How to Write a Cover Letter for Employment
The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce and to sell yourself; it's a kind of a cross between a handshake and a commercial. A potential employer typically scans your cover letter before diving into your resume, so you want to make a good impression with it.
Call and ask for the name of the person you should address the cover letter to because that is always preferable to beginning with “To whom it may concern.” Start your letter by mentioning the job you are applying for. If you have an “in,” such as knowing someone already at the company, you could say something like, “Jane Smith, my neighbor, works for you and thought I'd be excellent for this position.”
Next, tell why you would be excellent, but don't just regurgitate what is already on your resume. Highlight something, such as an award, and tell a little about it, for example. You want this letter to be interesting, while pointing out your skills, too.
Throughout your letter, avoid empty phrases, such as “I would like to tell you a little about myself.” Also, get right to the point by using clear sentences written in active voice. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job, write that you increased sales by 50 percent instead of writing that sales were increased by 50 percent. End the cover letter by thanking the person for considering you, and then state that you are going to call next week. Give your contact information as well. Your letter should not be longer than one page.