The ABCs of Great Cover Letters… Simple Steps to Increase Impact and Effectiveness
A Special Report prepared by Louise Kursmark

Don’t let cover letters be a roadblock preventing your search from moving forward. These easy A-B-C-D-E steps will lead you through the process of writing good cover letters quickly.

A. Address Your Audience.

Different audiences dictate different introductions.

Consider these guidelines:

• Whenever possible, write to an individual by name. This creates a better impression and gives you a better opportunity for follow-up. Don’t be afraid to call a company and ask who your letter should go to. (Just be prepared with your professional introduction, in case you get that person on the line!)
• When responding to an online posting or ad, where you are likely one of dozens if not hundreds of applicants, don’t worry so much about writing to an individual. In these cases, it’s perfectly okay to omit the salutation—especially the outdated openings “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern”— and simply use a clear, concise subject line (“Re: VP Marketing”) as your opening.