How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job Interview
- 1). It is always essential to be specific about your purpose for contacting the potential employer. The company may be looking to fill numerous positions, so you cannot assume it knows which job you are seeking. In your cover letter, specify the job you are applying for and mention where you heard about the opening. If you know anything about the company or the particular position, mention that as well.
- 2). Individualize each letter. It takes more time to individualize your cover letters, but when you do so, you increase your chances of being seen as a serious candidate for the particular job and not just someone who is hoping to land anything. The potential employer wants to know that you are genuinely interested in working for his company. Any specific things you can mention about the company and the position will let him know that you are not just sending him one of a hundred boilerplate letters.
- 3). Highlight items on your resume. The experts on career services at Virginia Tech point out that the cover letter provides an opportunity to emphasize items on your resume that are particularly relevant to the job. You should also call attention to resume details you want to get noticed. If you have received numerous awards that are listed on your resume, you might highlight the most important or prestigious one in your cover letter.
- 4). Go beyond the resume. The cover letter provides you with the opportunity to mention personal qualities or skills that might not readily fit on the resume but are relevant for the job you are seeking. If you are known as highly meticulous and that's relevant to the job, mention it. If you have interests or hobbies that are directly relevant to the job, mention them. Someone who has been highly involved in computers and gaming recreationally may want to mention that involvement when applying for a computer-related job, for example.
