31/5/2017

WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?

Submitted with your resume

C OV E R Highlights your interest in applying for the job.

The cover letter has three purposes:
LETTER Introducing the resume
Highlighting ways your strengths will benefit
the reader
Obtaining an interview

E N G 2 0 1 3 C O M M U N I C AT I O N S K I L L S ( S U B S )

WHAT IS A COVER LETTER? TYPES OF COVER LETTER

Your cover letter is a SALES letter. It sells your talent Solicited
and strives to beat competition! The job is advertised. You refer to the advertisement in your
cover letter.

Unsolicited
The job is not advertised. You apply because you interested to
join the company.
You write in to enquire about job openings.

CONTENT OF A COVER LETTER

Many companies prefer short letters not more than four
paragraphs.
A cover letter should have three primary parts:
An opening that gets attention
A body that builds interest and reduces resistance
A closing that motivates action

Formal Letter Format Email Format

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COVER LETTER - OPENING COVER LETTER - OPENING

Mr. Hugh
Use the receivers name rather than a title. Jackman instead
Gain the readers attention.
Whenever possible, address the proper individual by of Personnel
name. Manager Use one of these techniques:
(a) tell how your qualifications fit the job specifications
Identify your information source, if appropriate. (b) show knowledge of the readers business
In responding to an advertisement, specify the (c) describe how your special talents will be assets to the company
position advertised, the date and publication name.
If someone referred you, name that person.
Express your interest.

COVER LETTER - BODY COVER LETTER - BODY

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Describe what you can do for the reader.
Demonstrate how your background and training fill the job requirements.
Your resume emphasizes what you have done; your cover letter
Highlight your strengths. stresses what you can do for your employer.
Summarize your principal assets in terms of education, experience, and
special skills. Avoid repeating specific data from your rsum.

Refer to your rsum.

In this section or the closing, direct the reader to the attached rsum. Do
so directly or as part of another statement.

COVER LETTER - BODY COVER LETTER - CLOSING

Human resources professionals say: Ask for an interview.
I want you to tell me what you can do for my organization. This is Consider hooking the request to a statement
much more important to me than telling me what courses you took in reviewing your strongest points.
college or what duties you performed on your previous jobs.
Make it easy to respond.
Instead of saying: I have completed courses in business
communication and report writing. Tell when and where you can be reached (during
office hours).
Say: Courses in business communication and report writing have Provide information like your telephone number/
helped me developed the research and writing skills required of email address.
your technical writers. Some recruiters prefer that you call them.

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LANGUAGE, TONE & OVERALL VIEW AVOID I DOMINANCE

In cooking, basic ingredients form the start of a good dish. But the
way you combine the ingredients also affects the outcome.
The same is true for your cover letter. Careful choice of words,
tone and aesthetics are essential to creating a pleasing product.
Reduce the number of sentences beginning with I.
Place I in the middle of sentences instead of dominating
the opening.
Instead of saying:
I was the top salesperson in my department.
Say:
While working in X department, I did Y and Z and among
15 co-workers, I received top ratings from my managers.

AVOID I DOMINANCE AVOID I DOMINANCE

Rather than saying:
Make activities and outcomes, not yourself as
the subjects of the sentences. I enjoyed helping customers
Rather than saying: Say:
I took classes in business communication and Helping customers taught me to be patient under stress.
computer applications.
Say:
Classes in business communication and computer
applications prepared me to

REFERENCE
Guffey, M.E. & Du-Babcock, B., 2010. Essentials of Business Communication.
2nd edition. Singapore: Cengage Learning.