Are You Planning to Include a Cover Letter?

While, I am usually not a huge fan of cover letters, I do recommend you include one under certain circumstances:

• Cover Letter Required

• You have a personal connection or you were referred/personally introduced by the hiring manager

• Explain a career gap or a career shift

If you elect to include a cover letter with your resume, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Address Your Cover Letter
It is very important to use an actual individual's name when addressing your cover letter. Never use "To Whom it May Concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam". This comes off as very generic.

After a quick Google Search, if you are unable to locate the name of the hiring manager, use the head of the department for the position you are applying for.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
The ATS, acts as a robot for recruiters. It sifts through both resumes and cover letters for keywords, so be sure to include relevant key words from the job description throughout your resume and your cover letter where it makes sense.

Contact Information
Include your contact information on both your resume and cover letter. This includes your name, phone number and email address. It is not necessary to include your mailing address, this helps to minimize inappropriate biases.