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| Cover Letters |
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| Preparing
Effective Cover Letters |
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A Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume is incomplete without a cover letter, as it personalizes your CV to a potential employer and shows your
interest and objectives in his/her company. Its main purpose is to highlight your skills and experience and their releveance to the job position you are apply for,
in order to obtain an interview. It should summarize who you are, what you are looking for, and why you are the right person for the job.
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| The Basics |
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The cover letter is to grab
an employer's attention and gives a good impression
of you and makes him/her interested in reading
your CV. |
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Your cover letter should be
flawless of spelling, grammar and punctuation
mistakes, as it may likely disqualify you. |
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It is crucial that information
presented in the cover letter is also present
in your CV, as the cover letter maybe discarded. |
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Your cover letter should be
addressed to the appropriate person and shouldn't
be sent with "To Whom It May Concern"
or "Sir/Madam." So take the time to
find out who the correct person is by contacting
the employer and make sure to get the correct
spelling of his/her name. |
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Your cover letter should be brief, no longer than
one page, and if it is sent by post, it should be
typed on quality paper. |
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| Parts of a Cover Letter |
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A cover letter can be divided
into three paragraphs
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The Opening Paragraph: The
first paragraph should grad the interest of the
reader. |
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The Body: This paragraph focuses
on selling yourself to a potential employer and
can be 3 paragraphs long. You should focus on
stressing key educational credentials, achievements,
and qualifications, which make you the best candidate
for the job. |
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The Conclusion Paragraph: The
final paragraph of your cover letter is to thank
the reader and to request a follow-up. |
Note:
Cover letters are also reffered as application letters. |
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| Other Resources |
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