A cover letter is your first—and perhaps only—chance to impress a potential client or employer. Don’t let that intimidate you, though. A cover letter is, in fact, your opportunity to shine. It gives an employer a brief glimpse of the potential success you bring with you. Your experience, your personality and your enthusiasm all play a part in helping you land the job. Don’t leave them behind when building your cover letter.
How do I write a Cover Letter? In general, be honest, genuine and professional. But the details can get a bit more complicated. Follow these simple guidelines to create a compelling cover letter that will be hard for an employer to resist!
- Start with a warm and professional greeting. This person is considering hiring you – so your opening should encourage them to think of you as someone they’d like to work with. “Dear Mr. Smith,” “Dear John Smith,” or “Mr. Smith,” are all appropriate. “Hey Bob,” “What’s up, Jim?” or anything extremely casual should be changed to err on the side of formality. Don’t know the name of the person doing the hiring? “Dear Hiring Manager,” is a great way to set a professional tone from the get-go.
- Get to the point. Your cover letter is not the time to write a novel about yourself. Let the employer know why you’re contacting them, what skills you have that make you the right person for this position, and where they can find more information about your work experience: “I’m interested in the position of Lead Blogger you recently posted. I have been a professional writer for nine years, and am very familiar with WordPress and Typepad. During my 3 years as editor-in-chief of BeingInterested, I managed a team of writers that produced 5 blogs posts a week. You can see some of my own writing in my portfolio (www.odesk.com/users/~~…)
- Hit the highlights. Most job postings will give you very clear hints about the type of skills the desired candidate will have. If you have these skills, you should mention them – repeating the employer’s needs for the role and how you fill those criteria will make it clear that you are the right person for the job: “You had mentioned that you were looking for someone with a background in creative writing and journalism. I studied both in college, where I majored in English. I began my career as an assistant editor at the local paper, where I learned to take a hands-on approach to investigative journalism.”
- Follow directions. Many potential employers will ask candidates to fulfill a specific request in their cover letter. This is designed to help them quickly weed through applications, and cull out those who are taking the “copy & paste” approach to submitting resumes. If you’re asked to answer specific questions or include a keyword in your reply, make sure you do it! As an added bonus, calling out that they have requested this information is a great way to let them know you are about to make their hiring decision even easier: “Per your request, here are the links to three articles I’ve written about local events, gardening or technology….”
- Close the sale. Make sure you let them know your availability for the position and invite them to contact you to discuss further. It’s a polite way to “ask for the job” and reinforce your enthusiasm for working with this employer: “Moving forward, I can dedicate 15 hours/week to your company, and my daily hours are negotiable. I’m very excited to assist you in making your blog successful – please feel free to contact me directly to discuss this position further.”
- Reread, edit and consider. Before you click “send”, take another look at the job description. Did you address all of their criteria in your cover letter? If you were the person hiring for this position, would your cover letter fit the bill? Does your profile and your portfolio support your application for this job? (If not, don’t apply! Save your energy for a position that better suits your skills and abilities.) If you’re unsure, ask a friend to review the job posting and your cover letter, and listen carefully to their perspective – they might find a hidden gem that makes the difference in you landing the job!
Cover letters are the first view an employer or client gets of you, so make sure you’re putting your best foot forward. For more tips on crafting a successful cover letter, check out our previous post on Writing a Killer Cover Letter, a brief list of ways to ensure your cover letter is truly “killer”.
Got your own thoughts on crafting a successful cover letter? We’d love to hear them!
Thanks For providing me this reliable information ,
It may helpfull in geting me work on odesk
wow!good way for cover letter.
Really informative for an effective cover letter that would land you with a job. Thank you.
Great blog post, it was really helpful, thanks for this “tips”.
Nice article, when see I really impress and I will follow.
Have you got your first job?
this is a great article, which will support to achieve one’s desire goal
Thanks for important instruction.
The article is most helpful for a new worker. Huge thanks for the article.
Nice Info!
Thanks
Thank you for sharing me the idea. I’m happy that odesk is very reliable and trustworthy. I feel at home with the advices and the help they offer to newbie.I believed God bring me to this place. I hope I can follow correctly and make my cover letter attractive. More power and God bless
Nice article!!
My account is suspended because of my Cover letter was not good. Can I still use my odesk account?When will be my suspension be lifted?
hai frecilyn. i can’t open my account..i cant remember my password in opening my odesk
Thanks for your efforts and to join us and the Sarusselk God willing
Thank you for the information. It was very helpful. I’ll follow the instructions about writing a cover letter for job application.
Hi Erica,
You look cute!
Really helpful, thanks for the article.
Inevitable & indispensable information!
Thanks
Really awesome tips for all kind of contractor
absolutely it will help us to create good cover letter.
thanks mam,
it is so much helpful to understand complete scenario.
regards
surendra
Dear Miss Erica
Thanks for your helps.
Your article potentiate for me.
Again i thanked the writer.
Dear Miss. Erica,
Thank you very much for the usefull Information/ Hints. I am very greatfull
to you.
Thanks & Regards.
we all should be thankful for her to write such an awesome post to make a cover letter.
I will follow her guidelines.
Thank you
Thank you so very much
Thank you!
Great job
very useful
Hi Erica,
Very useful guide for new comers on odesk, it covers all aspect of “do’s” but If it covers “don’ts” such as contact detail in the covering letter guide will become complete.
Thanks
Snigdha
Wow this was really helpful. Thanks
Good Morning,
Iam new in odesk can u help me find any job, iam .Net Developer
Help me writing cover letter, I want a job in typing.
Dear odesk team, thanks for the guidelines.I got a good knowledge regarding, how to create a cover letter .I think that, it will help me to show my skills to others.It is very important in the present context that anyone entering the job market should do so at a very early age .The word of works revolves around the constant need to solve problems.
This guidelines provide detailed guidance on how to craft an overall excellent cover letter so you can make it perfect and customize it to your own experience and to
the role you are applying for.
Thanks!
Darshana Dias
Yes. Darshana Dias is right. odesk team gave me too a very good insight into a productive covering letter. Thank you odesk team.
MMM hiffni
Thanks you for this guide
Thank you very much for the instruction. Thank you so very much!!!!!
I AM HIGHLY THANKFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDELINES YOU PROVIDED.
THANKS YOU VERY MUCH
Dear Sir,
I am new in Odesk & i need job from here. I applied a lot of job but didn’t select for the job in order to a perfect cover letter. Would you please suggest me for how can i write the best cover letter and get the job.
very helpful your advice.
good
hello erica, just now i read your topic. i think this can help me to create my cover letter very well. i want to know one more thing that is what type of job is better for a contractor. fixed price job or hourly job.
i hope you give me the answer as early as possible.
Hi, thanks for the information about the importance of having a good cover letter, i am still learning how to to it.
And i am thankful for the knowledge shared,
Thanks a lot for this model.
I know that the post will must help other. I am new in oDesk. I will try to maintenance all rules in odesk.
I am type 8 pages
hi,
i am interested to do your job, i can collect phone number. i do use properly ms office. so i thinks, i can do your job properly.
thanks
hey,it’s a nice cover letter,i like it.
pls,tell me,how can i be successful in odesk?
Its really helpful for Us.
Thanks Odesk Blog
Dear
I hope u r fine.
Try again again and again and again for success.
tanx to odesk blog 4 this post i am benefited by this post.
i love work.i will be available 8 hours per day to work
i agree to do outsourcing job
Pls help me how to work at odesk company If any one pls help me.
pleas give me work. complete work send time to time.
expertise in accounting ,auditing and taxation……..
I a’m subha from tiruneveli,tamilnadu.I have completed B.Tech-IT now on 2012. To be an excellent software professional and move into higher technology areas which provide an environment to improve my technical and analytical abilities…i need a job from your company and I will be useful for developing the company.
My skills:
C,C++,MS Office,sql server,flash,photoshop,facebook,visual basic,dotnet.
Ability to handle problems in a efficient way,team leader.
good
PLEASE GIVE ME A GOOD JOB BY ODESK
I want to know how i can write a cover letter.
Hmm,,, Thanks..
send me a good cover page. please,.
hi my name is Goher butt and i am using odesk.I’m a competent graduate with exceptional IT skills and professional internert researcher, data entry specialist with strong grip or internet websites process and data mining techniques etc etc.
i can prove myself on being given an opportunity in one of the below mentioned skills.
looking some cover letter i have need very soon.
Hello,
Just want to ask any more advice in writing a professional cover letter
-Thanks
Give me a sagest of crafting a successful cover letter
i would like to apply data entry
find work
alamin
Please advice to me good cover letter
Dear Sir
At first take of my salam. I am a new candidate in this site. I know what write cover letter. Please help me.
Please advice to me good cover letter
Thanks for informed me & give more cover latter .
thank you.Will better if you provide a sample cover letter.
Hi I am Vijay Selvam, I’m trying to get job in odesk, but i dont know how to approach the client, can anyone advice me how to approach and how to get job.
Thanks & Regards,
Vijay Selvam.
Thanks for share such a nice blog. Please keep updating…….
i am interested to do data entry and writing job
i agree to do outsourcing job
i feel that odesk is the best online platform to hire and contract. keep up with the good job.
i was leaned more information about O-Desk.
thanks o-desk blog.
I am wanted a good cover letter
I WANT A GOOD COVER LETTER.
I KNOW HOW TO WRITE A GOOD COVER LETTER.
hi fardus, i need your help. how can i contact you?
good
Dear Miss Benton,
I haven’t had any article of such kind and it is extremely useful in professional life. Your suggestions are very practical and really up to the mark. After having gone through this article, I’m sure I’ll feel a lot better and can draft a somewhat professional resume on my own. It was very kind of you and all the 6 points are worthy of reading. It has helped me a lot and am going to write a spanking new cover letter now since there has been no response from my earlier cover letter. Thanks for sharing this beautiful information as it’ll really help the newbies as well as contractors like me.
Best Regards,
Ubaid
Hello MAM,
I read your blog its very helpful. But this post is helpful for them who have portfolio. what about whom they are new comers?
Please give me good suggestion. I will be thankful.
I teach students to write cover letters. I also correct and grade them.
How come no one in these responses knows how to write or spell, yet we are all expected to have impeccable English and writing skills in order to get jobs with odesk clients?? This is confusing and perturbing to me. As a new odesk contractor (and certified English teacher), I find odesk to be very complicated, and too comprehensive. The pay is ridiculous as well, with some clients only willing to pay $1 an hour. Seriously?! I have spent over 20 hours just getting my account set up and a few tests taken.
Now I can’t find a job to apply for that’s even worth my time.
Really I am now in 5.00 star……..:p
Hello ! This very good source of think ? I really good ideas and knowledge of new user of oDesk ? Thanks
Its really good helpful for writing good cover letter.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS COVER LATER
Thanks to Erika
where i get Attachment for timing of apply
thank to Erica
thankful to Erica for your suggest about cover letter
Thank you for you guidelines.
i am very curious
THAT’S AGOOD EARNING SIDE
Hello
Thank you for the guid,I didn’t know that before.
I followed some of your friendly advice regarding the best way of making cover letters.this is my first time in applying job in odesk.I hope I can make it… wish me luck.!
Hello Erica mam, thank you for your valuable advise . I am a new employer for this site. I felt confusion about cover letter. Now I follow your advise and try to make a great cover letter.
Hi Mem Erica, I am also an odesk User as a link Building expert, can you please tell me what is a Good time to bid? i will be thankful.
I am data entry expert. I will work low rate. I know english and bengali. I want to work hourly.
Thank You!!! I am sure Odesk is talking about the CV’s they seen me submit…lol..I really did need the help…lol…Now I feel more confident and can structure the cover letter properly…lol..Thanks Odesk…
Thank you so much Steven Brough for the good guide in writing a cover. it gives me clear idea on how to make it
it is very helpful for me as a first timer to write a cover letter. Thanks, indeed. Look forward to your next helpful tips soon.
Thank you so much Maam Erica for the good guide in writing a cover. it gives me clear idea on how to make it
It is need for all employer .
Really very very useful information
From someone who has read through a lot of cover letters, my advice would be two things, first repeat back to the buyer how you have understood the project and then a little bit about how you would go about doing the work of it. Second, provide a targeted sample. Show an example of something you have done that is as close to the type of work being requested, not lists of links. Always provide samples of your writing if it is a writing job.
I could go on forever here but the buyer is looking for someone who understands what it is he/she is asking for, if you can show that you do understand the requirements then straight away there will be an empathy between the two of you. Hope this helps.
PS. Don’t use generic cover letters unless you want to be seen as generic, most buyers scan hundreds, even thousands of replies and like Google, they can spot duplicate content a mile off. Hope this helps.
Hi Mr. Brough! my first time here on oDesk trying to create a first made cover letter, and I would definitely take your advice!
Hey, this is a big help. Thank you for sharing this important information for new users like me.
Regards.
am a new member in this family i just got it so interesting with orientation because i now i have a start from point.big up odesk support team.
I heard Odesk is a good company. If I get opportunity to work in Odesk I will feel greatly. Thank you
Informative……Hoping to get more response from Employers after following guidelines.
Great guide lines, after reading the document i drafted one for myself, and can modify and send to my employers in future.
Thanks again.!!
I think it also very helpful for new comer.
I’ve been working in odesk for almost 3 years and really satisfied with their service.
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Very helpful and best guidance.
Thanks
In writing a cover letter,don’t be too humble.I guess,you have to act straight to the words.
thanks for the very wonderful example of a cover letter..
Thank You
Dear Erica,
I’m new here and I needed to read this since my first and only application was turned down on cover letter basis, thanks for the guide. I will work with this and hope for a good response soon.
I couldn’t help noticing a little typo in your brief profile though …when she see one…….. I think it should be ‘sees’. I hope I don’t sound like a critical person cos i’m really not, just trying to contribute positvely!
Thanks once again, looking forward to a great experience on odesk!
These cover letter is very good.
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Thank you, This is very important information for beginner contractor.I will use it for my first cover letter.
Thanks
Thank you, Erica! Your advises are great!
best help for a beginner contractor.
you have mention a real information for odesk contractor
excellent
i will use it for my first Cover Letter
thanks for thios helpful information. I will apply it on my cover letters and I hope it will impress the hiring managers.
Hi madem ERICA,
I knew that a killing covering letter could do it 100% but lack of tools to do so.Now I have enough of
them. I’m happy to say a BIG THAAAAAAAAAAAAANKS
and I reserve the right to do it again and again because I’m sure you may strike again with newer tools .
Hello dear,,
Thais is Abdul Qudoos..
I am a Seo expert, including blog commenting, Backlinking, link building, Social bookmarking, Directory submission, Data entry.. I have 5 years experience in Seo field and now start independently.. With struggling a lot to win a project over the Odesk and complete some tests and skills test, but still not getting projects from it. I request can you send me a sample cover letter for SEO expert please,, as will make the edit for each and every project i bid later on..
When i will well experience in biding then i ll make my own cover letter..
Mam i will wait for your kindness…
Thanks…
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Thanks , its helpful for me. Thanks a lot
i don’t understand any thing plz some one inform me
Thanks for this Awesome idea.
Hello Mam,
This is Sumeet and I’m a Web and Graphics Designer and struggling a lot to win a project over the Odesk as i’m here since last couple of years and complete some test and skills test, but still not getting projects from it. I request can you please send me a sample cover letter for web & graphics design project, as will make the edit for each and every project i bid later on.
Please send me a sample cover letter.
Best Regards,
Sumeet V.
liton has done it all nice job there.
Dear Hiring Manager,
i am interest in your job post involving these skills. I want to offer myself as a candidate for the same. I am an expert in facebook, social media marketing, twitter. I believe my skills would be ideal for your project.
I shall respond to your further queries should you require so.
In the above circumstances, may I hope that you would be kind enough to consider my application and appoint me to this job prayed for. I will be available 20 hours per week for this position.
Regards,
Liton Chandra
nice idea
but you can tell me that how to join this, i want to work with this site as a data entry job
Muhammad, we have many articles to offer guidance for new contractors here on the oDesk blog, but you may find more direct feedback from other users on the oDesk forums: http://www.odesk.com/community
dear,
erica i love uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
I am trusted to success to detection of cover letter tips. A lot of thanks to guide line.
I am realy very happy with the guide lines provided by the oDESK Team about the writing tips that how to write a cover letter.
Thanks and Regards
Indeed and of course very astonishing and simple guide lines.
Brgds
Aftab
Thanks for the advice. Ecitement will not push me to overworked for the few days of my life.
Dear Erica,
Thanks for important guidance to impress a employer. But honestly, I do follow all this steps while writing cover letter yet I got declined most of the time. Could you please let me know why??
Waiting for your kind reply. Thank you.
Dear Softech,
Every employer has their own criteria they use to judge applicants by. In declining your application, employers should have selected a reason they didn’t choose you – what are they saying?
You may also want to ask the community to review your profile and suggest improvements to make your application more attractive to employers.
Success in online work comes from patience, persistence and continually looking for ways to improve.
Good luck!
Erica
Even odesk community isn’t safe from backlinking. How funny..!
This Blog makes a big help to newbie.Thank you very much.
I am agreed with Mr. Asif. It will be more potential if catagorised.
Md. Istehad Hossain
Hi,
Can I share my direct contacts- viz email id and chat id in a cover letter with a prospective employer?
Actually in an example which I read in one of the odesk pages, I found the cover letter had the candidate’s email id and chat id. However, in the same page where instructions are given, it is clearly stated not to share one’s email id or chat id. I am confused as to which is the correct path.
Gargi, please do not share your contact information in the cover letter. Interviews are done via the oDesk Message Center and many employers will not request your contact information until after you are hired.
Hi,
Erica how are you! I am aslam, i am freelance architectural designer. i am member of odesk.
please reply your message.
Hi
I read this post 2 times. It is very useful.
Pls try to keep posting.
Let me show other source that may be good for community.
Source: Assistant buyer cover letter
Best regards
Jonathan.
Dear sir,
I’m waiting for your job.I’ll finish my job as soon as possible..Please me kind enough
this is best guide for new comer thanks for your team
This is exactly the kind of information, people new to Odesk need. Keep up the great work!!
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I have studied throughout the whole matter and found good ways to write down a best cover letter for achieving a job best fit for the applicant. I always follow the same rules every at the time of posting the job on the sites.
thanks.
Thanks for the idea! wish to land a good and long term job with this.
=)
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Its really very help full, Thanks!
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Thanks for all the useful info!
Thank you so much for the help…
Not as good as this one, in my opinion:
http://www.kreuzberger.com/candidates/Contract%2520Resources/Applicant%2520dos%2520and%2520donts%2520_2_.pdf
The Kreuzberger & Associates Do’s and Don’ts is the best advice I have yet read about writing to employers. It tells you what looks cheap and what annoys employers.
I want to translate this post into Bengali and publish in my blog.
Erica, would you allow this?
Tanmoy,
I would be honored if you would share this post with your blog readers in Bengali. Please link back to the original post here at oDesk.com, so that it is clear where you got the content of your article.
Thanks!
Erica
Thank you for sharing. It’s very helpful for new comer. Have a great day and good luck!
This is very helpful. Thanks a lot
this is best guide for new comer thanks for your team….
This is best guide to newcomer thanks for your team…
Well cover letter is a greate thing to market yourself or your company, i’m a proffessional .Net developer but i was failed to get myself hired although i had lots of experience, so when i red this artical it’s inspire me with a greate ideas of how to market myself well, after that i got a my dream job in multinational IT company here in Egypt.
So nothing i can to say more than thank you so much.
Yes, an Absolute guide for the beginners, and this could give me a great deal for writing quality covering letters, Thanks.
great guide, thank you very much….
hi! guys.
Thanks for your wonderful Tips. If you submit a full sample cover letter by catgorised It will be more helpfull for new contractor. Please do something for new contractor. Thanks again..
Thank you so much Erica this info about cover letter really help full not even for new provider i hope it will give the right way to write a good cover letter to experienced providers too.
But i think it was more beneficial for providers if some sample good cover letter examples would be attached.
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Thanks for the wonderful ideas you put.
I will be more appreciate if you catagorize by put some sample cover letter. for example
1. For Data entry job
2. For Web designing job
3. For Presentiaon job
4. For Marketing job
And so on
Aasif, thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately, the skills providers bring to the table for these positions can vary greatly. I’d rather provide detailed guidance on how to craft an overall excellent cover letter so you can make it perfect and customize it to your own experience and to the role you are applying for.
If you still are seeking sample cover letters for these fields, a quick search of the internet will turn up many good options.
Thanks!
Erica
I absolutely agree with your assessment. Most job applicants think the longer a letter is, the better their chances are in getting hired. But its the complete opposite in my opinion. When applying for any position, I think being short, clean, simple is the way to go. Thanks for the tips. You should also try checking out this site: http://freethoughtsfirstblogpost.blogspot.com/2010/05/cover-letter-tips-to-getting-interview.html
It also has great tips on how a cover letter can get you an interview
These tips are very useful and informative, for we humans tend to forget. Now, I feel I am on the right track. Good work. Please keep it up. Thanks Odesk team.
Well cover letters are good to market oneself. I tried to use cover letters but after reading this post I realized that my approach was not entirely correct. But I was thinking about freelancers letting their professional profile speak for itself. For instance, there is this great website for freelancers called Skillocracy.com, where I can build my reputation and get noticed by business owners as opposed to using a cover letter. But hey, that’s me.
good stuff to know. hope this helps me. thanks charles.
A great guide!
nice
Excellent job.I was totally unknown about the cover letter.I have applied many jobs but did not get any reply perhaps now I think it was for mistaking in fulfilling the cover letter correctly.This article some how will help me I think.Again I thanked the writer.
Nice
Thanks
very good idea. This is a window of opportunity for any new comer.