As employment trends are changing drastically in the recent years, employers and recruitment managers are becoming more and more demanding. Cover letters are a necessary part of the job application set – as they provide employers with a good overview of the candidate without having to look through the resume.

As a standard, cover letters are an essential part of an application – therefore need to be taken seriously. A cover letter essentially defines the position you are applying for, the most relevant skills you have that the employer is seeking, and the contact information with an invitation to meet to further discuss what you can do for the company.

Here are some facts that help make a good cover letter:

• Employers do not welcome a cover letter that is self-indulged and has a lot of words “I,” “me” or “my” in it
• Do not repeat the same information – it makes the employer feel that the candidate is searching for words to fill in space
• Cover letters should be to the point and relevant to the job – not a story of a candidate’s life experiences
• A careful crafting of the first sentence of each paragraph of a cover letter can make a significant difference — make them powerful and to the point
• Using fancy fonts or colors in your cover letter may put off an employer; use black ink on white or off-white paper
• Proofreading can be a savior — have at least two other people review your letter
• Forgetting to sign your letter is proof of your non professionalism

Keeping the above points in mind will ensure that you send the best cover letter when applying for a job. Remember that employers are busy people and they do not want to interview hundreds of people to find the perfect one. So the perfect cover letter defines a perfect candidate and guarantees an interview!