Writing Effective Cover Letters
W. Christopher Horst
Human Resources Specialist, HOPE International
Revised March 2009
One minute is often all an employer will spend looking through a job candidate’s application. One minute. It is in that one minute which you, as an applicant, need to clearly communicate your intentions with the potential employer. It is helpful to think about the cover letter’s role in regards to the resume. A simple example, which portrays this relationship, is that of a page in a coloring book. The black-and-white line drawing which appears on the page is representative of the resume. It provides the structure and framework. The cover letter, then, is the color. It paints the picture of who you are—highlighting your strengths, past notable achievements, and your goals.
There are two key questions which every cover letter should answer and several principles which will help to answer those questions most effectively. When writing your cover letter, keep these two questions in mind throughout the process:
- Why are you interested in the position?
- Why should the organization be interested in you?
It's important not to recreate your resume in written-form. No employer wants to read through a cover letter and feel like he or she is reading a summary of your resume. That is a waste of his or her time. To answer these two questions and achieve the discussed objectives, the following principles should guide you:
· Ensure it is concise. Keep the letter to one page if at all possible.
· Internet cover letter templates are mechanical and easy to spot. You can borrow phrases and ideas, but limit your usage of these templates as much as possible.
· Use sharp formatting. Formatting is like non-verbal communication. The content can be great, but if the format looks sloppy, that great content will be quickly overlooked.
· Confidence is important and appreciated, but arrogance is always detrimental. Avoid lines such as “I’ll be contacting you to line up an interview” or “My qualifications make me a perfect candidate for this position.” Allow the employer to make these decisions.
· Download a PDF converter online and convert your resume and cover letter into that format. PDF’s are easier to read, open faster than Word documents, and look professional.
· Demonstrate your commitment to the position and organization by including (when appropriate) details about the organization’s current news, mission statement and/or other relevant information.
· If you have a personal connection to the organization, state such clearly. There is no better stepping stone to a job than a personal connection. This can immediately vault you ahead of other candidates.
Writing cover letters is not rocket science, but it is important to not enter the process flippantly either. Below is an example of a cover letter which exemplifies the principles discussed above:
Dear ___________,
I recently learned of the Director of Finance and Administration opportunity at HOPE International (HOPE) through Mr. Bob Smith, an accounting professor at Ivy Tech College. Following this conversation, I reviewed your website and spoke with Mr. John Smith, which gave me a greater understanding of HOPE’s mission and the responsibilities of the Director of Finance and Administration. As both a believer in Christ and a Certified Public Accountant, I am thrilled about the possibility of becoming a part of HOPE’s mission and using my technical and managerial abilities to further that mission.
Through my four years of experience at Wells-McGee, an international accounting firm, I have gained extensive experience auditing financial statements for non-profit organizations. As a result, I have become skilled at assisting clients in documenting and enhancing control structures and streamlining policies and procedures to be compliant with generally accepted accounting principles. Furthermore, I routinely assist with the creation of financial statements, including the Statements of Financial Position, Statements of Activities (functional presentation), Statements of Cash Flows and Notes to the Financial Statements. In addition, I have experience conducting budget-to-actual analyses and have become very proficient with Excel. Overall, I believe that my technical abilities match the requirements for the Director of Finance and Administration very well.
While at Wells-McGee, I have also gained valuable management and leadership skills. I have had significant experience in planning overlapping projects, managing the day to day operations of these projects and ensuring that they are completed in a timely fashion. By the very nature of my work as an auditor, I have had extensive experience collaborating with many different types of individuals on a range of diverse projects. My work as a supervisor has given me experience in providing on the job training as well as completing formal performance evaluations. In 2006, I was nominated for the “Living the Wells-McGee Way” award, which is given annually to an individual who exhibits outstanding skill in team building, mentoring and coaching.
I am excited about the opportunity to use my technical and managerial abilities to further the mission of HOPE International, as this is a ministry that I would like very much to join. With my experience, I believe that I would be a great fit for both the Director of Finance and Administration position and for HOPE International as an organization. I would very much like an opportunity to further discuss the position in an interview. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 717-421-7431. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
David Jones
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