Having the Best Cover letter

Cover letters tend to be a nightmare for most job applicants. The first thing potential employers read is the cover letter. They then for a perspective of you even before your speak to them. Dorcas Karuana
has taken it upon herself to assist job seekers in drafting the best cover letter in the article below.

The objective of the cover letter is to justify and explain how the skills listed in your CV correlate to the job posting’s criteria. A successful letter ought to give the reasons regarding the interest in a certain company or organization and also in the position applied for. It should wet the eyes of the reader to proceed reading your CV and invite you for the interview.

Tips For Writing a Cover Letter

1. For the introduction,
you must address the potential employer by name: this will immediately differentiate you from more casual applicants. State the position you are interested in, and why you want to fill it. Refer to the job ad if relevant.

2. Your First Sentence must be catchy- You can easily lose the reader with your first sentence if it follows the same line as most other people. A typical opening sentence like this: “I wish to apply for the job you advertised on your company website” is unlikely to grab the attention of a hiring manager who has already read the same line a dozen times.
You must go straight in with a compelling first sentence that summarizes what you can bring to the job and why you should be considered.

3. For the main body- Market yourself as the right person for the job or for the company, making the most of your qualifications, skills and experience, and relating them directly to the position you want.

4. Show your employer how you can be of value to the company. The employer does not care how the position fits into your career plans. All he cares about is what you bring to his bottom line so make sure to explain in the letter exactly what you bring to the table. This is a common mistake of fresh graduates.

5. Sign off- Make all your contact details clear and explicit, and remind the employer that further details can be found in your enclosed resume. By this point, he or she should be hooked.