I believe a good cover letter should have no more than 5 paragraphs.
1st paragraph - Introduction. 1-2 lines where you say that you're applying for this job position
2nd paragraph - Tell a short story where you show off a valuable skill that the employer wants. The story should be no more than 4-5 lines. It should show a before and after picture where you tell what you did in order to solve a problem, save the company time or money, etc.
3rd paragraph - Another short story about a second skill that the employer would want their employee to have. E.g. if you told a story before about how you saved the company money through your problem solving skills, then in the next paragraph you can talk about how you built partnerships.
4th paragraph - A third skills story.
5th paragraph - Close the cover letter with a strong CTA. Again, no longer than 2 lines.
And you're done!
True. A cover letter should be a summary of your resume.
Yes, you can use "I" in a cover letter, just not in your resume.
There is no 'argument' section of a cover letter. The paragraph that you describe your qualifications for the position should have no more than two or three specific qualifications, and they should be directly related to the position for which you are applying. A cover letter should be brief and concise; it's only purpose is to introduce yourself and to lead the reader to look at your resume.
The appropriate time to present a resume and cover letter is at the time of application. You should also take a copy of each with you to the interview just in case.
Yes, the cover letter should be a separate piece of paper from the resume. Go to Monster.com for great advice and instructions on how to submit letters, resumes and follow up letters. Good Luck!
A cover letter is usually attached to a resume.
Both. That is, you should list your work experience, education, certifications and such in a general way in the resume. In the cover letter, you should highlight those of your qualifications that specifically match the job requirements. This makes it easier on the HR person screening resumes to say "Yep, this matches our bullet points" and pass the resume on to the hiring manager. They may or may not pass along the cover letter as well, so this information should be in the resume as well.
The first paragraph of a business letter should state why you are writing. The middle paragraph of a business letter should state the facts or information supporting that purpose. The information should be presented in a logical order, avoiding anything that is not directed at accomplishing the goal of the letter. A letter of complaint should avoid accusations and threats. A cover letter for a resume need only highlight a few pertinent facts, your attached resume will tell the rest. The last paragraph should provide the information necessary for the recipient to act on your inquiry or request; any relevant dates, your contact information, etc. If the letter is providing information only, your need only to thank the recipient for their time and attention. All business letters should end with a thank you for the recipient's time and effort.
The following are your resumé and covering letter is a correct sentence.
The letter usally goes on top of an enclosed resume.
Repeating too many details from the resume
Your resume and cover letter should remain current so that you don't have to play the memory recall game every time you decide you might like to pursue another opportunity. It is also good to keep your resume current if you pursue an opportunity internally. As you apply for opportunities, you should tweak both the resume and the cover letter so that it hits the key points of the role for which you are applying.