by Beverly Aarons
19. December 2008 08:30
Let's face it, for many of us, cover letters are simply a pain, especially when you want to apply for as many legal jobs as humanly possible. Writing a good cover letter can definitely slow down the "legal job hunt" process. But before you toss the cover letter to the side and simply send out only your resume, you should realize that many legal recruiters and employers can be persuaded in your favor with a well crafted cover letter. Before you sit down to write your cover letter you need to realize that the cover letter serves as an introduction of the job candidate and can be used to convince a recruiter or employer to call the job candidate for an interview. Below are some recommendations for writing a good cover letter.
1. Be professional and objective. State facts and avoid opinions. For example, your cover letter may say "I negotiated a $300,000 settlement with XYZ Company." But you want to avoid statements such as "I'm really good at negotiations." Although this may be true, it is still an opinion.
2. Never use "To Whom It May Concern." That just screams "I don't really care who this goes to and I'm just sending out form letter style cover letters hoping that something will stick." That type of attitude will never impress an employer. Always get the name and position of the person who the cover letter will be going to and address the cover letter directly to them.
3. Only highlight achievements and accomplishments that are relevant to the position that you are applying to and that prove that you are qualified for that particular job. That takes us to our next point.
4. Never send out cookie cutter cover letters. You may think that the employer doesn't notice that you sent them the exact cover letter you sent 100 other employers; but they will notice and it won't work in your favor. Always tweak cover letters so that they address each individual position and potential employer specifically.
5. Lastly, always check for proper spelling and grammar in your cover letter. A matter of fact, get a second pair of eyes to read your cover letter before you send it to an employer.