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6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter

6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter
Drew Guarini
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In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, Pierre Daunic, Ph.D., a senior writer with Fast Forward Career services works with applicants at a job fair at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Fast Forward helps applicants with job interview skills including writings resumes, cover letters and salary negotiations. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits last week jumped to the highest level in three months, a sign that layoffs could be increasing. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, Pierre Daunic, Ph.D., a senior writer with Fast Forward Career services works with applicants at a job fair at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Fast Forward helps applicants with job interview skills including writings resumes, cover letters and salary negotiations. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits last week jumped to the highest level in three months, a sign that layoffs could be increasing. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

At best, a cover letter can help a job-seeker stand out from the pack. At worst, it can make a promising candidate seem like in uncreative cut-and-paster. Sadly, the vast majority of cover letters read essentially the same: Retreads of resumes that ramble on while repeating the obvious. Would you read one of these to the end if it were put in front of you? Probably not, and nor would most hiring managers.

Of course, the Internet is full of tips and tutorials on writing a cover letter, but few of them give much useful information other than the obvious ("Use good grammar!"). So I got to thinking about what cover letter tips and techniques have served me over the years. I came up with these six golden rules for writing a cover letter somebody will actually want to read.

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