Okay, so I said the third tip would be my last, but I have one more bonus tip to share with you when writing cover letters.
We discussed earlier how the letter should be laid out—three paragraphs: intro, strengths, next steps. One of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid a full page of text is to use formatting to break up that second, potentially long paragraph:
* Break up the mid-section of the paragraph with indented bullets listing the details of your top three strengths, and while you’re at it, try starting off each bullet with a lead-in phrase in bold or italics. The bold phrases will jump off the page, so make them count.
* If you have a really strong match of skills for each of the position’s top requirements, try a two-column comparison approach, labeled as “Position Requirements” and “My Background.” If you truly can go tit-for-tat on the requirements for the position, there’s no more blunt way to show that you meet or exceed the qualifications. Lastly, keep that second paragraph short, sweet, and to the point. Yes, I know I said that’s your opportunity to toot your own, but assume the reader is busy. Keep your letter brief for optimal effectiveness. Make every word count. Your reader will appreciate it.
So while you may stress over writing your letter, remember to take a step back and look at the document with a fresh perspective and employ formatting to your advantage— bullets, two-column set up, short paragraphs—to get your strengths across to the reader.
