Writing aCover Letter
Your cover letter is a preview to the main attraction: your resume. It carries the same weight of importance, except with this twist: Your cover letter is your chance to establish a personal connection with the company. Show you’ve done your research and offer specifics about how your military service makes you a contender. Here are tips for each of the three sections that typically make up a one-page letter.
Introduction
Kick off with the reason you’re applying. It’s not enough to state your name and where you found the listing. Explain why the position intrigues you, followed by a short explanation of how a particular military skill, experience or training makes you a strong candidate.
Body
People like to hear about themselves. Tell this employer why you like the company and work in a fact that you found in your research. Then explain what you bring to the table to boost the bottom line and/or overall mission. Be careful not to restate your resume. Instead, tell a story that’s not on your resume about what brings you to this company or about who you are. Remember that civilians, by and large, are fascinated with the military. They just don’t understand it. Bring your military service to life by avoiding military jargon and acronyms and instead explaining it with a real-life example of how your experience qualifies you. Finally, include buzzwords that relate to the industry, and explain specific military skills that correlate. For example, terms like “leads,” “quotas” and “customer service” are popular for sales jobs. Think about how your military job required you to meet “customer” demands; then, connect the dots for the reader.
Conclusion
Suggest a time and method for contacting you. Close the “sale” by summarizing your qualifications and how you will benefit the company, then thank the reader for their consideration.
