COVER LETTERS THAT WORK
Write the letter that gets you an interview!

Numerous job seekers in the Arab region, and in Egypt in particular ignore what a cover letter is, or at least do not appreciate its importance. It is unfortunate that 80% of job applicants do not bother with the cover letter. In a hard copy application or a job solicitation, it is the first thing a potential employer will see about you, so it is important to get it right… Recruiters are busy people. When they're going through piles of job applications, it is the cover letter that will grab their attention in the first place.

A cover letter should contain information that your CV doesn't, such as your personality, creativity, and work style. More importantly it should indicate how you meet the needs of the employer. This powerful letter can be the deciding factor in whether or not you get an interview. Your objective is to make the recipient think, "WOW this person looks interesting, let us call him for an interview…."

For the potential employer, the recruiter, the cover letter is a very important screening tool, it tells him/her very quickly the following:

• Can the candidate express him/herself well?
• How is his/her English (or the language it is written in)?
• Is the applicant quality conscious? This could be detected from the cleanliness of the paper, the alignment, having used a spell checker, correctly stating the company name etc..
• Is the applicant really interested in our company? This could be detected from the content of the letter if it reflects the writer is aware of the company's products / services, its achievements etc..
• Is the applicant creative and persuasive? This could be detected from the style and expressions used by the letter writer.

It was statistically proven by skill-link.com (from the thousands of cases it witnessed) that recruiters / employers usually reach the short list they are interested in by elimination. Less than 10% from the pool of applications (who have the required technical skills and experience) make it to the short list, and the cover letter plays a significant role in the elimination process.

As per the above, one standard letter does not fit all ! You must tailor it / amend it to reflect the various sectors, employers or roles you are addressing. For example the cover letter for an Application Development position in a commercial bank's IT Department is unlikely to be the same as a letter applying for the position of Instructor in an IT training institute.

Important advice:
Layout:
1. Avoid writing a long letter, keep it to a maximum of one page (A4)
2. Use a consistent and readable font in the letter, do not make it all capital letters like some people do, and choose a font 12 or 14. Too small annoys the reader and too large looks unprofessional. Do not use fancy lettering or italics; go with Times Roman or Arial. Also, it should be conservative, ie. No colors or clip arts.
3. Use white or cream unlined paper. Envelopes should match the paper or be of 'office' type. Send the letter or application form flat; or folded once (maximum).

Content:
4. It makes a big difference if you personalize the letter, starting by addressing it to a particular person (as opposed to just a Dear Sir/Madam).
5. Mention two or three points that highlight your specific experience or expertise relevant to the job you are after. Then ideally, add some example of how your previous achievements relate to the potential employer's needs. In other words you are providing reasons for your suitability for the job.
6. Avoid including in the cover letter all the information stated in the attached CV! You should rather focus on why the reader (the potential employer) should be interested in you and why you are interested in the company or at least the sector it works in.
7. Try not to use negative words (such as: if you do not have vacancies at the current time….), and do not apologize (eg. I am sorry to bother you….). Employers will be most impressed with a direct approach reflecting self-confidence and a positive attitude. Also, stay positive, instead of "Despite the fact that I have minimal Cost Accounting experience," try, "Unlike others who have spent a lot of time doing this work, I bring a new perspective and willingness to learn advanced practices in Cost Accounting…."
8. Don not use "fancy cliche" words that sound artificial, such as "your esteemed company"; "it will be my greatest honor to join you" etc…. These terms have been used and abused and do not add value.
9. Avoid lengthy useless introductions, such as: "This letter is in response to your job vacancy ad that appeared on October 30th 2002 in Al Ahram newspaper on page 4"..! Funny enough, some candidates cut out the newspaper vacancy announcement and attach it to the letter! As if the company is not aware of what is advertised and would be grateful for the reminder!!!
10. In you closing paragraph, always request an interview to further demonstrate your suitability for the company.

Just for reference, we have provided a sample cover letter (click here); of course you should develop you own and customize is to each situation. As previously stated, a cover letter should be individualized to reflect your interest in a specific job or job category, your knowledge of a company, and the strongest qualifications you possess to make a contribution to that company.