Good day in this article we are going to discuss the importance of cover letters. We shall share some tips and why the cover letter could indeed be the tool that gets you the interview in the first place.

In today's market there appears to be a trend where people are starting to skimp on writing a cover letter to support their application. This I can guarantee is not going to win you any favours with the hiring manager. They will receive hundreds of applications for the position and a curriculum vitae without a covering letter will be the first to be put into the bin.

Well written cover letters will make you stand out from the crowd. They can sell your unique skills and assets that you could bring to the company. The cover letter should not outline your qualifications for the role but allow some of your personality to shine through.

Below are some tips that I feel will greatly enhance your application:-

• Focus: Hiring managers do not need to read a novel. Keep the cover note short and punchy. For sure keep the cover note at maximum to one page. Explain what interests you about the job and what qualities you could bring to the role.
• Your History: If you have any time on your CV that is not covered by working explain why in the cover letter. If you feel as if you have not got one of the qualities that they are looking for in the advert, explain how your other benefits will enhance the team. What you should do in your cover letter is ensure that the hiring manager has no reason for concern about you.
• Honest: This by far is the best policy. Hiring managers do check what you say. True no business is now allowed to slander you in any way. However if you have mentioned that you co-managed a help desk but you were in fact just a supervisor. The truth will out.
• Salutation: Take your time to find out the name of the person you are writing the application to. Using general salutations such as: Dear Sir/Madam, Hiring Manager, will not impress them. If you take the time to contact the company and ask for the name of the hiring manager and spell check with them this alone could get you an interview. It shows that you have taken the time out to find out.
• Individualise: Make each cover letter unique to the position you are applying for. Hiring managers can spot a mile off a letter that is not unique and will once again only get your application put to the bottom of a big pile.
• Errors: Proof read it and then proof read it again. If at all possible get someone else to proof read it. Mistakes in grammar and spelling will once again ensure your application goes to the bottom of that big pile.
• Where to put it: If you are applying through the old snail mail of the postal service then by all means just print the cover letter and attach it to the CV. If however you are applying online then attach the CV to the email and make the cover letter the subject matter of the email. This way you get to impress them first and foremost with your personality.
• Timing: Best time I have found for hiring managers to receive their applications is on a Thursday morning. The main bulk of the week is over yet Friday seems to be quite a stressful day as everything must be done ready for the weekend. Monday mornings are as we know dreaded.

In this article we covered cover letters and how important they are in your application. We have shared some useful tips in how to make your cover letter stand out from the crowd and what hiring managers are not impressed by.

Once again people thanks for reading my article and any questions just fire away.

All the best Jason who quite simply rocks at writing.