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In the age of applicant tracking software and emailed job applications, everything about effective cover letters is different—from tone and content, to purpose and relevance.  \nThe rise of job boards and online application systems has made cover letters an unreliable marketing tool—at least when applying online. If the computer tosses out your resume, your uploaded letter gets thrown out as well. Even if your resume makes it through the screening, the person reading it may not choose to read the cover letter. Nonetheless, when read, cover letters can be very effective and tip the scales.  \nWhile uploaded cover letters are often overlooked, ones sent as email are almost always read.“(Email) body copy is the new cover letter; that’s your first impression,” according to Eli Daniel Group, a boutique recruitment firm in Allen, Texas. If you’re able to apply directly to a hiring manager via email, your cover letter (in the form of the body of the email) will be your greatest ally in landing you an interview.  \nHere are six rules for crafting an effective cover letter—and getting it read.  \n1. Forget about you; learn about them.  \nYour resume lists your experience, accomplishments and skills; your cover letter should show how they are relevant to a particular job, and to the company’s goals.  \nBefore writing your cover letter, research the company so you can talk about it and its needs in your cover letter. Look at its website. Google the company and see what other websites mention it. Maybe it has been in the news. ZoomInfo and Manta can also provide company information, Glassdoor can provide insight into hiring trends, and LinkedIn can offer information on the hiring manager and other company employees.  \n2. Put the company’s needs first.  \nSpeak to what you can offer the employer – how you are the solution to its needs that you identified in your research. You are promoting your ability to help them.  \nThe first couple of lines should show what you know about the company’s business, that you understand what is needed in the job and that you can meet those needs. What you can offer the employer comes before what you are looking for.  \nDon’t say “I’m interested in a applying for the position of…”.  \nInstead, say something like “You need a customer service representative that can respond to the needs of your growing customer base, and I have experience and formal training in providing effective customer service.”  \n3. Watch your language.  \nSince applicant tracking software looks for keywords in resumes and cover letters that match the job description, your cover letter should include as many of those words as possible – using the exact language found in the job description. However, when you are applying directly to hiring managers, it is best to rewrite what is wanted, using different language to make the same points while demonstrating your understanding of what the job requires.  \n4. Size and readability are important.  \nAttention spans have gotten very short and hiring managers are less interested in reading long letters. In addition, quite often applications and cover letters are being read on mobile devices. Therefore, make your cover letters brief and easy to read on a smart phone, iPad, etc.  \n5. Don’t worry if you’re not Hemingway.  \nEffective cover letters require clarity, not creativity-you can even use bullet points to communicate your message. The most important thing is to show that you’ve done your homework, understand the job, and have the particular skills the employer needs. Having a voice and showing some personality is fine, as long as it doesn’t obscure what you’re really trying to communicate, which is how you can help the company.  \n6. Know the nuts and bolts.  \nCover letters have become less formal and more personal, perhaps because they’re delivered t","cbCaifAbS1lBbe3F","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifAbS1lBbe3F","pdf",331877,"English","# The New Rules for Cover Letters\n## Why cover letters have changed\n## Six rules for crafting an effective cover letter\n## Nuts and bolts for what to say","[{\"question\":\"Why are cover letters less reliable when applications are uploaded online?\",\"answer\":\"Online systems and screening can discard uploaded letters if they reject a resume. Even when a candidate passes, the reader may not open the cover letter, though it can be effective when actually read.\"},{\"question\":\"What should the first lines of a cover letter focus on?\",\"answer\":\"They should show what you know about the company’s business and needs, and demonstrate that you can meet those needs. What you can offer the employer should come before what you are seeking.\"},{\"question\":\"How should a cover letter be structured and what details should it include?\",\"answer\":\"Use the subject field as the job title and a targeted salutation such as “Dear Hiring Manager” only when needed. Match company needs to your skills in the first paragraph, address potential questions in middle paragraphs, and close with a clear call to action and an appropriate sign-off.\"}]","Network to Work Meeting - Resource Materials - July 2016 - The New Rules for Cover Letters | PDF",1789282006]