Just as certain secrets can help you
write a dynamic cover letter, there are also key strategies for
sending email cover letters. Here are those strategies.
Know the rules of a dynamic cover letter. Before
you even think of sending an email cover letter, first make sure
you understand all the rules and guidelines for writing a dynamic
cover letter. Go to our Cover
Letter Resources page for some helpful resources.
Don’t waste your subject line. Don’t
ever leave the subject line of your email blank, but don’t
waste it by just inserting the job number. Instead, use the subject
line to entice the reader into your cover letter. For example, for
a director of nursing position, say something such as: "experienced
nurse for director of nursing position."
Your opening paragraph is critical. More than
ever, your first paragraph has to be dynamic; you need to both hook
the reader and then sell him or her on your abilities in that first
paragraph. See the sample letter (see link below) for a dynamic
email opening paragraph.
Keep your cover letter short. Brevity is critical
with an email cover letter. Focus on your key selling points. Most
experts say that at most, your cover letter should be two to three
paragraphs -- and under 150 words. The idea is that your cover letter
should not be any longer than one screen in length.
Take advantage of keywords. Use keywords pertinent
to the job you are seeking, and focus on key industry buzzwords
and critical skills sets. Noun phrases become more important than
action verbs. Because your cover letter may be filed into a database,
using critical keywords will enhance the likelihood that your cover
letter and resume will be retrieved in a future search.
Stick with plain styling (ASCII text). Write your
cover letter in your favorite word processor, but strip away all
formatting once you’ve completed editing it by saving the
file as "plain text." Because some email packages allow
you to manipulate font style, color, and size, make sure your email
is also being sent in plain text -- black font, normal size and
typeface (10 point, Arial, Helvetica, Times Roman), on a white background.
Check your line length. Make sure your lines are
no more than 60 characters in length. Some email packages automatically
do word wrap for you (much like word processing software), but you
should check. You don’t want your cover letter to arrive fragmented
on multiple lines.
Always use standard cover letter protocol. Just
because it’s an email, doesn’t mean you should abandon
standard business letter writing guidelines. Thus, make sure to
include a salutation (Dear Ms. Smith) and a standard closing (such
as "sincerely"). Leave blank lines between paragraphs.
And avoid the use of emoticons, abbreviations, wild colors, and
other cool techniques and shortcuts used in everyday emails.
Don’t bother with attachments (unless requested to
do so). Some companies actually block all emails with attachments;
thus, your email would never even be received if you used an attachment.
Always follow the company guidelines. Many companies
now have career centers on their corporate Websites. (For a list,
see the Quintessential
Directory of Company Career Centers.) It’s better to take
the time and check than to send something the company doesn’t
want. For example, Marriott allows you to create a career management
account where you can store up to five different resumes and cover
letters.
Never hit "send" without thoroughly spell checking
and proofreading your email letter. Don’t just rely
on your email software’s spellchecker. Take the time to really
proofread it. A simple typo could be the downfall of a brilliant
cover letter. Avoid all mistakes.
Be sure to test your message before sending it to the company.
Even if you’re sure your letter is perfect, send it to a friend
or another one of your email accounts first and check for the content
and style one more time.
What does a dynamic email cover letter look like? Check out this
sample
email cover letter.
See more sample dynamic email cover letters in the 3rd edition
of Dynamic
Cover Letters.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article?
Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career,
and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's
Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Dr. Randall Hansen is currently Webmaster of Quintessential Careers,
as well as publisher of its electronic newsletter, QuintZine.
He writes a biweekly career advice column under the name, The
Career Doctor. He is also a tenured, associate professor of
marketing in the School of Business Administration at Stetson University
in DeLand, Florida. He is a published career expert -- and has been
for the last ten years. He is co-author, with Katharine Hansen,
of Dynamic Cover Letters. And he has been an employer and consultant
dealing with hiring and firing decisions for the past fifteen years.
He can be reached at randall@quintcareers.com.
Go back to the Cover
Letter Resources for Job-Seekers section of Quintessential Careers,
where you will find a collection of the best cover letter tools
and resources, including articles, tutorials, and more.
Professional Resume and Cover Letter Service
If you feel you need some professional advice with your cover
letter or resume, then please visit Quintessential
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The original article can be found at: http://www.quintcareers.com/email_cover_letters.html.
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