A detailed look at seven step-by-step tips to help you write a cover letter that employers will read. #coverletter #coverletters #howtowriteacoverletter #coverlettertips

1. HOW TO WRITE A
COVER LETTER
EMPLOYERS WILL
READ:
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G R E A T R E S U M E S F A S T
A Step-by-Step Guide

2. DO I REALLY NEED TO
USE A COVER LETTER?
It’s a question I hear from people every day—and an
important one because a great cover letter can be the
determining factor in landing an interview.
However, I want to start by clarifying that the traditional cover
letter style as you most likely know it is outdated and useless.
Employers no longer want to invest the time reading the same
verbiage on 500 cover letters. In an effort to provide a
valuable answer to the two questions I put together this
article with step-by-step directions for how to write a cover
letter.
L E A R N M O R E

3. Here are the 7 simple strategies for
how to write a cover letter:
L E A R N M O R E

4. 1.REMOVE ANY
RESEMBLANCE TO A
TRADITIONAL COVER
LETTER’S OPENING LINE
• Get rid of “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”
• Technology is so advanced it’s just that easy to spend a couple of minutes
finding out the name of the person in charge of hiring for the position
you want.
• Jump on LinkedIn, do your research, and find the person’s name. Address
your cover letter to that person. If you receive a general email “Dear
Valued Member” or a direct mail piece “Dear Recipient at 12345 Main
Street” you know already they don’t know who you are and it’s spam.
• Impress the employer by taking the time to find their name.
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5. • First try an alternative opening. Use a question like:
• Are you looking for a deadline-driven executive resume writer
who writes interview-winning resumes within 3-5 business days
while offering exceptional personal service?
• I provide dedicated attention and personalized advice to job
seekers while maintaining a 5-star client satisfaction rating.
• I create high-quality, visually-engaging resumes that attract
employer attention and navigate through complicated applicant
tracking systems.
2. FOLLOW UP THEIR
NAME WITH AN OPENING
SENTENCE THAT DOESN’T
SOUND LIKE A REHEARSED
SPEECH
L E A R N M O R E

6. 3.DO YOUR BEST TO FIND
A COMMON CONNECTION
OR HOW YOU FIT INTO
THEIR CULTURE
While you’re doing your research to determine who you need to
address your cover letter to, you might as well start researching
the company’s culture, the department you’d work for, the
company’s mission, and more—to make sure it’s a good fit for
you. Make the connection on your cover letter between who
you are (your personal brand), the value you can offer the
company that no one else can, and how that fits into the
organization, culture, and the position you want.
L E A R N M O R E

7. 4. POINT OUT HOW YOU
PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO AN
IMPORTANT PROBLEM THE
COMPANY IS TRYING TO
SOLVE
What is the company’s biggest need or pain
point right now? Tie their problem into how
you are the solution. You can use three short
bullet points with provable results to do this.
As an executive resume writer, mine might
say:
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8. Double the interviews
Double the interviews
generated in 2 weeks or less.
Response rates
50% increase in resume
response rates.
Employed
In 2 months or less, 85% of my
clients are employed—crushing
the average job search time by
75%.
My clients enjoy results like these with their new resumes:
L E A R N M O R E

9. • The cover letter as you’re probably visualizing it in your head is
gone. Long-winded, life-storytelling, boring cover letters are
counterproductive.
• Keep it short. You need to aim for 150 words or fewer.
• Employers are short on time and attention—and the chances
are VERY high that they’re going to be reading those
introductory words on their mobile devices.
• Write an e-note that will show up on their phone or iPad screen
without them having to scroll to read it all.
• It can be a challenge to write concise, but start writing and then
go back and edit to cut non-essential information out—and
then repeat that exercise as many times as you need to until
you’ve cut it down to approximately 150 words.
5. Shorter is really
better
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10. When I write value proposition letters, e-notes, or cover letters for my
clients, I end with a compelling call to action. Mine might say:
Ready for results like these? Let’s chat!
Or:
want to learn more? visit my website
http://www.greatresumesfast.com
Or:
Interested? Let’s talk! Call me at 1.800.991.5187
Or:
I’ll give you a call next week to follow up.
Customize your call to action and if you tell them you’ll
call, be sure to follow up. Get them to take action—
whether that action is to call you, email, view your
LinkedIn profile, or visit your online blog or portfolio.
Ultimately, you want them to be compelled to contact
you.
6. Don’t
forget a
great call to
action
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11. • Remember to be real and genuine when you write your cover
letter.
• I promise you that employers have read enough canned,
regurgitated content to last them a lifetime.
• Be yourself, share why you’re passionate about the company,
interested in the position, what you can bring to the table and why
it should matter.
• They’ll appreciate your honesty and enthusiasm, not to mention
the fact that it’s sincere
7. Final advice to take
with you
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12. 1.800.991.5187
info@greatresumesfast.com
http://www.greatresumesfast.com
Impress employers with a professionally-written resume. I am
happy to answer any questions you have about our resume
writing services. We look forward to speaking with you!
CONTACT US
L E A R N M O R E

13. END SLIDE
I started Great Resumes Fast 10 years ago with the mission of using my
12+ years of human resources, recruiting, and hiring experience to
create interview-winning resumes for job seekers who really didn’t
know what a resume should look or “sound” like.
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