The Cover Letter

Why do I need a cover letter?
Surprisingly enough, this is a relatively common question. Most employers will expect a cover letter as part of the resume package that you send to them when applying for a position.

Your cover letter introduces you to potential employers. It tells them what specific position you are applying for, and indicates where (if applicable) the lead came from (advertisement, referral etc.)

Your cover letter also serves several additional purposes:

Includes additional information not already covered in your resume, such as additional soft skills

Provides an opportunity to briefly outline your education and employment background. For example: "I have 5 years of relevant experience in this area, as well as two years of related post secondary education." This overview will catch the employer's eye and encourage them to read your resume for the specific details

Tells the employer if you plan to follow up and invites them to contact you

Tips:

Should be consistent with the rest of your "resume package," use the same fonts, paper, etc.
Must be error free
Short, concise and to the point
No longer than one page
Send to a specific contact person whenever possible
Make sure the date on your cover letter is current
Ensure your cover letter is consistent in its format - left justify addresses, salutations and closings

Cold Contact Cover Letter

This may be the hardest type of cover letter you will have to write, since you may not know what positions (if any) are available within the company. The key to writing a successful cold contact cover letter is to research the company ahead of time to find a match between the type of work that they do and the type of work that you want. Then, write your letter to highlight your transferable skills and accomplishments, demonstrating to the employer how you would contribute to the company.

Avoid a mass mailing of resumes. This is really one of the least effective things you can do for yourself when you are job searching. Employers are not interested in resumes that do not meet the needs of their company. They view them as a waste of time - not the first impression we want to make! Do your preliminary research first
What should you find out about a company before you send your cold contact letter?

The type of business - what are their products and services?
Who is the contact person to whom you should send your resume?
What is the complete address of the company?
What types of positions might they have available?
Once you have done your preliminary research, it will be easier to identify a match between the company's needs and what you have to offer

Response Letter to an Advertised Position

This is probably the easiest of the three types of cover letters. Utilize information from the advertisement to demonstrate that you are exactly what the company is looking for, and more. Address each of the needs or requirements that the employer has identified in the advertisement.

The Referral Letter

Keeping in mind that employers always prefer to hire people that they know (or were referred to them by people they know), you can utilize your cover letter to build familiarity with an employer. If you have been referred by someone to apply for a position, make mention of the person's name in the first paragraph of your cover letter. Check with your referral first to make sure that it's okay to use his or her name. You might to also include a positive comment about the company from your referral. Referral letters may also be self-referrals after a telephone conversation or networking meeting. Again, remind the employer when the conversation took place and perhaps some highlights of your discussion. This will help the employer to remember who you are. Take advantage of any opportunities to maximize any familiarity you already have with the employer.