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The fastest a candidate ever failed was two words into his cover letter. The position was related to quality assurance, and the cover letter started with “I is.”Somehow, the applicant got through to me by phone. I don't know how he got my number, or why the call didn't go to HR, but he started arguing with me that it was no big deal.Not only was he wrong for the job, since he either didn't proofread his own cover letter, or did proofread it and missed that, I don't know why he thought that showing me that he was argumentative and belligerent would improve his chances.

Your cover letter is often your first interview with a company, the first chance for a hiring agent to get to know you. A good resume cover letter can help you make a good impression and get an interview. A weak cover letter might cause your resume to be placed in the reject pile.Many of our clients have asked, “What do I put in my cover letter?” And nearly all of our clients have needed assistance with organizing the content of their letters. Below, we will address both of these issues. If you come seeking our help with your resume and cover letter, great. However, the brief guide below should get you started on writing a successful cover letter.Cover Letter Content and OrganizationParagraph One: Introduce yourself and state your intentions. This 1 to 2-sentence paragraph tells the reviewer who you are and why you are submitting your cover letter and resume. For companies with multiple job openings, this paragraph also tells the reviewer which pile to put your resume in. Your name is at the bottom of the letter in the signature line, so you don’t need to repeat it here. Instead, describe the type of person you are.Example: As an experienced sales and marketing professional, I am interested in the position of regional sales manager with the XYZ Company.Paragraph Two: Summarize your qualifications for the position. Focus on your abilities, not your specific skills. (Abilities are personal characteristics; skills are specific behaviors you can perform. You can learn skills, if needed, but abilities tell what kind of person you are.) The description of your abilities lets the reviewer know if you will be able to learn the skills and how you will perform in a professional environment.However, be careful of using “buzz words” without illustration. You can briefly address your professional history in this paragraph as a way to illustrate your abilities. 3 to 4 sentences should be sufficient.Example: I am a creative, yet focused, professional with strong managerial skills. My knowledge of system integration, coupled with my leadership abilities, has enabled me to identify and enact efficiencies in even the most complicated organizational environments. For example, in my most recent position, I created new quality control processes and instructed inter-departmental teams on their use. Although I am a “company man,” I am also an individual thinker, seeking new opportunities for the company to reach target markets and surpass financial goals.Paragraph Three: In this paragraph, you answer this question: “Why are you applying for this position?” In answering this question, you address two issues. First, describe how this position fits your abilities and interests. In a sense, you are saying that this position is appropriate for who you are now. Second, describe how this position will help you advance your career goals. This tells the reviewer that you have a strong interest in the position and will do what you can to succeed and grow. Again, 3 to 4 sentences will be enough.Example: The leadership and marketing perspective required for a regional sales manager align with my abilities and experiences. I am enthusiastic about expanding my broad knowledge of the market and diverse populations, two aspects of this position I find particularly exciting. Furthermore, this position will assist me to advance into progressively higher responsibilities, and it will provide the satisfaction I earn by succeeding in new and challenging responsibilities.Paragraph Four: The final paragraph is short, 1 – 2 sentences only. In this paragraph, you bring your resume cover letter to a close by thanking the reviewer and by calling for action. You say “thank you” because that is polite and professional. (After all, the person has read this far and deserves your gratitude.) The action step is essential. Here you answer the question “What’s next?” Will you call the person? Do you want the person to contact you? Do you want to set up an interview? State the action as the final sentence.Example: Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I can support the mission of the XYZ Company.Word Choice to Express Your IdeasThe content of your cover letter is important, but so is how you express your ideas. The words you use affect how the personnel manager interprets the content. Based on our work helping clients prepare resumes, we have created a list of 7 words your resume needs, words that will create a favorable impression of you.1. SuccessfullyCompanies want to hire winners. Use this word to describe your accomplishments in a prior responsibility.Example: I successfully negotiated a new contract for services.2. LeadershipCompanies want to hire leaders. Use this word to describe your involvement with task and project teams.Example: Under my leadership, the customer service unit managed all client records.3. TeamCompanies want to hire people who can cooperate with others to accomplish company goals. Use this word to describe your involvement with colleagues.Example: Our team was responsible for answering customers’ questions about products.4. CreatedCompanies want to hire innovators. Use this word to describe new ideas and processes you developed.Example: I created a checklist to track daily service tasks.5. Expanded/Increased (the verb, not the adjective)Companies want to hire people that will help them grow. Use this word to describe your participation in company growth.Example: During this time, the company expanded the product line to include 2 new models.6. Support (the verb, not the noun)Companies want to hire people who will assist the management team. Use this word to describe your relationship with your former supervisors.Example: I supported the division director by compiling financial data.7. WillCompanies want to hire people who are confident about their ability to deliver what they promise. Use this word to describe what you will do if hired.Example: I will solve customer software and hardware problems.Some of these words may not apply to your resume or cover letter. However, if you think carefully about your prior experiences, you will find that you can use most of them. Using these words does not guarantee that you will get the job you want, but they will help you make a good impression.Final ThoughtsEffective writing and the correct use of writing mechanics are very important. Once you have developed the draft of your resume and cover letter, you will need to edit it carefully.

I feel like I have to answer this as I've just spent 4 hours going through resumes and I want to scream.Not one resume made me happy. All of then were in the spectrum of mild annoyance all the way to actual anger.Here are the things that upset me.1. Generic cover letter/resumeEvery one of the cover letters was about why they have great blah blah skills or blah blah experience. Honestly I could post each resume up here and you would have no clue what industry they were applying for.2. Not one cover letter mentioned anything about our company or what we do. I honestly feel like not one of these applicants even went to our website.3. Not one cover letter mentioned the work they would be doing. We are hiring for a kid's app/toy company. Not one applicant mentioned anything about toys, kids, apps, fun... some even just wrote things like "I'm looking for full time work". Yes.. that's a great reason for me to hire you, because you need a job. Arghhhh4. So many had spelling errors. One spelled a word wrong right before the word "literacy". Oh the ironing (Bart fans will know what I'm saying).If English isn't your first language, I usually cut you some slack on things like grammar and maybe one spelling error (we're all human afterall). If you proudly write you are born and raised in North America and have spelling errors all over the place.. arghhhhh5. This is a creative position I'm hiring for and everyone has submitted an online portfolio. Only one person had even one item in a portfolio that has anything to do with what we do. You'd figure they'd take some time to sketch a few things or if they don't have it in their portfolio, put some examples of what inspires you that is relevant. I saw inspiration pages that featured medical devices and high end jewellery... arghhhh6. Interests. I had one person write in their resume that they are most interested in designing shoes and cars. So why the smurf are you applying to our company?... arghhhhI'm too upset to write all the other things.As mentioned by others, a lot of companies filter out resumes electronically and others are filtered out by HR staff who have no clue if a person is good for the job. In this case I took the time to read each one and view each portfolio to ensure I don't miss any good people and I feel like I was an idiot for it (though I'll still do it while I have the time).Bottom line1. Show you know who you are applying to and show at least a modicum of interest in what we do.2. Tell me why you would love to work here and why you want this job. What will you offer us? Why would this make you happy as well? It needs to be a fit on both sides for it to work long term.3. Proof read your resume, cover letter. Do some basic formatting.4. Put some personality in your cover letter. Don't list your skills on your cover letter, that's what the resume is for!5. For a creative position, don't make your cover letter a long boring read. Actually for any position don't make your letter a long boring read.