How to start a letter

Avoid generic salutations on your job-search cover letters.

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You've got two to four seconds to grab a potential employer's interest with your cover letter, according to Romona Camarata, Regional Director for R.L. Stevens & Associates, a national career management and outplacement firm. You must start with something that immediately grabs his attention and makes him want to learn more about you. That doesn't mean resorting to gimmicks, but it does require you to open with something more interesting than "attached is my resume for your job vacancy" or "I'm writing to apply for the job at ABC Company." Make your cover letter stand out.

1.

Find the name of a specific individual to write to at the company. If there is a contact name listed in the vacancy announcement, use that one. If no name is given, research the company online at its website to find the name of a hiring officer or the manager of the department where you're seeking a job. Do not resort to the generic "Dear Sir" or "To Whom It May Concern." This tells the reader you didn't bother to find out who to send your resume and letter to.

2.

Write your letter in standard business format, whether you intend to send it in hard copy or via email. Type your full name and address centered at the top of the page. Space down two lines and type the date, flush with the left margin. Space down four lines and type the name, title, company name and address of the person you're writing to. Space down two more lines and type your salutation: "Dear Mr. Brown," or "Dear Ms. Green," for example.

3.

Catch the reader's eye by referring to a mutual acquaintance in your first sentence if you can. "Joe White suggested I contact you about the Engineering Department job opening" immediately establishes a connection between you and the hiring officer, making him more likely to continue reading.

4.

State how you can help the company meet a pressing need or solve a problem by citing a significant recent professional accomplishment. For instance, you might write,"The experience I gained in increasing my division's foreign sales to record-breaking levels last year would be a major asset to your new overseas marketing department. " This establishes you as a candidate with directly relevant experience that would benefit the company even before a hiring officer reads the rest of the letter or your resume.

]]> About the Author

As a national security analyst for the U.S. government, Molly Thompson wrote extensively for classified USG publications. Thompson established and runs a strategic analysis company, is a professional genealogist and participates in numerous community organizations.Thompson holds degrees from Wellesley and Georgetown in psychology, political science and international relations.

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