gathering documents: writing a cover(ing) letter

Okay, the cover letter (also known as a covering letter) has been the bane of my existence. I had to write one before and I never had to use it, so I actually never have had one. I've asked people about what they think of cover letters. Why even have them if you're going to look at the resume anyway? The top answers were:

1. I don't even bother with the cover letter. I skim it to see if there are any blaring mistakes or ridiculousness, but the resume is what is most important. 
2. I will read the cover letter because it is a brief summary of the best qualities of the resume. 
3. I read it carefully because it gives me an idea of the personality of the writer. It allows me to see if they are just the "copy and paste" type or put some actual effort into the letter. 
4. I will read it because it gives me an idea of the person's writing style and grammatical prowess.

For me a cover letter is just a basic summary of your best qualities that you want to highlight from your resume that is specifically tailored to the job. You want to make sure that you are putting the effort into your cover letter, even though a part of you is screaming that it is a waste of time. Once you have a good cover letter under your belt, you can make adjustments and make it better and better.

(Even if you think no one will ever really read it.)

I used Teaching House's example cover letters as a base for mine. (Click here.) It was extremely helpful and I used the basic formula for any cover letter:

• Paragraph 1: State what job you are applying for and how you heard about it.
• Paragraph 2: State why you think you are perfect for the job.
• Paragraph 3: Give a short history of your experiences. Highlight specific examples without being too wordy.
• Closing: Strong and succinct. My favorite formula is:
• "I appreciate your consideration. My phone number is.... My email is.... Please contact me with any further questions. I look forward to discussing my candidacy with you soon."

If you know the person, feel free to use "Yours sincerely".  If not, it is always good to go with "Yours faithfully" or "Best regards". (I prefer the former.)

Now, in terms of TEFL positions, there is a slight change that can be made. If you are going through a recruiter and applying generally rather than to a specific company, then you can create a general opening paragraph. My current cover letter is about Shenzhen. I give a couple sentences on why I want to teach there, that's it. Bam. Done.

Just a to keep in mind:

1. Always have someone else review your letter. It is important to edit out fluff and useless junk and another set of eyes can really help with that.
2. "Banish the phrases 'be able to' and 'have the opportunity to.' Those phrases should be left in the sixth circle of Dante's hell, only called upon when necessary." (This is a direct quote from my sister, who is an attorney and has significant editing experience. She reviewed my letter for me.) 
3. Avoid cliches and too-casual language. 
4. Focus on the specific job you are applying for. Highlight those skills, even if you have more to offer. That will be on your resume. 

Good luck with you letters!