Look at the job description and pick out the duties that you have experience or skill with. Pick only the top two or three skills that are relevant to the job posting. Prepare to address these skills in your cover letter. Do the same with the qualifications section of the posting. Pick out your qualifications that match those of the job, and make note of them so you can state them in your letter.
Place your name, title, and address on the top left of the paper. Place the date below this. Put the person’s name, title, and address below this. Address the person appropriately. Start with “Dear Mr. " or “Dear Mrs. " Have 1-inch margins around the paper and use single spacing. Don’t indent, just use a double space in between paragraphs. Use an easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman or Arial, in 12-point font. End with “Sincerely,” then leave 4 lines so you can manually sign your name. Below this, type your name and title.
If you’re unaware of the recipient’s gender, then use the person’s full name after “Dear. "
The opening sentence should read something like: “I am writing with interest in the receptionist position at your company. " When actually writing the letter, make sure to name the company. If someone at the company recommended that you apply for the position, mention him or her here. In this case, the opening sentence would read: “I am writing with interest in the receptionist position at your company that John Smith recommended to me. "
A good introduction would be: “I am a recent graduate of New York University, where I majored in business. "
Mention exactly what the company does, and why these activities interest you. Don’t be afraid to compliment the company here – a little flattery can help break the ice with a potential employer.
Address specific parts of the job posting. This shows that you’ve done your work, and will also display your qualifications in a nice, succinct way for the recipient. Mention your past experience and how it will suit you for this job. Here is a good opportunity to elaborate on some points on your resume that don’t get fully covered on the resume itself. For example, a past internship is only a quick entry on your resume, but perhaps you gained invaluable skills on it that will make you a perfect fit for this job. Mention that here. Specifically, you should focus on customer service and computer experience. Receptionists work on the computer and interact with people every day, so this experience is crucial. [11] X Research source
Your closing should sound something like this: “As you can see from my qualifications, I am an ideal candidate for this position. I greatly look forward to hearing from you and speaking further. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. "
