I did an earlier blog post about how to write a successful resume, and today I want to talk about how to write an amazing cover letter. Cover letters, like resumes, are important to make yourself stand out in a crowd. While I did emphasize the last time that resumes illustrate your thought process and communication process, cover letters do this even more. They also show if you're a good writer or not. The last thing you want in a cover letter that you've spent hours writing are typos. 
Cover letters can be tricky, as you may be confused about how to word something or how to format a cover letter properly. A cover letter done well can be something you can adapt and use as a template for multiple jobs. I had a previous employer hire employees just based on their cover letters, as she enjoyed reading them more and found that the cover letters accurately reflected how the employees communicated and worked. While a hiring manager may only spend 10 seconds on your resume, they may spend a lot more time reading a cover letter. We need to use this time to wow them into believing that you're an amazing candidate for their job, as reflected in your amazing cover letter. So here are a few tips I have for you in making cover letter writing easier and faster, and overall a less stressful process for you.
1. Include all your contact information
I don't know how many cover letters I've seen as an HR recruiter, that only have email addresses on them. Just for the ease of the hiring manager, add a second form of contact, in case they need to get to you in a hurry or if something comes up. It's just good as it shows you're trusting of them.
2. State your purpose right away
The hiring manager may get hundreds of applications, and having read cover letter after cover letter may want to toss a bunch in the trash. If you immediately open your letter by stating why you're writing the letter and which position you're applying for, the hiring manager is more likely to keep your application as it's easier to sort and read. This also shows your determination to get straight to the point and implies you're better at delivering facts and information directly and quickly.
3. Don't make your cover letter more than 2 pages
It's easy to put all your previous work experience into several paragraphs and try to elaborate on your skills and experiences. But that could leave you with a cover letter of 5 pages. Two pages is a decent length for any cover letter, as it's not too short to imply no experience, but not too long that the hiring manager will get annoyed with you for writing so much. Know that it's okay not to put everything in there, the hiring managers will ask any questions in an interview if they have questions.
I hope these tips are helpful in your process of succeeding and standing out. Please feel free to reach out and let me know what you think and if this was helpful at all.
Until next time,
Katie
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