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How To Start A Cover Letter
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You must know how to start a cover letter correctly if you are to gain the attention of a prospective employer. Since this is the very first impression you will make on the reader, it is essential that this is done the right way. Hiring managers look at hundreds of cover letters every week, and if yours begins in the same manner as everyone else's, there is a good chance it will get overlooked. In this article, you will learn how to start a cover letter.
1. Avoid being like everyone else. Out of the hundreds of cover letters hiring managers sift through day in and day out, the biggest majority all begin the same way, with a statement like "Enclosed you will find my resume for the job ad" or something to that effect. You want your cover letter to stand out from the rest, so open yours with something that makes an impact.
2. Mention the name of the person who referred you to the job. By mentioning the name of someone who is a friend of business associate of the hiring manager right off, they are more likely to take a particular interest in your information.
3. Use a HOT headline. Communicate your enthusiasm and passion for the position in a headline placed above the greeting. Employers usually scan your cover letter instead of reading every word, so a "catchy" heading will spark their attention. An example of a great headline would be "I'm an excellent candidate for the graphic designer position and here's why." When you write a headline similar to this, a hiring manager can't help but read why you are such a great candidate.
4. If you have spoken with the hiring manager, mention it right off. Open your cover letter by mentioning the conversation you had prior, if you did in fact speak with the hiring manager on the phone or in person. Say something similar to "I appreciate your taking my call concerning the graphic design position last Friday." You are at an advantage over other job candidates if you did speak to the person in charge of hiring, and you refer to the conversation in the opening of your cover letter.
5. Reveal a remarkable accomplishment. If you helped reduce customer complaints by 15% or developed a new software in a previous position, toot your own horn! Lead your cover letter with this information, and let the hiring manager know that you feel you can make great strides for their company as well.
These are a few tips that will help you start your cover letter with a bang, so that yours doesn't look just like every other document the person in charge of hiring has seen. In order to have a better chance of securing the job, you must highlight yourself in a way that makes you memorable to a prospective employer. If you had no idea how to start a cover letter for the greatest impact, now you do.
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