[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cover-letter.jpg” padding_mobile=”off” admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_divider height=”200″ admin_label=”Divider”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text max_width=”620px” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_font_size=”72″ text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.1em” custom_margin=”0px||0px|”]<\/p>\n
How to Write a Successful Cover Letter<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” admin_label=”row” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/jane-hurst.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” align=”center” disabled_on=”on|on|” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” disabled_on=”on|on|” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_font_size=”20″ text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”20px||0px|”]<\/p>\n
JANE HURST<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” disabled_on=”on|on|” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_font_size=”16″ text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”10px||60px|”]<\/p>\n Jane Hurst is a content manager from San Francisco. She enjoys writing tech articles and learns coding. Jane loves traveling and is a book addict.\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_text max_width=”720px” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”24″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”0px||0px|”]No matter what type of job you are applying for, it is always important to include a cover letter with your resume. Simply sending off a resume is not going to cut it, because it doesn\u2019t tell the whole story. Your cover letter is your introduction to a potential employer, and it tells them what they need to know about you and your career goals. Your cover letter should be specific to the type of job you want. If you are interested in government work, here are some things to consider in order to create a successful cover letter.<\/p>\n Choose the Right Type of Cover Letter<\/strong><\/p>\n There are actually three different types of cover letters, and it is important that you use the right one.<\/p>\n If you are unsure about which type of letter you should be writing, or how to write a cover letter<\/a>, there are many websites that offer loads of great information that will help.<\/p>\n Your Cover Letter and Resume are Separate Entities<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the first things to keep in mind when crafting a cover letter is that it shouldn\u2019t just be a rehash of what is on your resume. This is where you get to let your personality shine through, and show them what you are really made of. Try to add things that will show you have an interest, and knowledge about the position you are seeking. Show your interest in that particular field. Talk about how much you would love to be someone that is helping to make changes.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cover-letter3.jpg” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” background_color_2=”#efefe9″ parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ background_color=”#efefe9″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cover-letter2.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”24″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”20%|10%||10%” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop”]<\/p>\n One of the first things to keep in mind when crafting a cover letter is that it shouldn\u2019t just be a rehash of what is on your resume.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_font_size=”12″ text_text_color=”#888888″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”20px||20%|” custom_margin_tablet=”20px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n JANE HURST<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” parallax_method_4=”off” admin_label=”row” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”60px||0px|” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]Don\u2019t Write a Book<\/strong><\/p>\n While you do want to convey certain messages in your cover letter<\/a>, you don\u2019t need to write page upon page. Employers don\u2019t have time to read long cover letters. Keep it short, simple, and to the point. Yes, you want to emphasize certain things, but you don\u2019t actually have to go into great detail. If they want to know more about what you have said in your cover letter, they will ask during the interview.<\/p>\n Who to Address<\/strong><\/p>\n If you know exactly who your cover letter and resume are going to, by all means, address the cover letter to that person. But, if you are unsure, don\u2019t address it to anyone at all. Using \u201cto whom it may concern\u201d is not acceptable. It is best to just go right into the body of the cover letter, and end it with the proper salutation.<\/p>\n Formatting<\/strong><\/p>\n It is important that your cover letter is properly formatted. It should be formatted<\/a> as a professional business letter, with a font that matches your resume. This is not the time to get artsy and creative (unless of course you are applying for a job as an art teacher). Keep it simple, and use easy-to-read fonts<\/a> such as Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Georgia, and Verdana. Margins should be one inch, and there should be spaces between each sections, as well as between headers and sections. Try to keep the cover letter to a single page. Reduce the font size if necessary.<\/p>\n Send Your Cover Letter as a PDF<\/strong><\/p>\n Make sure that the employer is able to read your cover letter. They may not have computers that are able to read .docx files. But, pretty much all computers are able to open PDF files without the need for any file conversion that can cause formatting errors. So, this seems like the obvious choice for sending off a cover letter and resume.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”780px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|73.90625px|0px” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_text text_orientation=”center” admin_label=”Text” text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”36″ text_font_size_tablet=”26″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||70px|”] Want new articles before they get published? Subscribe to our Awesome Newsletter. [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_contact_form captcha=”off” admin_label=”Contact Form” module_id=”et_pb_contact_form_0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#02b875″ button_border_width=”8″ button_border_color=”#02b875″ button_border_radius=”4″][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”E-mail Address” field_title=”E-mail Address” field_background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” form_field_font=”PT Sans||||” form_field_font_size=”20″ form_field_font_size_tablet=”20″ form_field_font_size_phone=”20″ form_field_text_color=”#adadab” form_field_line_height=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_tablet=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_phone=”1.4em” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#adadab” border_width=”1″ border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”height:64px;”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”First Name” field_title=”First Name” field_background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” form_field_font=”PT Sans||||” form_field_font_size=”20″ form_field_font_size_tablet=”20″ form_field_font_size_phone=”20″ form_field_text_color=”#adadab” form_field_line_height=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_tablet=”1.4em” form_field_line_height_phone=”1.4em” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#adadab” border_width=”1″ border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”height:64px;”][\/et_pb_contact_field][\/et_pb_contact_form][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ background_color=”#222222″ custom_padding=”78px||78px|” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” padding_mobile=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” parallax_method_4=”off” admin_label=”Row” module_class=”border-hover”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/typing.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=”CAREER ADVICE” button_url=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/career-advice\/” button_text=”CAREER ADVICE” use_background_color=”off” admin_label=”Call To Action” header_font_size=”30px” body_font_size=”20px”] Advice from top Career specialists [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/news-cig.jpg” sticky=”on” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=”GOV TALK” button_url=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk-page\/” button_text=”Government Updates” use_background_color=”off” admin_label=”Call To Action” header_font_size=”30px” body_font_size=”20px”] Articles about the Public Sector [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/public-secot-trends.jpg” animation=”off” sticky=”on” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Image”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=”TRENDS” button_url=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/hr-tips-and-strategies\/” button_text=”TRENDS” use_background_color=”off” admin_label=”Call To Action” header_font_size=”30px” body_font_size=”20px”] Public Sector Trends [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" No matter what type of job you are applying for, it is always important to include a cover letter with your resume. Simply sending off a resume is not going to cut it, because it doesn\u2019t tell the whole story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3270,"featured_media":27254,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[68],"class_list":["post-27250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-advice","tag-resumes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n