Tips and Tricks to Writing a Successful Cover Letter

You've found the perfect position, something that really interests you. How do you get the employer interested in you? Simple. Introduce yourself through your Cover Letter.

Cover letters are designed to do one thing: summarize why you're the person for the job. To do that effectively, there are several steps that you should follow. The most important of these is to keep your cover letter SHORT, SIMPLE and SPECIFIC.

• Ideally, you should tailor your cover letter to the position you're applying for – highlighting the skills, experience and knowledge that you would bring both to the position and to the organization (do your homework, find out what the company does and what makes them different). Include the job title and reference number if possible.
• Address your letter to a specific person. If the ad doesn't list a contact name, call the company or do some research to find out who is in charge of hiring for that position. If you are unable to find a name, address your letter to "Dear Sir/Madam" rather than "To Whom it May Concern."
• Get to the point. If your cover letter is more than one page long, do some editing. Employers often use cover letters as a way to evaluate your ability to present your ideas in a concise, logical manner.
• Present your abilities in a positive light, but be careful about bragging. "I know I'm the perfect person for this job" is not going to convince anyone to hire you. Detail any projects, classes or volunteer work that are relevant to the position.
• Always check your grammar, punctuation and spelling – especially for names and titles. Attention to detail is one of the qualities that all employers look for.
• Request an interview with the company, indicating your availability and best method of contact.