So are you a fresh graduate looking for your first internship? You are probably amused and excited about submitting your resume to companies with job openings. Before you do that, make sure that you are competitive enough against a large number of applicants. A way on how to stand out from the rest is through a good cover letter.
The purpose of cover letters is now forgotten, making it a useless piece of paper. The correct format is also disregarded and letters are created in an unprofessional manner. The main objective for writing a cover letter is to give your potential employers a brief description about you and what you can do for the company. Therefore make it good so that your impression will be good as well.
In order to market your self appropriately, writing a cover letter is essential. The letter itself is a marketing strategy for you because you are selling your self to the interviewers. Your letter should describe your self and why you’re fit for the position. Make sure that you write it in the correct format and you’ll surely find your way to your interview.
Begin with a draft that will serve as the backbone of your letter. Write all your acquired skills and talents that will be useful for you to accomplish your work. It is better to make your draft as early as possible so that you will also have a lot of time to review and edit it.
It is recommended to make your letter as short as possible. Truthfully speaking, a letter that exceeds one page is not recommended. HR managers would often prefer a letter that is short and detailed than a long and pointless one. With the large number of applicants, HR managers don’t have the luxury of time to read all long cover letters and conduct interview one-by-one.
Remove unnecessary entries in your draft. Be sure to leave the important details such as your traits, skills, and abilities. You can also include your educational background especially if it is related to the job you are applying for.
It is advisable to include a request for interview to show that you are determined to get the position. However, do it in a courteous way and show your professionalism. Revising your letter every now and then is also helpful because in case you missed out some errors, you will be able to correct it at once.
Pay attention to your grammar and punctuation. You will definitely make a bad impression if you have grammar lapses. Instead of making your way to the interview, your letter and resume will probably make its way to the shredder.
