Writing Techniques for Cover Letters
One of the first documents your future employer will see is the cover letter. This important document can create a bad first impression which must be avoided at all costs. A very good letter will help you get to the interview stage at least and hopefully help secure the job you are applying for. This good impression can be created by the use of a few simple techniques.
Before sending out a cover letter or resume, be sure to improve your business writing by making sure that your documents are formal and straightforward. The use of an online grammar checker or an English grammar checker as well as a spell-check can help make sure that the documents you are submitting sound professional and intelligent.
All cover letters that are printed on actual paper should be the standard 8 ½” x 11” resume paper in a neutral shade like beige or ivory. They should be typed on computer using a word processor such as MS Word or WordPerfect and then printed with a high-quality laser or ink jet printer.
Be sure that the printer produces clear documents and there are not ink splotches anywhere on the cover letter. Business writing is important when submitting a cover letter and resume, but the appearance of the document is sometimes equally important.
Use a basic font such as Arial, or Times New Roman. The cover letter is not supposed to look creative or cute but simple, clean, and professional. You do not want to distract your future employer from all the qualities you possess that would make you perfect for the job by providing an elaborate cover letter and resume. Always be sure to send each prospective employer a freshly printed copy and never hand out photocopies.
If you are sending cover letters or resumes over the Internet, it is still important to use proper Business English. Grammar rules are still very essential when submitting any business correspondence and all punctuation, sentence structures, and spelling should be correct. Keep the cover letter concise and to the point since many employers have many documents to go through during a hiring process.
Proofreading should be done before submitting or printing of any documents. Be sure to spell all contact names and addresses correctly and use a professional tone when writing a cover letter. Have a friend look over your resume or cover letter just in case you might have overlooked anything, and then print it on quality paper. Be sure to keep it crisp before handing it out since you need to stick out among many other applicants.
Bookmark this post
