Creating an Effective Cover Letter

Nancy Anderson
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Creating an effective cover letter can be an intimidating chore. After all, it is never easy to sum yourself up in just a few paragraphs. Instead, think about your cover letter as a way to get your foot in the door so that you can really sell yourself at the interview.

First, you need to make sure that you include your relevant professional skills in the cover letter. That may seem obvious, but many people get ahead of themselves writing about their hobbies, past experiences, future goals and so on. While some of those aspects of your life do deserve to be mentioned, you must not forget the real reason for the cover letter: to get hired. You are a potential investment, so you need to make the organization realize your worth.

Write a succinct cover letter that clearly states exactly what you can bring to the table, and how it would directly benefit the company. The hiring manager should be convinced that refusing to hire you would be a poor decision that would cost the company money. Outline your experiences, but also tie them into how they pertain to the specific job you are trying to get.

An effective cover letter must be written directly to the company, and it must contain relevant information. The vast majority of hiring managers can immediately recognize a template form letter, so avoid generic boilerplate cover letters at all costs. Write about what you admire about the organization and why you want to work there; mention how you were inspired by a decision the CEO made or how you use the company's products daily. By associating yourself with the company immediately, you make the hiring manager far more likely to consider your job application.

Finally, let your personality show through. This letter is not a defined job application or a stiff resume. Without being excessive, write about who you are and who you hope to become. The hiring manager will read your cover letter to try to get a picture of the type of person you are to see if you are an appropriate fit. While the face-to-face interview is certainly the time to really turn on the charm, your cover letter can be the gateway to getting that phone call.

As you write about yourself, remember to cater your tone to fit the organization. For example, a little humor is appreciated if you are applying for an internship at your favorite satirical comedy Web show, but it might not go over well at a law firm. Remember your audience, and highlight your relevant interests.

Keep your cover letter direct and precise. Too many words can be an immediate ticket to the wastebasket. Make sure every sentence is relevant and to the point without sounding robotic. Take the time to write a cover letter that you are proud of; after all, you may not get a second chance.


Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    This is the age old question Jocelyn - how do I get experience if I can't get a job: how can I get a job if I don't have the experience. I know that even with entry level positions a company will annotate that they require 2 years. Personally I think that you should just go for it. Find a position in medical billing/coding and apply. Explain to them that you are a recent grad and you want to put your school work to real life use. Since you are in a specific field, you should get involved in different groups on Linkedin. Check out the job postings. Network and meet some people in the field. Let them help you. You could even try going in person to some of the local hospitals and urgent care places and ask about medical coding/billing jobs. What about your school? Did they offer placement upon graduation? Do they have a career services center where you can look for jobs and get help from them? Ask around to family and friends. Don't let the "experience" level keep you from applying. Many companies would welcome a newbie so that they can teach you their way of doing things - no bad habits here. Don't forget about temp agencies also. Best of luck in your endeavors.

  • jocelyn w.
    jocelyn w.

    Certification (correction)

  • jocelyn w.
    jocelyn w.

    What about job experience vs degree? I mainly have the experience but no degree or vice versa. I have a verification in medical coding and billing but nobody will give you a shot without you having at least 2yrs experience. How can i get my foot in the door?

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Mary Jo thanks for your comment. Have you applied @Sam's Club? Maybe they have openings. It's great that you are at least getting some work. Could you not get more work with Visit Pittsburgh? What about some of the other agencies in the local area such as Home Instead? They are always looking for caregivers. We, here at Beyond, are not an agency nor are we recruiters and, as such, we do not place applicants into positions. We post jobs for you to review and then apply. Check out Sam's Clubs website and see if there is anything there. Best of luck to you.

  • Mary Jo P.
    Mary Jo P.

    I am a member of Sam's Club and have been foe sometime. I am in and out of the store so often that I might as well work there. I use store as my library and use the pharmacy all the time. My medicines have grown so expensive that I need a part time job to pay for them. I am a retired R.N. and volunteer at a hospital. I work every once in a while for Visit Pittsburgh so I am use to relating with people. I live 10 minutes a way from the store so bad weather is no problem for me. I would love to hear from someone either way. Mary Jo Palmer

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