Jen's guide to getting a cool job without freaking out - Part II: Unravelling the mystery of the covering letter

By Jen Lass

The Art of the Covering Letter
I won't lie - covering letters are tough to write. Finding the right voice in which to write about yourself may take some practice. The worst thing you can do is copy a covering letter from a book. Other common mistakes include using a thesaurus in an attempt to elevate the level of your language or adopting a tone that is too casual, as if you're writing to a friend.

The people you're writing to aren't your friends, but they aren't your enemies either. Just as employers don't want you to address them like a pal, they don't expect you to write like a prize-winning novelist. Be formal by addressing your potential boss as 'Ms. Smith' or 'Mr. Jones' (or whatever his or her last name happens to be), not 'Hey Bob!' or 'Dear Nancy' or 'Hi there!' (no exclamation marks please, no matter how excited you are about the job!!!!). If you have not been provided with a name, address the letter as, 'Dear Sir or Madam'.

Everything in its Place
Writing a covering letter is as easy as 'one, two, three' when you follow a basic structure. Keeping in mind that your letter should be less than one page long, use these tips to guide you:

Introduction - In the opening two, at the most, three sentences of your letter, you should introduce yourself. Tell them what grade or year of university you're in or if you're working, let them know where. Then, mention explicitly which job you're applying for and where you saw the job advertised or who referred you to the company.

Skill Summary - The next paragraph should briefly highlight your skills and relevant work experience. Be specific - everyone claims to be hardworking and smart. You have to prove it. Give an example of your abilities and how they were used on the job or at school. Talk only about qualities that are applicable to the job you're applying for. For example, don't go on about your 100 word-per-minute typing speed if you're applying for a landscaping job.

Prove You Want the Job - Letting employers know why you want the job is as important as telling them why they should want you. Sometimes you just want to work and you don't care what the position is, but if there's a particular reason why this job appeals to you or why you are especially qualified for this kind of work, now is the time to mention it. If there really isn't a reason, don't make one up. This section of the letter should also include contact information in case your covering letter is separated from your résumé.

Don't Re-Invent the Wheel - As I mentioned before, copying a covering letter straight out of a book is a bad idea. It will be obvious to employers that your letter is generic, and they'll think that you don't really care about the job. These textbook covering letters also tend to be vague because they don't include your specific work experience. However, it's okay to look at examples to get ideas about how you want to talk about your accomplishments. Also, talk to any friends who have had success getting job interviews. Look at their covering letters and maybe you'll notice something that has been lacking in yours. Use the resources around you, but don't copy from them word for word.

You're almost there - the final key to job application success is perfecting your résumé. The last article in this self promotion series will explore strategies for writing a résumé that really stands out - Part III: Résumé Revolution. Click here if you missed last week's Promotional Perfection.