Cover letters

Best advice is to keep your cover letters short. Busy employers do not have time to read long-winded blither. Hence, keep it to three or four short sentences. If you need a formula to get started, consider the following:

Dear (insert individual's name or job title):


a) In one sentence, tell employer why you've contacted them. b) Request what it is you want, or would like them to do (i.e. review the attached résumé). c) Close by requesting to schedule an interview.


Sincerely,


Your Name

Say too much, you risk sending the signal that you are a time waster.  Shakespeare put it best, "Brevity is the sole of wit." Try keeping that sage motto in mind.

If possible, avoid using first-person pronouns (I, me, my and myself). Focus on you and your. It is okay to replace one of the yours with the employer's name.

Finally, to the extent possible--customize! Never used dribble such as: To Whom It May Concern, or Dear Sir/Madam. When a contact name is provided, use it. If they failed to provide a contact name, look one up online. Even if you do not reach the right individual, it signals them that you made an effort. When you don't you that, you label yourself as one of the super-lazies.