Why a Resume Cover Letter Is an Essential Component of Your Job Search

If you don’t put almost as much time into your resume cover letter as you put into your resume, you’re missing the boat.
Chances are, you have been reading how important it is in the job search to make yourself stand out via a top notch, killer resume. And that IS extremely important. However…
Your resume should reach every prospective employer accompanied by a cover letter. And it is crucial that you NOT look upon the task of writing this letter as a mere formality.
If you send a letter that says little more than the one pictured below, guess where your resume is going to end up? Yep, that’s right… File 13, the circular file, the trash, or at best, at the bottom of the heap of hundreds of resumes sent in answer to the associated job ad.
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Dear Hiring Manager,
Enclosed please find my resume in response to your advertisement for a customer service representative. Thanks in advance for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Jane JobSeeker
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Send a letter like that and you can be sure that your resume will get no attention. But there are some simple, concrete action steps you can take in writing a resume cover letter that will virtually ensure that your resume IS noticed.
Let’s step back a minute and look at the steps to landing a job, once you’ve identified one that you want to pursue and written a great resume and cover letter.
1. Mail, email, or fax the resume with the cover letter to the hiring manager.
2. The well-written cover letter grabs the attention of the hiring manager long enough that he or she takes the time to also read the attached resume.
3. The killer resume presents a strong picture of your capabilities and potential and clarifies what the cover letter began to intimate that you could do for the company.
4. With the resume cover letter combination having made it clear how much you stand out above most of the other candidates, the hiring manager can’t wait to meet you and calls you to come in for an interview.
5. You prepare for the interview, so when the time comes, you demonstrate that your resume and cover letter weren’t just a spectacular piece of creative writing. On the contrary, you are THE candidate for this job.
6. You get the job offer!
See how easy it is, if you follow the step-by-step process?