You’ve just graduated with an Associate of Arts in business and you’re ready to land that first clerical job. The one that will get you out of your parents’ house and hopefully pay enough for a small apartment and a decent car. Your resume looks good and now you’re ready to write the all-important cover letter.
Where to start? What to say? How to put your best foot forward without sounding over confident? Some suggestions that will get you past a gatekeeper or two:
Summarize your skills and clerical experience. This is what the employer wants to know right off—do you have the experience and skill sets they need to do the job? Be brief here and put this at the top of the letter.
Match your skills with the ad posting. Read and re-read the job posting or ad. This is your biggest clue as to what they’re specifically looking for. If certain skill sets are listed, expound on your abilities in those areas. If certain hardware/software systems are listed as “must haves,” elaborate on your experience or training in those systems.
State why you want the job. “I look forward to working for your company (or division) because…” Do some research and include what you admire about the company, why you think working there would be a good fit--for their goals as well as your career. The employer wants to hire someone who is motivated by more than just a paycheck. Clerical positions can be tedious, especially for those starting out. Employers want to know that you’ll stick it out and become a valuable member of the clerical support team.
Sell initiative. If, in your past jobs, you created a new filing system, implemented a new software program, or contributed creatively to a presentation, sell that. Show that you’re not just ten fingers on a keyboard. That you’re willing to go beyond the job description.
Ask for the interview. Be bold, available and ask for an interview. Many applicants ignore this critically important step. They leave this up to the employer, hoping and waiting for the phone to ring. Asking for the interview suggests confidence in your ability to do the job. It sets you apart from the herd.
Check for grammar and typos. Don’t rely on spell-check programs to catch typos and grammatical errors. Read it over and have someone else read it.
Let the letter “age.” If an urgent response is not requested, let your cover letter age a day or so. Let the words simmer into your mind. Then read the job ad or posting and re-read your letter. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Does your letter “answer” the ad or posting? Does it whet your appetite for the resume?
Got suggestions for writing a cover letter for clerical positions? Include them in the comments section below.
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