Author: scatty

After completing extensive training, doing an extensive employment search, and perfecting your resume, you may feel as though you are running out of steam as you sit down to compose a cover letter for your dream job application. You may be tempted to rush through this process without giving it much thought.

But your cover letter is far more than a simple formality. While resumes are generally quite dry and broadly focused, cover letters allow you to introduce yourself with a highly personal feel, place your qualifications in context, and explain your passion for a particular position, company, or field of work. Most importantly, your cover letter has to be mistake-free and strike just the right tone.

For help doing all of this and more, let’s examine each component of the ideal cover letter beginning at the beginning.

1. Header

Although they have different opinions about its size and graphic design qualities, most experts agree that your cover letter should begin with an eye-catching header that prominently features your contact information at the very top of the page. Items to include in this header include your full name, your existing job tile, your email address, and your telephone number.

2. Salutation

Begin the cover letter proper by greeting your target hiring manager by name with a simple “Dear _______.” Conduct research to find this individual’s full, formal name, and never use impersonal and generic salutations such as “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam.”

3. Opening Paragraph

After your greeting, grab the hiring manager’s attention by immediately stating how you will benefit your target company in a single sentence. For example, “As a lifelong enthusiast of Apple and an experienced programmer a background in team leadership, I was thrilled to see your posting for the Lead Programmer position.’ Follow this statement with two or three of your most impressive and relevant accomplishments.

4. Middle Paragraph

Knowing that you have wowed your reader with a short list of what you have to offer, you can now go into a bit more detail. Explain exactly why you are the perfect candidate for the job in your middle paragraph. But remember that brevity is essential in a good cover letter, so don’t ramble on and on.

5. Final Paragraph

Beyond the first impression that you make with your introduction, your parting words in your final paragraph provide your best chance to make a positive impact. Wrap up and summarize the main idea you wish to convey about yourself. Be courteous but take care not to project neediness. Concentrate on the value you will bring and conclude with a call-to-action such as asking the hiring manager to meet with you.

6. Formal Closing

Similar to your salutation, your closing should bookend your cover letter in a professionally warm but relatively formal way. Beyond the standard “Sincerely,” you may want to consider closings such as “Best regards” and “Respectfully yours." While adding a handwritten signature above your typewritten name is optional, it is often wise to do so, particularly if your target company and/or hiring manager is relatively traditional.

7. Consider a Postscript

After closing with your name, you may want to consider adding a single-sentence postscript if you have any particularly urgent or pertinent information to convey. You may want to write this postscript by hand, particularly if you have already given your cover letter a handwritten touch by signing your name. Regardless, you should set off your postscript with the standard abbreviation “P.S.” and use it to stress your unique value proposition.

It’s hard to know what to say when someone has died. But you feel the urge to say something to support and sympathize. Follow this guide to composing a message of condolence to navigate that delicate situation and bring comfort to the grieving. 

1. Use the Deceased Person’s Name

Unless there is some cultural reason not to, saying, writing, and reading a person’s name after they’ve gone can bring comfort. It’s like they’re still here in our hearts.

2. Lead with Your Sympathy

Sympathy in writing is a direct acknowledgment that the person you’re speaking with has suffered a loss. It stays focused on the grieving person and does not try to relate their experiences to yours. 

Yes: I’m sorry for your loss.

Yes: I’m so sorry to hear your mom died.

No: When I lost my dog, I lost my best friend. I imagine you feel the same about your mom.

3. Say Something Nice

Even if you didn’t like the deceased person, it’s proper etiquette to say something nice about them right after they’ve passed. If you think hard enough, you can think of something that sounds believable. And of course, if you knew and loved this person too, it’s easier to find something. 

If you didn’t know the person, you might say "I heard such good things about them". If you can’t say this with good conscience, just leave this part out. 

4. Add a Personal Detail

If you knew the deceased, mention something special about them that might bring the grieving person joy in their sorrow. This shows that you’ve thought out your message. 

5. Use Language the Grieving Would Use

Some people say "died". Others say "passed away", "transitioned", or they may have a specific cultural-religious way to refer to death. While you are trying to be direct, it’s okay to use this alternate term in your message if the recipient would.

6. Point Out the Recipients’ Strength and Resilience

After losing someone, the grieving person may feel lost, hopeless, and suddenly alone. So next, remind them of a personal strength that will help them get through this. 

"Even in difficult times, I’ve always known you to… be resilient, see the glass as half full, see the silver lining, have faith that it’s all in the plan, persevere."

Choose one. You don’t need multiples. 

7. Share a Memory

While you shouldn’t relate this loss to yourself too early in the message, after the above is expressed, it is okay to make this about you. Better yet, if you have a good memory of you, the grieving, and the deceased, you can start with.: "The other day I was thinking about when we all…"

8. Offer Support

You should say this directly. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know."

But if this is a person who doesn’t let other people help them, say something like, "You’ve always been there for me. And now, I want to do anything I can to help you."

Only say that if it’s true and you can follow through. The last thing you want to do is sound disingenuous. 

9. Use a Sympathetic Closing

When signing-off, you might say the following before your name:

• With love.
• Thinking of you.
• I’m here if you want to talk.