Cover Letter Help: Call to Action
We received a cover letter from Carrie. Her letter started with a punch and she included great examples of why she would be successful as a project manager for a construction company. As you can see in a snippet from her letter below, the last paragraph of the cover letter fell short.
Carrie’s Closing Paragraph
“Attached is my résumé which describes my accomplishments. Thank you for your time and consideration. You may reach me at 555-555-1245.”
Today we’ll examine the closing paragraph of the cover letter and why a call to action is important. The call to action in a letter summarizes why you are writing. For example, a call to action for a political candidate is “Vote for me!” The call to action for a cover letter is to ask to be considered for the job and to schedule an interview. Carrie’s close is very weak. She does not seem enthusiastic about the opportunity.
A Better Close for Carrie
“Based on my accomplishments as a construction project leader, I believe it would be mutually beneficial for us to meet. I will call you next week to inquire about the possibility of an in-person interview to discuss your company’s goals and the way in which I would make a sustained impact. In the meantime, I am happy to provide any additional information that you would like. Thank you for your consideration.”
When writing the close of your letter, include these important elements:
- Restate the position for which you are qualified and suggest an interview.
- State when you will make your follow-up call.
- Thank the reader for his consideration.
If you would like more cover letter help, check out these resources:
Cover Letter Help: Why Are you Writing?
Six Things That You Must Nail in a Cover Letter