Like in any good piece of writing, the opening few lines must captivate the reader. Give some background on your excitement about the possibility of working for this company in that capacity.
One huge mistake many job applicants make with cover letters is sending something generic that could apply to any company. Instead, learn a good deal about the company and the position and integrate this information into the cover letter.
It's crucial to capture the reader's interest. But you should also be mindful not to bore them to death in your cover letter by going on and on. Try to stay brief.
Do a little research to find out the name of the employee who actually reads the resumes and cover letters. With this information, address them specifically.
You need to be assertive in your cover letter. State the things you have accomplished with authority. There’s no reason to be humble. Most employers want candidates that can take charge and make things happen.
Some cover letters only list standardized qualifications. The reader might not give things much thought if they aren't supported by data.
Another common mistake many job applicants make is simply recycling information from their resume into an essay.
One of the ways recruiters weed through piles of resumes and cover letters is by throwing out the ones that include spelling and grammar errors.
Don’t be afraid to state everything you’ve accomplished and all of your positive traits. However, don’t go overboard. You need to remember that you may be quizzed on some of these things later in an interview.
Lastly, you should add your own signature to the end of your cover letter in black ink. While this may not mean much in regards to proving you’re a good candidate, it adds a nice personal touch.