A GOOD WINNING COVER LETTER

The first step in any job application is to pass the organization’s cover letter/resume screening process. As several career experts and advisors point out, cover letters are getting more and more important in the job recruiting process.

“A well-written cover letter is more important than an impressive résumé because it reveals your work ethic and attention to detail. It provides glimpses into your personality that a list of achievements can't”.

Parts of the cover letter

As with any other letter, a cover letter has an opening, a body, and a closing.

The opening paragraph has to catch the reader’s interest. Here you must introduce yourself and your background, in a way that will make the recruiter want to keep reading about you. Here are some examples of good and bad opening paragraphs when applying for academic and non-academic positions (these are only ideas, remember to start tailoring the cover letter from the beginning!!):