4 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover Letter

4 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover Letter4 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover LetterAn extraordinary titelblatt letter can be your ticket to catching a hiring managers eye. But what does a standout cover letter look like? To find out, we posed this question to career professionals, and they had plenty to sayHere are four expert tips for composing a memorable cover letter1. Engage from the get-go.Rather than starting your cover letter with the typical and boring, I am very interested in your blah blah job. Please see my attached resume for your consideration, try using a unique and attention-grabbing opening sentence, suggests Donna Shannon of Personal Touch Career Services.As an example, Shannon offers the following (for a prospective accountant)In this flooded job market, finding a good accountant can be as easy as picking out a new shirt at the mall. However, finding that perfect candidate with a balance of technical skills and an understanding of your industry can be more challeng ing. With over five years of experience, I am sure that I can meet your needs.2. Give insight into who you are.Show your humanness says Denise Dudley, author of Work ItGet In, Get Noticed, Get Promoted. The best thingabout a cover letter is that it isnt a list of accomplishments, or a seriesofsummary statements, like your resume. Itsconversational.And this conversational format allows you to talkabout yourself in a way thatcan really grab the attention of hiring managers- and make them want to meetyou in person.To help employers see you as an individual rather than as a generic candidate, Dudley suggests presenting a personal narrative.Talk about your love of working with children. Or your ability toorganize diverse groups of people. Or howmuch you enjoy the challenges ofzwischenstaatlich commerce. Or how youre at your best when youre presentedwithan impossible project. Showcase your warmth, eagerness, and genuineness- coupledwith your professionalism and competence, ofcourse.3. Off er proof of your fit.A resume already contains a wealth of information on base skill sets, but if a cover letter can tie the measurable results achieved in a candidates past work with the skills expected in the job theyre applying for, this can make all the difference, says Melina Gillies, HR specialist at SalesUp Business Coaching. Showing metrics lets hiring managers know that you pay attention to detail and are able to tie your own results to the big picture of an organization, as well as being able to deliver on what the job advertisement indicates are critical skills to possess.Obviously, measurements differ by industry, but Gillies presents the following as an exampleIf productivity goals and tight timelines are leided as important to the role, dont just reiterate that youre great at meeting deadlines let me know you were able to increase productivity by 34% while reducing costs by 10% and provide a short sentence on how you did that.4. Dont write a novel.Lets get right to the point of this last suggestion.Keep thecoverlettershort(a maximum of one page if at all possible), says Timothy Wiedman, retired associate professor of management and human resources at Doane University.Screeners could easily have dozens upon dozens of application packages to deal with, so a multi-pagecoverletterdensely packed with prose will not likely be appreciated- and may not be read in its entiretyWhile succinctness may be challenging given all you wish to convey, think of it as a way to show the hiring manager another of your talents- the ability to communicate effectively