Looking for cover letter help? Cover letters are required for most professional positions as it gives you the opportunity to sound like a human on paper. Good resumes help to convey your past experiences and education, but a cover letter brings out more of your personality and is really the first impression before the interview. You want to appeal to them in the very first sentences, as you must understand, that your resume and cover letter is just one out of hundreds or maybe even thousands!

This is your opportunity to tell your prospective employer that you are the ideal person for the job. There are many cover letter help resources online to guide you with crafting that perfect cover letter and this article aims to shed some light on just how you can create one for yourself.

So how do you write a great cover letter that will make an impact? Sell yourself but do it genuinely and modestly, as no one likes show offs. Rather, convey to them how you can be of benefit to them and why you are the proper candidate. You want to sound personable and professional, but you do not need to write it as a letter to a friend. Don’t bore and turn off the reader with unnecessary details or stories. The employer is just thinking, “can this person be a great fit for our available position?”.

Who will be reading your cover letter and considering your employment? Address that person in the letter and mention the employer and how you plan to benefit that company or organization. Explain why you want the position and again explain how much you want to bring to the table. Generally, you want to sound confident, focused, and ready to work.

Formatting the cover letter should be simple, clean, and professional. Remember, this is your first true impression and the goal here is to keep them interested in your cover letter and eventually your resume. It’s highly likely that if you deliver a poor cover letter, the prospective employer will not even bother with glancing at your attached resume. Don’t go over a page in length, so keep it concise and easy to read.

Below is a basic cover letter help template and guidelines that should accompany your professional resume:

The very first paragraph should explain the purpose of the letter. This is where you tell them how you found the open position or how you were referred to the position. If you are going for a position at a big company, you want to be specific here and mention the posting and job number as well.

The second paragraph is about yourself and your skills. Talk about the highlights or things that your resume may not show. Again, you want to keep it easy, modest, but sufficient enough to impress and instill confidence in the employer.

The third is where you explain why you want the position and how both parties would benefit by having you on board.

The last paragraph should thank the employer for their time and considerations and let them know how they can easily contact you for an interview followup.