| You just graduated from school, and you have | | | | |
| all the enthusiasm, credentials, and clout to | | | | In short, a generic cover letter can make you |
| back you up. You're ready to take on the task | | | | appear like a generic employee: all format |
| of job seeking, and joining the thousands of | | | | and person, but no personality. What company |
| other graduates in the rat race. You have | | | | would like to have an employee like that? |
| your transcript of records with your perfect | | | | What you need is a personalized cover letter, |
| grades, your recommendation letters from your | | | | with all the elements of a good cover letter |
| very encouraging former professors, and a | | | | that your prospective employer will read |
| resume detailing both school and | | | | through and appreciate. |
| extracurricular work. All you need to do is | | | | |
| write a cover letter, which is easy. | | | | What are the main mistakes made by generic |
| | | | cover letters? Many of them begin with a |
| Think again: your cover letter has to cover | | | | non-specific address, such as "Dear Sir," or |
| all your credentials and make you appear like | | | | "Dear Miss," or the even more horrendous, "To |
| a star. You might choose to look online for a | | | | whom it may concern." Such a cover letter can |
| generic cover letter, or search through | | | | make you appear careless, and can show that |
| writing and journalism books for the perfect | | | | you know nothing about the company. If you do |
| letter template for your job application. | | | | not take the time to learn more about a |
| This may make the job easier for you, but if | | | | company, how can you be more resourceful in |
| you succumb to the temptations of a generic | | | | the future when your real job will demand it? |
| cover letter, your transcript, recommendation | | | | If you do not take care to make a simple |
| letters, and resume will be useless. | | | | cover letter, how can you be more creative |
| | | | and careful in the future when your real job |
| A cover letter is more than just a summary of | | | | requires you to do even more demanding tasks? |
| things that you have enclosed for your | | | | |
| prospective employer to read and browse | | | | Many generic cover letters are flat because |
| through. A cover letter will show your | | | | they expect their reader to go through any |
| personality, your ability to sell yourself, | | | | attached material, and then make a decision |
| and even your ability to apply the things you | | | | based on the material. What a real cover |
| learned in school. In other words, a cover | | | | letter should do is to anticipate a good |
| letter will do what a transcript, | | | | outcome; if you are writing a cover letter, |
| recommendation letters, and resume cannot. | | | | say that you can be interviewed, and give all |
| | | | your contact information. Anticipate the |
| Many young graduates or naïve job | | | | interview and a positive response from the |
| applicants often resort to the generic cover | | | | prospective employer - and sign your name |
| letter for their needs. This generic letter, | | | | personally at the bottom. |
| with its non-descript address, boring tone, | | | | |
| and often flat body, will bore your | | | | The key to making a good cover letter is to |
| prospective employers and earn your | | | | not only look professional, but to be |
| application a place in the trash pile. This | | | | personal, show personality, and stand out. |
| can be all the more problematic if you | | | | Don't be naïve, and don't be misled by |
| consider how many people are vying for the | | | | the seeming ease that comes with using a |
| same place as yours: your resume needs to | | | | generic cover letter. Write a cover letter on |
| stand out from the rest of the crowd, and to | | | | your own and be your enthusiastic but tactful |
| show that you are unique. | | | | self - and you can get the job that you want. |