A lot of jobs now require cover letters with their online applications. This makes a little more work for you to apply, but it gives you a great space to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Here’s how:

1. Personalize it

You should NEVER send the same cover letter to different employers. Apply your experience to the job duties & responsibilities you see in the job listing to increase your chances of a call-back!

2. Add the company address

At the top of the page, make sure the address of the company, as well as the name of the hiring manager or whoever is set to receive applications. You can usually find this info on the job listing, or on the company website. If you really can’t find anything, you can put ‘To Whom It May Concern,’. This helps make your cover letter look more professional and formalized - and increase your odds of getting called in to interview!

3. Add your contact info

Even if you have your phone number and email on your resume and in your email signature, you want to have it on your cover letter as well. Don’t make them search for it! Add it in the end in the last paragraph, after thanking them for their time.

4. Grammar, grammar, grammar

You MUST have correct grammar in your cover letter. This is not the time for shorthand or for typos - have a friend or family member read it and edit it for you. If you want more help, consider checking out your local unemployment center - they will most likely have someone who does this. You can also check out Grammarly - it’s free!

5. Sign it

This is one of the best ways to make your cover letter stand out from the crowd. Print out your cover letter, and sign it by hand! You can also scan your signature and keep the image file to use for other cover letters later on. No printer/scanner? Check out your local library, they will be able to help!

Have other cover letter tips to share? Comment below!!

Get the inside scoop on what a company is ALL about by asking these questions during your next interview or at a job fair! This will help to determine if their work culture is right for you.

-Where do the people who work here usually eat their lunch? Are they eating while they work at their desks? Do they offer a common area to share their lunch time? Do they go out for lunch together? Figuring out how employees spend their lunch will tell you whether they are slammed with work, don’t want to spend time with their colleagues, and if they enjoy each other’s company.

-Would it be alright to take a quick tour? Environment is KEY here, so be sure to take it all in if they offer a tour and observe all that you can. This is the place you will be every day if you are hired. As you look around, are individuals interacting with one another? Do the workers look stressed? Is the break/lunch room decorated/clean? Does it give you a good vibe or a negative one?

-How do you measure success? Is your future employer going to have unrealistic expectations? Make sure you feel confident to go after what they explain they will be expecting of you. If you aren’t then this might not be the right place for you. An employer that demands LONG work days, for example, may not be a good fit, but if you are a workaholic then it will be a perfect fit for you!

-What are some past company outings or events that you’ve had? This will reveal if they are all work and no play as well as how they treat their employees. Do they offer professional development? What kinds of activities have they done previously? A company will most likely have a holiday party at the very least, but I have worked for some that did not, and as it turns out the employees weren’t truly valued. This is so important! If you want to work for an employer who takes care of their employees be sure to ask this question.

Good luck with any future interviews you have coming up!!

Want to know more?

Comment below with your questions.

Check out these tips to help you feel prepared and confident so you can land the job during your next interview!

1- Are you dressed to impress? Check out this [great post] (https://www.jobcase.com/conversations/60d77b2f-6640-5331-8816-dca310ec58bf?from=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.jobcase.com%252Fcommunity) on what to wear during your next interview! Make sure to lay your clean clothes out the night before and check for wrinkles/stains (it happens).

2- What to bring? Write down 3-5 questions you want to ask the employer during the interview in a notebook and pack it with your things, along with a few copies of your resume (just in case). Not sure what to ask? Check out [these] (https://www.themuse.com/advice/51-interview-questions-you-should-be-asking) 50 questions out! Want to know more about the job’s culture? Then [these] (https://www.jobcase.com/conversations/d98a6946-b042-5278-8899-45b1326fd186) are the questions for you!

3- What will you say? Use these [conversation starters tricks] (https://www.jobcase.com/conversations/6d46f61d-c53b-5ec5-9d7c-69cc61713f6a) to help you break the ice and fight those potentially awkward silent moments.

4- Did you do your research? Make sure you spend a little time going on the company’s website. Find the specifics of the position you are applying to. Make a list of the skills, knowledge, and professional and personal qualities that are required by the employer and those that are critical for success in the job. Then make another and list all of YOUR qualifications. Draw a line connecting the two that match up. Make it a point to casually highlight these things during the interview. Prove that you are a great fit for them! Also be sure to check out the company’s mission and anything important about them make a note of it. This will help you prepare to answer interview questions about the company should they come up.

5- Did you practice? A few days before, make sure to practice answering some interview questions [such as these] (https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-the-31-most-common-interview-questions). This will help give you a chance to prepare and practice, and will also help boost your confidence.

What helps you prep for an interview?

Your resume showcases all the things an employer is looking for and each has certain expectations that they would like you to fulfill. It’s important to show them in your resume how/why you are the perfect fit.

Check out these tips on how to make your resume stronger and desirable to employers!

1- Have the qualifications for the job Increase your chances of being hired by tailoring your resume specifically to jobs that you are qualified for and are interested in doing. You don’t always need to meet 100% of the requirements that job postings ask for, but do make sure that you have at least 75% of the qualifications. Present them in easy-to-read sentences and bullet points. Highlight your past accomplishments to show how you can excel at the job.

2- Make it easy for them to contact you Place your contact info right up at the top of your resume. Be sure your email sounds professional. If it begins with cutiepie107 or a bunch of random letters and numbers create a new one with your name, such as Jsmith for example. Keep it professional! List your phone number as well and make sure that once you put it out there you are checking your messages.

3-Show that you want the job The first thing an employer is going to notice is if your resume is relevant to the job that they are hiring for. Do you live close enough to the job to reasonably commute to it? Does your title closely match the job you’re applying to? Describe your experience and accomplishments to demonstrate how they benefit the employer. Remember, it is about THEM, not you. Employers don’t want to guess how your credentials apply to the role they are looking to fill.

4- Be a spelling and grammar whiz Reportedly 75% of employers noted that they wanted a stronger focus on written communication skills. Your resume is their FIRST impression of you, so if it is riddled with spelling mistakes, type-o's, or grammatical errors you will likely not be considered for the role. These type of errors show your lack of attention to detail and gives off the vibe that you just aren’t professional or interested. Avoid this by ALWAYS making sure to have a friend or family member read your resume. It’s tough to catch your own mistakes sometimes, they are sneaky! Be sure to use spell check and you can even download Grammarly for a free and easy guide to use as you write.

For info on how to easily create your resume right here on Jobcase please check out @LailaNashat 's posts [here] (https://www.jobcase.com/community/topics/JobcaseInsider).

Have questions? Please comment below!