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How to Make Your Cover Letter a Perfect Fit for Any Opening

Posted By: Jessica Holbrook In: Job Seeker - Cover Letters

Let’s face it, a blanket cover letter just isn’t going to cut it these days. So how can you make the best use of your time while maximizing your results? Here are a few simple steps to customizing your cover letters.

A MEMORABLE OPENER

Here’s a mistake I see more and more job seekers making: the opening line on their cover letter reads, “Please accept this in response to the (position) advertised on month day, year …” What’s wrong with this kind of opening line? Everyone uses it. The point of your job search is to stand out from the crowd—not get lost in the midst of it. Instead, try using something similar to your branding statement. You can easily tweak your branding statement to be a customized opening line.

For example: With more than 10 years of profit-driven project management expertise …

What’s different about this opening line? I’m already addressing the company’s need for a bottom-line-driven project manager; sharing my years of experience; and hitting the job title on the dot. That’s three big points you’ve scored in the first line alone.

FACTS THAT SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS

After you’ve written your opening lines (which express your interest in the position and introduce you to the prospective employer) immediately jump into how you can meet the organization’s needs based on the requirements the company posted in its online ad or job description.

“I see you are interested in hiring someone with strategic-change management experience.” (Or whatever the key requirement of the position is—highlight it here). Then tell—or even better, SHOW—the reader why you have that experience: “In my present role with ABC Distributors, I did XYZ, which resulted in JKL.” Showing the potential employer—right off the bat—that you possess a desired attribute or requirement for the position will prompt the hiring manager to invest more time in reading your resume. If your cover letter states—in so many words—“I am the perfect match for your opening, and I can meet/exceed your needs …” then you immediately get my attention, and I’m more likely to invest time in reviewing your resume.

Here’s a tip: do not use bullet points or material word-for-word from your resume; provide the hiring manager with fresh information on your cover letter.

DETAILS ARE IMPORTANT

Here are a few small details to remember when crafting a cover letter to fit a specific opening:

-Make sure that your cover letter heading matches your resume’s.
-Include your branding statement with your header at the top of your cover letter. It enforces your brand and provides a polished touch.
-Include a quote from a former employer if relevant and hard-hitting. This is a great way to “sell” what you’re capable of accomplishing for an organization. If the prospective employer has a specific requirement in its job ad—and you’ve already done that somewhere else and have a great recommendation or quote from a previous supervisor to back it up—WOW!! There really isn’t any better sales/marketing material than that. Not much can beat a quote about your results.

CLOSE WITH CONTACT

Always offer at the close of your letter to follow up with the employer/hiring manager via phone, e-mail, snail mail, whatever … within a specific time frame (be it one week or two or whenever). Also, be sure to include your contact information so they can reach out to you. Keep the closing professional, polished, and concise. You don’t want to appear desperate or unprofessional.
 
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Comments
Posted by: Roger Z.
I like your suggestion for an opening line. I have tried over 8 different cover letter formats. Being unemployed now for a year I have talked to hundreds of recruiters and hiring managers, there is no continuity as to the process used to hire a candidate. I have asked each one their preferred resume and cover letter format and the answers are all over the place. It comes down to who reads your resume, their overall attitude about people and the list goes on. I have been told by several hiring managers and recruiters if your unemployed you will not be hired. I asked why and the response was unemployed people make bad employees. So basically it's the luck of the draw. Good Luck everyone!
Posted by: Prudy
Sounds great to me.
Posted by: Christiana
Your answer was just what I needed. It made my day!
Posted by: dot.doc
Jim Long- We must be the same generation. Jargon and branding and follow up statements do not make any difference!  I agree with no Bullet points!My profession has no rules today, sadly. Are you HR reps not versed in finding a 'qualified' person with good "potential"?
Posted by: Forbes D.
GREAT ADVICE! I have been in my career field for many years and never read advice as good as yours about the opening line of my cover letter. Thanks a million!
Posted by: Anita K.
Thank you, this article was helpful to me. From this article I can see that my cover letter has been boring and probably one of those that hit the trash after the first couple of lines. This article has given me a new insight. Again, thank you.
Posted by: Barbara M.
There is no information on how to write a cover letter for a job fair. Do you know where I can get this type of information?
Posted by: Tiny P.
This was very informative, so helpful in so many ways. I had no idea that your cover letter had to really stand out just as much as a resume.
Posted by: Stephen Waters
A great article and well presented! This is the very first time that I have replied to anything like this - so congrats!Thank you for prompting me in so many ways and I am so glad that I re-visited your article! I will certainly take note and tailor make my cv and cover letter.
My kindest regards and many thanks. Steve Waters
Posted by: Dot
As a job seeker, I like to read different articles on how to improve my job search, resume updates, interviewing skills and so on.  This article on cover letters "hit me on the head!" I have been writing my cover letter like the one mentioned for as long as I remember.  Now I get it and I have this website to thank for it. So thank you for the advice.
Posted by: Joy P.
Hi, I find this site informative. But I am still looking for something more...Thank You! & more power!
Posted by: Gavin P.
this has been a very helpfull article
Posted by: Flora Busby
Thanks for the examples of a good cover letter.  I will use the examples in my more than two years of desperate search for employment.
Posted by: Hernan Cortes
This is helpful
Posted by: scott d.
I really learned a lot of great and insightful hints into making my cover letter way more effective for hiring managers and to effectivly grab their attention.  I'd like to know a little more about how the format is supposed to look.  Any assistance with this?? Thanks and good article.
Posted by: Patrick Marsiglia
Thank you for the information provided and the specific target of interest.  It is very helpful and appreciated.
Posted by: Abdul B.
GOOD INFORMATION PROVIDED AND GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
Posted by: Kevin M.
Excellant cover letter information ! This has been my weakest link in landing my perfect job. Thank you
Posted by: Md. Liton K.
Professional which I expected. Would you please give me a sample cover letter positioning Production/Maintenance Engineer for a Multinational company?
Posted by: Ruben Abraham
Excellent article.  I like the tips offered and I will work on updating my cover letter format immediately.
Posted by: Jim Long
You use marketeering jargon, which obfuscates communication.What is "your cover letter heading"?  The file name?  The "From" address??  My "resume heading" (if I understand that term, which has not been defined here) is my name and contact information.  Is THAT what you meant to say??  In business communication, that would be "standard", hardly worth a WWWeb Log posting.Further:  What did you mean by "your branding statement" and "enforces your brand"??  I am not selling soap (i.e. "brands"); I am attempting to build a profitable Service relationship with an established business.  How, in the world of IT service, is "branding" a "polished touch"?  Maybe if you'd take the time to define Jargon Words for us...?Overall, though, looking only at the headings as any good ADD kid should, I concur with your main points:  Be Memorable.  Give only Relevant Facts and Details.  Make it easy to Contact you.  Follow up with personal contact.  Don't appear desperate.PS: I have a pile of glowing reference letters from previous employers!  If you really think they are worth sending, you are not in the same field as I am.  So far (in several decades) not one single interviewer has said "I was reading the letter you got from XXXX and..." or any such indication.
Posted by: Samuel Mepaiyeda
It is quite interesting and an eye opener.  I will give it a try in the future.
Posted by: Rebecca Ramirez
These simple tips are very helpful to me. I will use the tip of quoting one of my previous employers and revise the last paragraph of my cover letter to include close with contact. I do start my cover letter with a statement that tells the employer why I qualify for the position.
Posted by: Efrain Vargas-Hernandez
Excellent tip and I definetly will be using it, thanks very much
Posted by: Kathryn A.
Very informative. Thanks for the tips!
Posted by: Aphrodite Mirisis
Following up is always a good thing; however, nowadays, with applications online, very often we do not have a name or number to contact for that important followup.
Posted by: Dinah S.
I really like your idea of something different! It really makes sense. I will give that a try.
Posted by: Jonathan Smith
I think this information will be helpful thanks
Posted by: C Johnson
This article was very helpful
Posted by: Stephen Coutts
Thanks for the advice updates
Posted by: William S.
As a Hiring manager for 25 years I feel the cover letter is a waist of time. I don't even bother to read it and as far as the resume is concerned, two pages max.If you can't say it in two pages I'm not interested. Bill
Posted by: Janiece Bernardini
Do any of the folks writing for you actually answer any of the ads out there.  1) most of the cover letters are now in email format - rarely is snail mail used - so how do I put a brand on an email?  2) rarely is a name given for a contact so how do I promise to contact/follow up w/ someone when no specific name is given?  3) how do I sell my results when I've not worked in result-driven jobs (i.e. receptionist, admin assitant - there is no bottom line to directly influence.
Posted by: Dennis Moy
The article gives insight on how to write a coverletter for someone who currently has a job. I am currently out of a job for 2 years. How do I write a cover letter to fit the unemployment gap?  Thanks
Posted by: Adam Peltz
Great info. Stepping outside the box these days is imperative in the job search. I will be sure to use your advice!
Posted by: elizabeth h.
I found this informative and I will incorporate these ideas and try to polish up my letter. Thank you for the advice, I will pass it on.
Posted by: Patria
This information is great! I learned from it and I am sure others will too.
Posted by: Leslie D.
Thank you so much for this information!!!  I am immediately implementing your tips and I am sure to get better resume/cover letter responses.
Posted by: Christina J.
This article has been very helpful. I appreciate the suggestions and plan on using some of the advice to streamline my cover letter a little more.
Posted by: Donald Orner
Your points make a lot of sense.  I will have to review my coverletter to ensure it meets the standard.
Posted by: Antonina Bering
This information is thought-provoking. Great!
Posted by: Gina Grubbs
I have a question for you. I graduated last May 2010 and have been unsucessful at finding a job due to lack of experience. How do you get someone to notice or hire you with no experience?
Posted by: Mr Mike
Those were really good solid points. In fact I'm going to incorporate those ideas in my cover letter.
Posted by: Michele Maietta
Thank you very much for the very informative ideas for a well polished and eye opening cover letter. Times being what they are, you do need to stand out from thee crowd. Since I can not afford a professional resume service now, I greatly appreciate the helpful hints and expertise that are free. I will use the wonderful suggestions to creat a more professional cover letter. I really am very grateful! Please keep sending more...
Posted by: Dennis Callahan
I have been told that promising to follow up your resume by telling them you will be calling, emailing or whatever is like threatening them. It is better to invite them to contact you. If they really want to they will.
Posted by: Asad
Your article was good but in the current scenario everything is changing fast. Some recruiters don't have enough time to read the resume/CV and they will decide upon the opening sentence thus losing valuable applicants. Some recruiters these days will not even bother after the interview to inform the incumbent of his/her fate. Strange attitudes seem to govern.
Posted by: Timothy Marion
Good info. I will be sure to implement these tips.
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