Writing a cover letter can be an intimidating experience. Just getting started is often one of the hardest parts. It’s tough talking about yourself and selling your assets. However, with a few tips and a little motivation to get started, you’ll soon be on your way to writing an effective cover letter that gets you the interview. These guidelines on how to write a cover letter opening statement should be just the jump start you need to start your application materials off right and get the attention of hiring managers.
1. Get their attention
Many experts believe that the first two sentences of your cover letter are the most important. If you don’t get the prospective employer’s attention right away, it’s likely your letter will never be read. The first two sentences are your elevator pitch, the short summary you deliver about your greatest selling points and what you have to offer.
2. Make it snappy
You have two sentences to pack in the most important information about yourself before you launch into your other cover letter sections. Don’t include anything that is not absolutely essential. There’s really no need to tell the reader where you saw their job ad, nor even to mention what you’re hoping for in a job.
This part of the cover letter is all about what you can do for the company or business to which you are applying. Show them right off the bat what you have that’s different from the other candidates and what you can bring to the job. Do include your industry experience, what you have to offer and past accomplishments.
3. Be interesting
While it’s true that you’re offering the most important facts, how to write a cover letter opening statement shouldn’t be a boring laundry list. Really work to
sell yourself. Use an active voice, rather than a passive one. Be direct. Don’t be too humble. This is the time to brag a little bit, though you don’t want to sound overly confident.
4. Consider the audience
In order to write an effective cover letter opening statement, you have to think like an employer. Address the points that you would want to see if you were doing the hiring. Always be thinking more about what you can offer the company than what you, in turn, are looking for in a job.
Keep these tips for how to write a cover letter opening statement in mind when you sit down to write the dreaded cover letter. Following these simple tips will greatly increase your chances of scoring the interviews that will ultimately lead to your dream job.
