Cover Letters

Knowing how to write effective cover letters can make or break your chances at landing a job ...

Cover letters have a great many uses in the business world, and knowing how to write an effective one can make or break your chances at landing a job, or capturing the right person’s attention. Without great cover letters, your resume or manuscript may end up in the trashcan. For job hunters, cover letters are a great way to get the attention of the person looking through resumes for potential employees. If your cover letter is well worded and catchy, your chances of landing an interview are much better. Poorly written cover letters, on the other hand, are bad news.

For writers, cover letters are often written to catch an editor’s attention. Most editors receive so many submissions they feel swamped, and won’t bother reading something presented with a poorly written cover letter. You need something that quickly catches the editor’s eye, and makes them want to learn more about your proposal or manuscript.

The problem with cover letters is that not everyone knows how to write an effective one. Some people are naturally great at writing catchy, well-worded cover letters, while others stare blankly at their computer screen with absolutely no idea how to start. Good cover letters have all the essential contact information so you can be reached, as well as a catchy first paragraph. The information should be short, sweet, and relevant. Many people don’t realize that their resume can look amazing, but a poorly put together cover letter makes them look unprofessional.

What can you do if you suck at writing cover letters? One option is to find some examples on line, or in a book, and use them as a model for your own. You can find examples of almost any type of cover letter online, and there are books you can buy to help you write better cover letters. If you feel totally helpless when it comes to writing cover letters, you can always find someone to write one for you. This might be free if you know someone who is good at it, or you can find someone to do it for you as a favor. There is often a fee involved, but it is well worth the cost if that cover letter helps you get an interview, or persuades an editor to have a look at your work.

Whether you write your own cover letters, or have someone write them for you, remember the most important thing. Always proofread a cover letter, and have someone else help you proofread it as well. The best-written cover letters are useless if they contain errors.

For more information about career opportunities and employment, visit our careers & employment help center, where you can get tips, tricks, guidance and more to help make your resume, cover letter and other job search documents the best they can be, or go to more articles about careers and employment.