Depending on the type of job you are seeking, there will be very few instances when you will meet the person hiring for you to hand in your resume personally to them. In most cases you will be posting your resume, using a friend to drop it off or leaving it at the reception. If you are not handing in your resume directly to those directly involved with the hiring, you must include a cover letter.
A cover letter serves as a form of introduction for you to the reader. A cover letter will briefly tell the reader who you are and why you have sent your resume for their consideration. There are several points to consider when preparing a cover letter.
Just as in the case of resumes, employers will only take a brief glance at a cover letter. You should therefore keep it brief and straight to the point. Avoid including irrelevant information. Three or four paragraphs are quite adequate for a cover letter.
Your cover letter should not be a summary of your resume. Introduce your self briefly stating your qualifications. State the position for which you are applying and how exactly you found out about it. Briefly point out why you think you’re the best candidate for the position and how the organization would benefit from employing you. Conclude the letter by thanking the reader for their consideration and leaving your contacts for further correspondence. Don’t forget to sign at the bottom of the letter.
