Should You Still Use a Cover Letter?

This question has been the subject of a great debate in recent years, and many times I hear clients ask, “Does anyone really read a cover letter anymore?”  The answer is YES—if you know how to use it!  While some hiring managers and recruiters will scan a cover letter for important bits of information, there is a surefire way to ensure your cover letter is read.  But before I tell you how to make sure your cover letter gets read I want to make sure you have a great cover letter.  Here are three points to remember when writing your cover letter:

-Be concise: Don’t get long winded; no one wants to read your entire life story.

-Be relevant: Don’t discuss information that is not related to the position.

-Be attention-getting: Use bullet points in the middle of the resume to relay hard-hitting facts and accomplishments.  Bullets will draw the eye—and for the reader who is scanning, they’ll pick this up.

After you ensure your cover letter is concise, relevant, and attention-getting, it’s time to make sure it gets read!  Anytime you have the opportunity to apply for a position via e-mail, instead of attaching your cover letter to the e-mail copy paste it into the body of the e-mail.  Your e-mail will be read nine times out of 10 by whoever is opening the e-mail.  This is why it’s very important to keep the cover letter short.  No one wants to read a novel.  Use the time you’ve been given to communicate clearly and concisely.  Anytime you can forward your resume to someone via e-mail, make sure you insert the cover letter into the body of the e-mail to ensure it gets read.

Need more advice on how to write a great cover letter?  Check out our article: How Not to Start Your Cover Letter.  And for more great career and resume related advice, visit us on Twitter @GreatResume.