5 Must Haves for an Effective Cover Letter

5 Must Haves for an Effective Cover LetterWe know how it goes. You can format and revise your resume all day long, but when it comes to writing an effective deckblatt letter, you sit there looking at a blank Word document and wondering where to start. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) When you break down the anatomy of a great cover letter, its really just an extension of your resume that gets specific about why youre interested in the position and what makes you qualified to fill it.The team atResumeSpice, a resume writing and career coaching service developed by recruiters, has put together a list of five things to keep in mind when putting together a great cover letter.1. Appropriate length, formatting, and fontsJust like your resume, you dont want to over stylize your cover letter or go crazy with the fonts. spielblttchen a professional font thats easy-to-read and keep everything left-aligned.Your cover letter is not a manifesto. Its a brief introduction that can give a better sense of who you are. We recommend that its no longer than a page stick to 3-4 paragraphs.2. An appropriate addresseeA cover letter is meant to draw the hiring manager or recruiter in, so beginning your letter with To Whom It May Concern, puts distance between you and the reader.You can ask your recruiter for the hiring managers anthroponym or if you dont have a recruiter, do a little research on LinkedIn. And if that doesnt work, call into the company and ask who is hiring for that role. But dont give your name most hiring managers frown upon candidates calling in, so make sure your call stays under the radar.3. EnthusiasmYou applied to the position for a reason. Look at the job description and pick out what excited you about it. If you felt like you were a perfect match, say it You might write something like, As a communications professional with over eight years of experience in PR, the PR Advisor role felt like it was written just fo r me.4. A NarrativeThis is the meat of your cover letter. This is where youll write about why youre interested in the position, what makes you a great fit, and what you can specifically bring to the table. For this piece, its helpful to again look back at the job description and pick 2-3 items that you have strong experience in.If youre applying for a communications job, part of your narrative may read like this My ability to communicate with every stakeholder, as well as my extensive experience with PR crisis management make me a strong candidate for the Communications Director role.5. Focuses on the employees needsWe cant stress this enough your cover letter is not really about you. Sure, its about your skills, accomplishments, and experience that make you a great fit, but its really about how all of that will benefit the employer. To that end, stay away from anything that mentions your own personal gain should you work there. For example, youll want to nix anything in your cover letter that sounds like Ive always wanted to work in a management role, so this opportunity is a perfect way to achieve my goals.Putting together a strong cover letter can be a difficult task if youve never written one before. Make sure you keep your cover letter relevant to the job and the employer, but dont be afraid to be yourself and show your excitement about the company or the position. Happy writingAbout ResumeSpiceResumeSpice is an online career services company, offering a comprehensive menu of career services to help job seekers land the job of their dreams. From resume writing to cover letter, interviewing, LinkedIn, and career coaching services, job seekers are able to select from a suite of options that meet their needs. ResumeSpice was developed by recruiters based on first-hand knowledge of what recruiters, hiring managers, and HR professionals are really looking for in a successful candidate. For mora information, visitwww.resumespice.com.