Does your cover letter let you down?

Gaining that competitive edge in a crowded job market can be challenging. One of the best tools you have outside of your resume is a compelling cover letter that has new, compelling content that clearly outlines why you’re the best candidate for the position.

This is the perfect opportunity to present the recruiter or hiring manager with a series of compelling reasons why you should proceed to the next stage of the process, an interview.

Make sure you have read and understand the job requirements and what it takes to be successful and explain why you meet and exceed those key requirements.

Nothing captures the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager more than a well-designed document that highlights why you, as a potential employee, meet those requirements. Also, provide some specific examples in the document.

While this may take a while to complete, it can be worth the investment, regardless of whether you do the document yourself or hire a professional service provider to do the work for you.

Don’t let a recruiter or hiring manager read between the lines on your resume, lay out why you qualify and what you’ll bring to the position; be clear about the value you will add to the business.

A couple of key things to consider:

Spelling and Grammar: Check your spelling and grammar (have a trusted friend proofread your document, or use a resume service provider like Resumes to You).

Delighted: Make sure your content is new, exciting, and not just a stale copy of your resume content.

Format: Format your document in a standard professional layout. Your cover letter is a first impression, and you want to make the right impact. If it’s poorly formatted, it could negatively affect your chances.

Personalize your cover letter: If you know the name of the recruiters, send them the letter. Add the company name and address and add the job title for reference. (personalizing your cover letter will have a positive impact).

Double verification: Before you hit submit, make sure you have attached the correct documents, especially when submitting. Sending a job application addressed to the wrong employer or recruiter could kill your chances. It looks unprofessional, sloppy, and demonstrates a lack of care or attention to detail.

Solve a problem: If you submit an application and suddenly realize you’ve submitted the wrong document, don’t forget… contact the recruiter and let them know you submitted the wrong document and make arrangements to submit the correct items. surprised how this can work for you.

There are other things to consider, depending on your needs when developing a cover letter.

One of the best investments you can make is to revise your cover letter and, if necessary, professionally rewrite it to improve your chances in a crowded and competitive marketplace.

If you have mistakes or your document is misspelled, that could cost you a lot during the application process, so checking these few items could make all the difference.