The Importance of a Cover Letter
September 2, 2022

How to Write a Compelling Cover Letter

While the resume is still king, the cover letter is a vital, yet often overlooked, part of securing your dream job. Most employers give you the option to upload a cover letter along with your resume, but don’t necessarily require it. Your resume is a statement of your work history, but the cover letter is your opportunity to express your passion for a position and convince a potential employer to give you the job. Use it! Below are some tips for a convincing cover letter. Need help? Give Lisa Rabzak Marketing Services a call at 717-371-5302 or contact us through our website at www.lisarabzak.com for assistance with writing a compelling resume and cover letter.

1. Research the company. Take some time to research the company where you are applying and make reference to the results of your research in your cover letter. Researching the company will also come in handy when you secure the interview.

2. Toot your own horn. Tell the potential employer why you are the right person for the job versus the million other resumes that cross their desk. Be honest about your strengths and highlight skills and experience that make you stand out from the pack.

3. Make it personal. When writing the cover letter, make sure that you maintain your own voice. Don’t try to be someone you are not.

4. Keep it short. Cover letters should be one page. Otherwise, a potential employer is likely to lose interest. Make it short and sweet so they can move on to your resume.

5. Customize your cover letter. In securing a job, one size does not fit all. Cover letters should be unique to each position and should include an inside address for each company.

By Lisa Rabzak - Owner June 6, 2025
DO - Focus on accomplishments. Provide specific details on both your accomplishments and quantifiable results for each of your positions. This can include exceeding KPIs, cost reductions, special projects or tasks, process improvements, awards or other recognition, and promotions DON'T - Use fancy design elements. Including things like pictures and graphics or putting text into boxes can cause problems when your resume is scanned by applicant tracking systems. Keep it clean and neat and use common fonts like Times New Roman for optimal readability. DO - Include a skills section highlighting your areas of expertise. Be sure to match the language and requirements listed in your targeted job postings for increased success with ATS systems. DON'T - Use functional resumes, which are not ATS-friendly. Chronological resumes work best with ATS or a hybrid resume consisting of a chronological portion and an enhanced skills section can also be used. DO - Read job postings carefully and identify job responsibilities, qualifications, and skills that are required for the position. Then ensure that each of those is addressed within your resume for maximum ATS impact. DON'T - Submit your resume as a JPEG or other image files. These file types will not work with ATS systems. Make sure to submit either a Word or PDF file when applying for jobs. Need help crafting your resume? Contact Lisa Rabzak Marketing Services at 717-371-5302 or info@lisarabzak.com.
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