A great cover letter is one that answers the question of why the employer should hire the specific candidate sending the application. A great cover letter sparks the curiosity of the employer and provides examples and facts that intrigues and influences the employer to bring the candidate in for an interview. Start by writing a draft and edit it until you feel it is ready to be submitted with your resume for consideration.
General Length
A solid cover letter is no longer than a single page long. Some employers prefer the cover letter to be about half a page long. The cover letter is not a place where you get to share your entire work history and plead your case for consideration. This is the chance to be direct and straight forward in communicating why you are the ideal person for the job. If you can make your case in fewer words, you show that you are confident in your skills and that you are capable of effective communication.
Personality
Another element that makes a cover letter more appealing and solid is if it shows the employer personality traits of the applicant. While the resume will provide the employer with factual information about education and previous work experience, the cover letter must explain what type of person the applicant is. Focus on your employability skills and your outgoing personality. The employer wants to know if you work best alone or if you are a team player based on your cover letter.
Filling in the Gaps
Since the cover letter is frequently used to show the employer that the applicant is the ideal choice for the job in question, you should explain any gaps in your resume that could result in questions. Explain that you took a two-year break between two jobs listed on your resume to start a family or that you took a year off during your college degree to travel the world. Rather than the employer jumping to conclusions, fill in the obvious gaps.
Making the Connection
Some employers find that good cover letters are the ones that make the connection between what the candidate is capable of and what the company is all about. This particular approach helps build the case of why the candidate is the right choice. It not only shows that you have the right qualifications and skills for the job, but that you recognize what the needs of the company are.
