Cover Letter Quick Guide

Transcription

1 Cover Letter Quick Guide

2 Cover Letter Writing Cover Letters can play a critical role in a successful job search by highlighting your relevant knowledge, skills, abilities and professional experiences to demonstrate fit for a specific position, organization, or industry. A tailored cover letter should accompany resume submissions to employment applications. Even though some applications may not ask specifically for a cover letter, submitting a tailored letter enables a candidate to: Provide a personal introduction and concise statement of interest in the position Offer more in-depth information about experiences and/or skills that are related to the job responsibilities and/or requirements State follow-up from an application Provide a sample of written communication skills Differentiate oneself from other candidates Cover Letter Basics: A cover letter should be 1 page, easy to read (10-12 point font) and three to four paragraphs o Opening paragraph o Body paragraph(s) o Closing paragraph Copy and paste the header from the resume to the header of the cover letter to ensure contact information is provided Date the letter List the company name and address Whenever possible, address a cover letter to the hiring manager. If this contact person is unknown, use a general salutation. For example, Dear Hiring Team Ensure consistent formatting (font and font size) Check your spelling and grammar! PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD AND PROOFREAD! 2

3 WRITING THE COVER LETTER: The opening paragraph is a personal introduction and statement of interest in the position. Provide specific and meaningful reasons for submitting an application. Dear Mr. Doe, Please accept this cover letter and resume as application to the Customer Service Representative position posted on the company website. I believe that my combined academic background and 5 years of professional experiences in customer service roles makes me an ideal candidate for this position. The body paragraph(s) (the second and third paragraphs) presents an opportunity to highlight past experiences and/or education in relation to the position. Identify the competencies that the position requires and ensure examples are provided in this area of the cover letter that demonstrates alignment with the job description. Bullet points can also be used to emphasize skills and characteristics. At XYZ Company, I was the first point of contact for customers, account managers, and service technicians and to provide general information as needed. This role required that I be detailed-oriented, effective at multi-tasking and possess superior communication skills. I developed a process improvement system to assist in prioritizing and addressing customer requests, which led to an increase of sales orders and training of other customer service assistants, system-wide. In addition, I have an ability to quickly learn products and apply related knowledge to internal and external customers. My office experience includes basic to intermediate skill proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with data entry and maintenance of customer account information. At ABC Company, I was frequently asked to assist new account assistants with product information, processing incoming calls, and processing service technician calls. 3

4 The closing paragraph concludes your cover letter. Thank the reader for review of your application and indicate your interest in speaking further to discuss qualifications. The most common closing for the letter is Sincerely, followed by a signature and full name. I am very interested in pursuing the Customer Service Representative position at 123 Company and would be available for more detailed discussions of my background at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration of my application and I look forward to speaking with you in the near future. Sincerely, Nancy Smith Cover Letter Example NANCY SMITH 4

5 123 Example Street, Cleveland, OH November 28, Company 32 Some Street Cleveland, OH Dear Ms. Charles: I am writing to express my interest in the Customer Service Rep position with the 123 Company. I possess a Bachelor degree in customer service and one year of extensive experience in this field. My enthusiasm and commitment to a customer service career makes me a unique candidate who could become a central member of your team. Based on my understanding of the Customer Service Rep position and your organization, here are the highlights of my qualifications and background that seem most relevant to meet your needs: Highly skilled in listening and responding to customers needs and concerns Demonstrated ability to provide information regarding products and services In-depth knowledge of taking orders, determining charges, and overseeing billing or payments Track record of reviewing and making changes to customer accounts Proven record of handling returns or complaints Ability to record details of customer contacts and actions taken Comprehensive knowledge of researching answers and solutions Furthermore, I have a professional demeanor and good communication and negotiation skills. My enclosed resume provides complete details about my qualifications and capabilities. As an experienced Customer Service Rep, I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications and skills in detail. I will contact your office on Thursday to confirm the receipt of my application. I can also be reached at [contact #] or via at [ address]. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, (Signature) Nancy Smith 5