Expert: Sharon Reed Abboud - 2/14/2008

Question
Hello:
Do you have any tips on a cover letter or note for an email attachment resume?
By the way, thanks for the info. I was able to construct a good resume from it.

Answer
Demetrius,

Hi. Thanks for your question.

Here are just a few tips for writing a dynamic cover letter:

1. Whenever possible, address the cover letter to an actual person rather than "To Whom it May Concern." If you do not have their name, call the company and/or check their website.

2. Proofread and edit meticulously. Make sure your grammar and spelling is perfect.

3. Keep your letter succinct. Your letter should be fairly brief and to the point. Limit your cover letter to one page.

4. Personalize the letter to the company. Research the company and be sure to add a sentence or two on how your skills will benefit the company. Do not send a "mass mailing" of a generic letter.

5. Request an interview.

6. Thank them for for their consideration.

While e-mail cover letters are shorter and more concise than traditional cover letters, the above tips apply to both type of letters.

Here are a few additional tips for e-mail cover letter:

1. Access each employer's online career center to find out if they have posted guidelines for submitting resumes via e-mail.

2. Try to use the keywords from the advertisement and keywords related to your industry jargon, however, do not overload the letter with these keywords. Make sure it makes sense.

3. Do a trial run: send the e-mail to yourself first in order to see how it appears after transmission.

I would suggest that you do not attach your resume unless requested to do this in the advertisement or by the potential employer. Many companies delete attachments. You can cut-and-paste your resume into the message body of the e-mail.

For more information and tips, check out the www.Quintcareers.com and click on "cover letters." Here you will find information on how to create a cover letter and many sample cover letters.

Be sure to also check out About.com's Job Searching webpages:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/Cover_Letters.htm

I hope this is helpful!