Writing a Good Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is an important skill for anyone building a career in almost any field.Â Whether you are sending out a resume or a contract bid, it is important to introduce the information in a businesslike way. There are several types of cover letter: a response to a request or ad, a networking referral, and a cold-call query are the most common. Regardless of the reason for sending it, every cover letter should contain certain elements:

Research the company. A quick phone call to the right department should provide the name of a real person.

Address a named individual if at all possible. A letter with a generic salutation seems to express a lack of motivation or efficiency.
Keep it brief. A cover letter should rarely be more than one page. Make a list of the points to be covered, then address them in one or two sentences each.
Grab the reader's attention right away. The first few sentences decide whether the reader will continue. Put the most important information in the first paragraph.
Maintain a positive attitude and keep your language clean and simple. Business people prefer to get to the point.
Double check your spelling and grammar. Always review what you've written before sending it out. Reading it aloud may help catch things your eyes missed.
Include a direct action request. Ask for an interview or meeting. Promise to follow up at a specific time, then do so. Keep control of the situation in your own hands.

Spell check is an unreliable friend. It doesn't always understand the difference between words such as read and reed or their and there. Use it as a tool, but ask a knowledgeable friend to scan for mistakes.

A cover letter is actually a sales pitch and you are the product. It introduces you to a potential employer or client. However, the best cover letter is an honest one. Don't promise something your abilities cannot produce. To be successful, you will have to follow up with action.

A cover letter is actually a sales pitch and you are the product