10 Tips to Make a Professional Cover Letter that Pulls Attention

How to write a cover letter that will pull attention and be effective in your job-hunt is the first question at hand while applying for a job. A cover letter attached to the resume, opens your introduction to the recruiter. Cover letters not only influence the reader’s attention but determines your chances to get an interview call. Check the list of below points that can add to the effectiveness of your cover letter and inspire the reader to once go through the resume:

• Use the header of your resume (with your name and contact information) as the header is the first thing that reader’s eyes fall on and then move down. This not only will make the letter look more formal, but it ties the two documents (cover letter and resume) together in a very professional manner.
• Research well in details about the company, its business-lines, history and the job-profile under consideration, brief your knowledge of the same in the letter.
• Market yourself, by showcasing your specific qualification(s)/experience or the exposure/skills that make you a perfect match for this job position.
• Use the job profile related key words amidst the content of your letter to show your knowledge of the job and your suitability to the job as well.
• Customize your skills and experience to match the requirements of the job you are applying for.
• Though this is a personalized communication where you are introducing yourself, but it is a highly professional purpose so be formal and professional. Avoid using abbreviations and contractions like (I’ll didn’t, it’s, etc)
• Avoid any sort of grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence structure mistakes, as such silly mistakes could reduce the efficacy of your letter and get you a bad impression.
• Do not forget to proofread your letter before sending it to the employer and preferably get it once scrutinized by a professional like a career advisor.
• Give your letter a formal look by using formal fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, etc. and use readable sizes ranging from 11-14. Use good quality paper that matches your resume paper and envelopes.
• When sending a hard copy of your letters don’t forget to sign your letter. Whereas while sending your cover letter through e-mail, you can copy and paste the letter into the body of the e-mail rather than attaching it as a separate document. You should also probably shorten the letter somewhat when sending it in an e-mail.