The Cover Letter

When submitting a cover letter, remember that it is to compliment your resume, not to summarize your resume. You need not always forward a cover letter with your resume; this will largely be determined by whom you are forwarding your resume to. When submitting a resume to a recruiting agency, your cover letter becomes less important. As a rule, agencies will place emphasis on your most recent experience and skill-set. This information is best represented in your resume. One rule of thumb is to always include a cover letter with the resume that you are directly sending to a company or organization.

The cover letter will allow you to do three things: express interest in the position, pin-point job-related accomplishments and show knowledge of the company and/or position.

Here is a quick reference guide to completing your cover letter:

• Include a short introduction stating the position you are applying for and stress a few attributes that make you a suitable candidate (i.e. your experience in a specific industry or your experience with specialized languages, development tools, and/or programs)
• Highlight industry specific experience and knowledge. This information will allow the employer or recruiter to place you in a position that is most suitable to your experiences and qualifications
• Try not to summarize your resume; as it is, your resume is a summary of your work history. Your cover letter should highlight specific qualifications for the position being applied for
• Remember to always proofread your cover letter; a mistake could cost you an interview