Specifics Count with Cover Letters

Writing a good cover letter—one that gets read rather than thrown away—means writing a letter that is full of specific information. Every cover letter should be tailored to the job you’re applying for—it’s not enough to write one generic letter and use it in all situations. Make your cover letters specific by focusing on the following points.

Recipient

Cover letters (especially unsolicited ones) are more likely to slip under the radar if they don’t address a specific recipient. Make the effort to call the company and find out the name of the hiring manager for the position. 

Position

Mention the position you’re applying for in the first paragraph of the letter. If you’re cold calling this is not easy—you’ll need to do some company research and find out what positions match your career interests. Under no circumstances should you list a number of positions or imply that you’ll consider anything—this gives the impression that you lack professional focus.

Skills and Qualifications

Identify the professional qualifications and skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for, and include only those in your cover letter. Don’t waste the employer’s time with irrelevant information.

Examples

Follow up your list of skills and qualifications with one or two specific examples of how you have used them to benefit the companies you have worked for.

Company

Employers are impressed by pro-active job hunters who take the time to research the company before the interview. Even more impressive is a person who demonstrates their knowledge of the company in a cover letter. Find out one or two specific details about the company that are relevant to your position and work them into the letter.

Advertisement

Mirroring is an often-used psychological technique in which you echo a person’s words back to them. Tailoring your cover letter to an advertisement by using words and phrases from the ad itself can be an effective way of showing that you have the required professional attributes.

Employer

Be specific in telling an employer how you can benefit the company. Do not focus on what the company can do for you—instead, explain how your combination of skills and attributes will meet the company’s needs.

Follow-up

Close the letter with a specific request or statement, and then follow up on it. For example, state that you will contact the employer to arrange an interview. Then do it!

Still Stuck? Try our Cover Letter Creator. 

Also, please review our Cover Letter section for free examples and tips.  If you need more help, please consider using a Career Counselor.