Page 43 - The Editors of VGM Career Books - Resumes for Computer Careers, Second Edition (2002)

34 Resumes for Health and Medical Careers

that particular company that makes you want to work for them;
this shows that you have done some research before applying.
7. A final paragraph that closes the letter and invites the reviewer to
contact you for an interview. This can be a good place to tell the
potential employer which method would be best to use when con-
tacting you. Be sure to give the correct phone number and a good
time to reach you, if that is important. You may mention here that
your references are available upon request.

8. The closing (“Sincerely” or “Yours truly”) followed by your sig-
nature in a dark ink, with your name typed under it.

Your cover letter should include all of this information and be no
longer than one page in length. The language used should be polite, busi-
nesslike, and to the point. Don’t attempt to tell your life story in the cover
letter; a long and cluttered letter will serve only to annoy the reader.
Remember that you need to mention only a few of your accomplishments
and skills in the cover letter. The rest of your information is available in
your resume. If your cover letter is a success, your resume will be read and
all pertinent information reviewed by your prospective employer.

Producing the Cover Letter

Cover letters should always be individualized because they are always writ-
ten to specific individuals and companies. Never use a form letter for your
cover letter or copy it as you would a resume. Each cover letter should be
unique, and as personal and lively as possible. (Of course, once you have
written and rewritten your first cover letter until you are satisfied with it,
you can certainly use similar wording in subsequent letters. You may want
to save a template on your computer for future reference.) Keep a hard copy
of each cover letter so you know exactly what you wrote in each one.
There are sample cover letters in Chapter 6. Use them as models or for
ideas of how to assemble and lay out your own cover letters. Remember
that every letter is unique and depends on the particular circumstances of
the individual writing it and the job for which he or she is applying.
After you have written your cover letter, proofread it as thoroughly as
you did your resume. Again, spelling or punctuation errors are a sure sign
of carelessness, and you don’t want that to be a part of your first impres-
sion on a prospective employer. This is no time to trust your spellcheck
function. Even after going through a spelling and grammar check, your
cover letter should be carefully proofread by at least one other person.
Print the cover letter on the same quality bond paper you used for your
resume. Remember to sign it, using a good dark-ink pen. Handle the let-