Qualities To Mention In A Cover Letter

We’ve rounded up some of our top tips on cover letters to lay it out for you in one easy-to-follow guide.Our infographic shares a structure for you to follow, the content you need to share, and some helpful tips on style and formatting.Nowadays, learning to write shorter, tighter cover letters can mean the difference between getting an interview — or ending up in the reject pile.

Last year, I attended a training from Career Thought Leaders Consortium on e-notes and modern cover letters that had some great tips.

We learned that, compared to a standard cover letter, e-notes have shorter 2-3 line paragraphs and a bulleted presentation style.

The first time I ever learned about the concept of a cover letter, I distinctly remember how it was explained to me: “It’s like your resume, but longer.” The reason that moment sticks out to me so much? Yes, your cover letter should include some of the key skills, traits, and experience highlighted in your resume.

But copying and pasting from there into your cover letter will most definitely turn recruiters off.

Odds are they’ve already read your resume — why would you make them waste their time reading the same thing over again?

Cover letters are your opportunity to not only show that you have the background and knowledge needed to do the job well, but that you’re also passionate, charismatic, and well-informed. With so much information to convey, where do you get started?This means that you may indent your paragraphs or not—but not indenting gives a bit more room.Leave wide margins (minimum 1 inch) and use a clean, simple font like Arial or Times New Roman.Other features—with examples—of an effective e-cover letter are: Include the job title and a branding statement here.In the first one or two sentences, concisely spell out the obvious reason why you are writing.I am hardworking and analytical and I like taking initiative.In the past year I have accomplished a lot: I've always believed in the quality of your jams and have enjoyed them since I was seven years old.Unless you’re submitting your résumé and cover letter on a job submission website, chances are the employer has asked that you email your application directly.In that case, you can either attach your cover letter as a PDF to the email as you would your résumé, or you can include your cover letter in the body of the email.(Don’t make a hiring manager guess which position you’re applying for if it is a listed position, or which one you’re interested in if it is an exploratory letter.) Start the letter off strong by giving a solid example or metric that illustrates how your past accomplishments will be an asset to the employer in the future.Remember, you only have a few seconds to capture the hiring manager’s attention!