Professional Cover Letter Help

If you aren’t familiar with the hook, it is your opening with your resume cover letter writing. This is your first and often most important impression. Your hook is your opening statement in your very own commercial, and essentially what will draw people in. The first few words in your resume cover letter writing spoken in this crucial opener will determine if your cover letter and resume are read or tossed aside. A hook is just that important!

What words will you say to determine if you get the interview and stand out from the crowd? What is your specific hook going to be? What will you do to really capture the attention of the reader and ensure that you move on in the process rather than be thrown aside? These are all important elements in the job search process, and some would argue that the hook can be the most crucial element for your resume cover letter writing. If you have a good hook that works in grabbing and retaining attention, then you’re in! If you have an ineffective or bad hook, your hopes at a potential job are gone. You want your cover letter to come right out in a straightforward and confident manner and say “hire me”!

So how do you do it? What is the best and most effective way to create a powerful and attention grabbing hook?

Before you dive right into writing a good one, you need to do your homework. Take the time to research the potential employer and understand what about you will bring value to the overall organization. It’s important to portray how you above any other candidate understand the organization, and what specifically you will do to add value. This not only involves research on the company as a whole, but also a little soul searching to really dig deep and establish what credentials and qualifications you have. You may know what they are, but to be able to put them into effective words can sometimes be the hardest part. You want to also look into the job itself and the person you are reaching out to whenever possible. The more homework you do on these two individual factors, the more confidence will show through in your hook and your resume cover letter writing.

Help to define and clarify for the hiring manager what specific skills and experience helps to not only qualify you for the position, but make you the best choice. What about you and your experience is pertinent to the position you are applying for? Why would a hiring manager choose you over any other candidate? These are the types of questions you must ask yourself, for without this background and expression, you are doomed from the start. It can be equally important to understand who you are writing to. Any knowledge you can gain on the reader of the cover letter can really help you to gain credibility. Your hook should not only be based on your qualifications and knowledge, but also catered to the individual that is reading it as well. This is just as important of a factor!

Remember that the purpose of the hook within a resume cover letter writing is to capture the attention of the reader. You are sending an immediate and very important signal that you are undoubtedly the right candidate for the job. You aren’t just any other “run of the mill” candidate—you are the one and your words will say that for you. Your hook should exude confidence and ability, and should demonstrate that you understand what the position and the organization calls for. It’s important to avoid certain words or phrases that will cause you to fall into the boring trap as every other candidate.

Such words and phrases to avoid include:

• This letter is in response to your advertisement or job posting
•  To whom it may concern—that’s an immediate turn off just from the greeting
• I am writing to apply for the marketing assistant position

Rather than skipping over the standard words, a good hook should make the reader stand up and take notice. They should feel compelled to read on after reading your hook, and even question “wow, who is this person?” A good hook should force the reader to read on and find out a little bit more about you because it is intriguing and grabs their attention immediately.

If you can find some sort of supporting evidence on the position you are applying for, or some publication or public speaking engagement that is somehow related to your field, then by all means reference it. It can be something as simple as words on a press release, part of a speech given by the CEO, or even some comments on the corporate website or in an interview by an executive. If it somehow supports the organizations vision or mission and you can find a way to relate it to what you do and what the position entails, then reference it. This is an excellent way not only to show that you did your homework, but that you understand how you being hired into this position can add value to the organization and its overall goals and objectives. This is the type of thing that will undoubtedly make you stand out from the other candidates, as it will show an ability that is unrivaled.

You start to see just how special and important the hook really is. If you never understand it before or doubted the importance, then let this be a lesson. A good hook is ultimately your ticket in the door. Rather than going with a “cookie cutter” approach, make your hook really count for something. Choose your words carefully, do your homework, and let this all show through in an attention grabbing hook that leaves your reader feeling impressed from the start. Always remember who you are writing to, and never forget to show confidence in what specifically you can offer to the company. Be specific, be creative, and get to the point very early on—that makes for an excellent hook and a good cover letter overall.

If you want to truly stand out in a tough job market, or be the candidate that gets selected without a doubt, then focus your efforts on a good hook. Remember your cover letter is what will get you the interview, and your hook is what will get you attention to even move in on the process. If you take the time and do it right, your hook will grab their attention and allow you to be the candidate that moves in on the process.
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