Every effective cover letter for resume should have the following components
Heading and salutation
The cover letter for resume and resume proper should have a matching look as though coming from the same family. Include your contact information such as Name, Address, Phone number etc. in exactly the same way as you did in the resume.
This should be followed by the recipient’s name, title, company name, division and company address. Your salutation should set a professional tone for the letter. Do not use ‘To whomsoever it may concern’, ‘Good morning’ etc. Start with ‘Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. (Recipient’s last name). Salutations such as Dear Sir or Dear Madam should be used only as a last resort if you are simply unable to find the person’s name.
Opening paragraph
The objective of the opening paragraph in a cover letter for resume is to tell your reader the reason for writing this letter. For example, you may be responding to an ad or based on a lead from an acquaintance. ‘I am writing today in response to your ad in ‘The Job Chronicler’ dated May 10,2008. My attached resume will show you that I have the skills and experience to fill this position.’
Main message paragraph
The next paragraph or two should convey the main message. The objective is to differentiate you from the competition and show that you are the best candidate for the position. You do this by addressing the employer’s needs giving examples to show how you fill those needs.
‘As you will note from my enclosed resume, I have more than three years experience in the field. I began as a secretary and worked my way up to an administrative position at Major Machines. I type 80 words per minute and am proficient in MS Word and Pagemaker.’
Supporting paragraph
The next paragraph in the cover letter for resume should explain why you are interested in working for the particular company. It demonstrates that you have knowledge about the company and the industry.
‘Major Machines is a dynamic and growing organization, and I would love to be part of your team.’
Request for Action
This paragraph is very important and it should contain a request for the reader to take action and invite you for an interview. You can simply request that the employer email or call you for an interview.
‘I look forward to meeting you personally and request you to mail or call me to arrange a meeting at your convenience.’
Closing paragraph
This paragraph thanks the reader for reading your letter and resume. You must also let them know that you wish to move forward in the application process. In some cases, you can include your request for action within the closing paragraph.
‘I welcome the opportunity to prove that I can make an effective contribution to Major Machines. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.’