Cover Letter Checklist CPR But Don’t Call 911

Are all addresses and names spelled correctly?

Are using 6th grade language, easy to understand?

Are you bringing extra copies of your cover letter/resume/portfolio to your interview?

Are you using matching quality paper for your cover letter and resume?

Are you using professional fonts that scan easy? Arial? Courier, Times New Roman?

Are your paragraphs too long?

Are your paragraphs too many?

Have you read your cover letter out loud? Does it make sense?

Are your telephone and cellular phone numbers correct? Is your cell phone charged?

Did you avoid generic letter salutations? Dear Sir? To Whom it May Concern? Dear Occupant? :(

Did you avoid summarizing your resume?

Did you check your math for mistakes?

Did you check all your quotes for accuracy?

Did you double, double check that the address on the envelope is to the right person?

Did you enclose your resume?

Are the contact and company’s names correct?

Did you follow the employer's specific ad instructions or guidelines?

Did you give your letter to one or more friends to proofread? How many? Be honest.

Did you include your contact information on all items?

Did you keep a copy of the cover letter for your personal records?

Did you mark your reminder calendar to follow-up as promised in your letter?

Did you put a stamp on your letter?

Did you printout your letter and proofread your letter format? Ugly?

Did you read your letter backwards to check for mistakes? I did it with this article. Effective but not foolproof.

Did you request an interview?

Have you read your cover letter out loud? Does it deliver your message?

Did you run a spell and grammar check? Rerun them with every change?

Did you sign your cover letter? Resume? Other? Black or blue ink?

Did you tailor your cover letter to its target position? Enron?

Did you test your email address?

Did you title your cover letter "cover letter"? Not you! Never.

Did you title your resume "resume"? Not you! Never.

Did you use a postscript reemphasizing your “unique” you?

Did you waste space by referring to your enclosed resume in your cover letter? References?

Did you write your letter in the same tense? Active?

Do you have a log of all your sent cover letters? Resumes?

Do you have enough white space?

Do you need help from a professional writer?

Do you reread the cover letter out loud every time you make changes?

Does your email address look professional?

Does your letter look like a "form" letter or template?

Does your letter sound professional?

Does your letter target your employer’s needs?

Have you read your cover letter out loud? Does it sound positive?

Does your return address include your name, address, phone number and email address?

Have you attach your resume NOT using staples?

Have you check the every letter for mispelled words? :(

Did you check and double check that you addressed the letter to a specific person?

Have you check the letter for slang?

Have you check to see if letter and envelope are for the same person?

Have you eliminated all negative statements, direct or implied from your cover letter?

Have you have read the cover letter out loud to make sure that it makes sense?

Have you written a tentative thank you letter? To everyone pertinent?

Is the letter one page, concise, polished and to the point? Looks good in hand?

Is the letter physically clean? No crayon marks, coffee stains? Envelope?

Does your letter sound confident, professional?

Is your contact information correct?

Is your email address correct?

Is your email address valid?

Is your language appropriate to your prospective job?

Is your letter for quick reading with bulleted item list(s)?

One more time, have you checked to make sure there are no spelling or typo errors? Beyond the spellchecker?

Have you read your cover letter out loud? After every correction?

Would you be proud to have your cover letter published on the front page of your local tabloid? Signed?

Have you create a cover letter so compelling that you must be seen to be believed?

Alternative Brainstorming Resources

• Amazing Cover Letter (Highly popular)
• * How to Impress for Success at Job Interviews (My favorite pure interview guide)
• Recruiter Secrets Revealed (Key recruiter tips, looking from the outside in)
• Resume And Cover Letter Secrets Revealed(Most Comprehensive)
• The Best Resume And Cover Letter Step By Step Secrets Exposed (Scariest Web Page)
• * The Concise Resume & Cover Letter Guide (Example driven prep tool)
• * Interview Fitness Training (Professional coach)
• * Instant Thank You Letters (No fluff templates)

* New Reviews

For more job interview technique tips visithttp://www.bls.gov/OCO/