3 Tips to Avoid a Boring, Self-Absorbed Cover Letter

3 Tips to Avoid a Boring, Self-Absorbed Cover Letter3 Tips to Avoid a Boring, Self-Absorbed Cover Letter3 Tips to Avoid a Boring, Self-Absorbed Cover LetterWhen you meet someone new, its not always easy to strike up a conversation, especially if you focus only on yourself. Self-absorption is a big turn-off. The trick is to find something of mutual interest and see how far it takes you. If your knowledge matches their interests, and vice versa, it could be the start of a great friendship.The same theory applies to writing your titelseite letter, which acts as a conversation starter for the really deep topic that follows your resume.Karen Burns aka Working Girl drove this point home brde month in an article, A Good Cover Letter Starts with You. It reminded me of a night waaaaayyy back in my single days when I was talking sort of with a young woman in a bar. The problem was I couldnt get her to stop talking about what was apparently her favorite subject herself. About 30 mind-numbing mi nutes later, she handed me her phone number, which I tossed in a trash can on my way home.The point? When you write a cover letter, take the focus off yourself and place it on the partie and company youre writing to.You should have already taken a good, close look at the job description, highlighted keywords and phrases, and mirrored them in your resume. Use those to start building your case in your cover letter for how you can help them. Then1)Do your homework. Scour the companys web site and other resources for information and news to gather a complete picture of what they do, what their markets are, how the job youre applying for fits in, and how your background can help contribute to their success. Then, work that knowledge into your cover letter.Bad ExampleI have 10 years of experience in domestic and foreign procurement in the consumer products sector.Good Example My 10 years of procurement experience in the consumer products sector, especially in sourcing goods from foreign c ounties, can be of immense help with your expansion into Asian markets.2)Keep I and my under control. Yes, youll need to say I or my to describe your skills and how they fit with the company and the position emphasize your interest in the job and sometimes address salary expectations. But there are some instances where you can go without it. For instance, a ansicht like I believe my skills match the jobs requirements is more powerful without the I believe. Ever have an English teacher take off points if you used I believe or In my opinion in an assignment? Its no secret that what you write is coming from you, so these phrases are unnecessary.3)Let someone else speak for you with a written recommendation. Consider including an endorsement from an ex-boss or colleague. Social networking sites like LinkedIn are making written recommendations the new references. Another option is to quote remarks from a past performance review.An example In 2007, our CEO John Smith said my dedication, a ttention to detail, and strong communications skills with our Asian suppliers were instrumental in helping us gain 15% in market share in that region.Your cover letter serves as the opening act for your resume. In todays economy, a well-written cover letter targeting the employers specific needs can help vault you above a larger-than-normal field of competitors. To grab the hiring managers attention, keep your cover letter focused on the company.