Cover Letter Advice: What You Need to Know

On a (very) late Friday night, I began typing away on my laptop, attempting to write up a great cover letter that would help me land a rewarding internship. But I had no idea where to start! After that unsuccessful night, I vowed to find an easy, painless way to write a cover letter. Read on and discover three quick pointers for cover letter success!
 
Make it special and individualize
The whole point of a cover letter is to “sell yourself” to a potential employer. Discuss specific achievements or opportunities you’ve had that you weren’t able to mention on your resume. However, giving every employer a rundown of every little thing you’ve done in your college career won’t entirely benefit you either. To start off, write one or two short paragraphs that include general information (class standing, contact information, etc). Be sure to recycle this — I promise it’ll make your life easier! The nice chunk of your cover letter will prove to a potential employer that you are perfect for the internship or job you’re applying for. If an employer is looking for someone who “is passionate about all things fashion,” mention your fashion column in your school’s newspaper and your fashion blog. Individualize your cover letter every time. 
 
Ditch the Thesaurus
Give yourself a break and keep the language in your cover letter simple. Be sure to keep it short and clear — using three sentences to express a thought that could simply be summarized in one sentence isn’t always preferred. 
 
Double-check everything
Even spelling the employer’s name wrong can ruin your chances in being offered a position. Employers want to hire someone who’s thoughtful when it comes to their work, not someone who’s careless.  Although spell check is convenient, you shouldn’t completely rely on it to catch your mistakes. Have someone else read it and make changes if necessary. Something else to keep in mind: be consistent with your font and font size; have your content sound and look professional! Yes, employers are like the grammar police, but don’t think of it as a bad thing. The extra time you spend proofreading your materials, the sharper your editing skills will become, which will come in handy once you land your dream internship!  
 
What’s your number one tip for writing a perfect cover letter?