Sign your Cover Letter!



Posted: Friday, April 08, 2011

by Trevor Wilson
http://www.gradversity.com

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make is to forget to sign your cover letter. It is such an easy thing to do, but it can completely derail your application if you don’t.

So your next question will most certainly be “why do I need to sign my cover letter if I’m submitting it electronically”? From my perspective, there is only one answer: professionalism.

For me, the biggest difference between formal communications and informal communications is the signature. When you are sending an informal message (usually via email) there are few options for attaching an actual signature. That is one of the reasons that email tends to be less formal.

However, you have likely spent more time on your cover letter than you will on any email that you will ever write. For this reason alone, it’s important to sign it so that it doesn’t get tarnished by a lack of professionalism.

So what are your options? Well, if you are submitting a hard copy of your resume, just make sure you sign your letter. However, if you are sending an electronic copy, you have two choices:

  1. Sign a hard copy and create a PDF of your entire application package (there are many tools online that can create free PDF files).
  2. Sign a blank piece of paper and scan it into your computer. Then, crop the image and paste it where your signature should go.
Either way, make sure that you sign your cover letter. It could make the difference between getting and not getting an interview.
Trevor Wilson is an author and consultant who works with new graduates preparing to enter the work force. His site, Gradversity.com, provides daily advice on job hunting, networking, and resume writing tailored to the Entry Level Job seeker. His first book, Overcoming Gradversity: How to Break Into the Entry Level Job Market, was published in 2008.
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