanding all the parts of a successful cover letter, you will be one step closer to nailing the job you’ve always wanted.

General Formatting

Cover letters follow the format of a standard professional letter. One page is the ideal size, but if you must go over make sure it’s not too long. The more simple it is, the easier it will be to read. Your contact information is placed first, which includes your name, address, phone number, and email. Before the letter starts, include the company name as well as their address, phone number and email.

The Letter:

The Greeting
The first sentence is a salutation for whoever will be reading it. Knowing the actual name of who will be reading the letter will get you farther than just calling them hiring manager or “to whom it may concern.” Start off the letter strong by showing how prepared you are and professional you take this letter to be. Hiring managers will respect that and you will already be in their good graces.

The Opener (First Paragraph)
Try and knock it out of the park in the first paragraph. It’s should present the reader with focused information regarding the position you intend to interview for. This paragraph should include key facts about what makes you a great candidate, and your preparation for sending in this application. Also mention that more thorough information about yourself can be found on your resume that you should also be providing.

The Hook (Second Paragraph)
The second paragraph is where you discuss all your qualifications as well as your professional achievements. It should spew off a few details from your resume that help define your career and your potential. Bullets or lists can be eye-catchers for the reader too. This is where you really sell yourself as a great worker and how you have found success.

The Research (Third Paragraph)
Talk about reasons why you applied to this company and what drew your eye to it. This will show the reader that you did your research and understand the overall goals and expectations of the business.

The Finale (The Fourth Paragraph)
This is the deal closer. End it with a summary of what you bring to the table, and stress the point that you will be ready to work at a moment’s notice. The last part should be your availability and that you can be reached at any time to set up an interview.

The Goodbye (Closing)
Keep this simple and stay away from anything fancy. There’s no need to make it more complicated than a simple thank you. There are absolutely no post-scripts either!


Have you gotten the perfect cover letter down? Apply today at KMG Consultants on CareerBuilder!

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