Types of Cover Letters - Which One is For You?
There are actually different types of letters, so before you start worrying about writing your letter, the first thing you need to do is to figure out which one you really need.Â
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Job Specific
This is the most common type there is. Just as its name would suggest, this is specifically directed to a job opening that you found interest in.
The advantage of sending in a job-specific letter is that you have a basic idea of the responsibilities of the position and the qualifications the employer is looking for through the job opening they had posted. This will allow you to create a one that tells your future employer why you are perfect for the job through the skills and work experience that you have acquired.
Referral Cover Letter
This kind is used if you were referred to a company by a friend or family member. This is also known as a sponsor letter and prominently uses the power of social networking to find or land a job.
Cold-Contact
I had never known that there was such a thing such as a Cold-Contact letter until I discovered it through research. This is probably because I never thought of applying to a company which had not posted any openings for a job or position that I was interested in.
Apparently, the cold-contact letter is when you create a cover letter and send it along with your resume to a company you are interested in. When writing a cold contact letter, you provide an introduction about yourself and highlight why you are interested in joining the company. Providing the company with information on your strengths and skills would be a definite plus in this type of letter, so the company will keep your resume on active file and invite you for an interview once an opening is available for you.
Follow-Up Cover letter
I placed the Follow-up cover letter last, because that is pretty much what it is - your last resort. If you have already applied for a position and sent out your initial letter, but received no response from the company you had applied for, you may send a Follow-Up letter to your employer in order to get an update on your application. Since this is like a last resort for you, it would be best for you to mention why you are interested in the position and highlight the skills or work experience that you have which makes you suited for the post. Once you have said your piece, it is important that you thank the company for providing you with the opportunity to apply for the post.
In writing a cover letter it all boils down to originality and personalization. The people you are going to send your cover letter to are professionals and it is pretty to figure out if the cover letter you sent out was from a template or not. Since your cover letter is the best opportunity for you to land an interview for the position or company you want to work in, it would be best for you to be as sincere as possible - sell yourself, be confident in saying why you are qualified for the job and act as if you"re not going to take no for an answer.
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