How to Write A Great Cover Letter on Odesk

The cover letter is a brief introduction that accompanies your job application. It’s your chance to express your interest in the job and explain why you are the right person to hire. Employers tell us that the cover letter plays a big role in their hiring decisions.
Here is how an employer sees your job application. Notice how job candidates (you!) are listed.
When the employer hovers over your name and job application, he can see the first paragraph of your cover letter for his particular job, without leaving the list of candidates. Make sure that those first few lines capture his attention and demonstrate your enthusiasm and excellent fit for his job.

What your cover letter should do:

• Introduce yourself and express interest in the job.
• Briefly state why you are a good candidate. Focus on your most relevant experience, specific skills and portfolio items.
• Indicate when you’d be available to discuss the job and to start. Don’t include contact info – wait for the employer to request an interview.
• Include any specific information the employer requested in their job posting. This will show a potential employer that you read the job posting fully and considered it carefully before applying.

Cover letter basics:

• Keep the letter to 300 words or less.
• Use spell-check and ask a friend with good spelling and grammar skills to review it before submitting.
• Do not use a generic template: If the letter isn’t written specifically for the job, the employer will likely ignore you in favor of contractors who took the time to write a customized cover letter for the position.

Instructions

1. • 1
     First impressions are huge! Before concentrating on your cover letter, be sure your profile title is eye-catching and relevant. It's not a good idea to put something like "Stay at Home mom seeking freelance work!" but a great idea to put "Transcription/Data Entry/90WPM/Reliable!" This is a great way to showcase your skills before anyone opens up your profile and cover letter.
   • 2
     Keep the "meat" relevant! Discuss your interest in the job, why you are a perfect fit for it, and include any additional questions you may have about the position. Also, be sure you have a portfolio or some samples of your work, either on or off the oDesk site, so that buyers can look into your abilities before they even have a chance to talk to you.
   • 3
     When you say you're available, be sure you really are. It's not a good idea to apply for numerous jobs saying your available, only to be hired for five jobs wanting a one day turnaround--you'll get yourself in a bind really fast!
   • 4
     Attach files. Include any portfolio or samples you may have from previous jobs or experiences, if they are not already included in your oDesk samples on your profile.
   • 5
     Read and REREAD the requirements. It's a waste of your time, and the buyer's, if you are applying for a job that does not meet their requirements. For example, if they are looking to hire someone for a transcription job at $8 an hour, don't apply if you have a strict $20 hourly fee. Or if they say they want someone with over 100 hours of oDesk hours, don't apply if you're new. It's a simple, silly thing to remind people of this, but you'd be surprised how many people will apply anyway.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your spelling, grammar, and double-check any URL links that are included to make sure they are functioning and presentable.
• Give other contact information if you're willing to be contacted outside of the oDesk program, such as website, email address, or instant messenger screennames.
• Before you start your cover letter, look at the other providers that have applied and see what their strengths and weaknesses are. In your cover letter, show that you've done your research and give reasons why you would be better than the other providers posting applications.
• Do not copy/paste from a previous job cover letter. This is not only tacky and unprofessional, but also mistakes can be made--for example, if the last job was logo design and this one is transcription, the buyer is not going to be interested in your Photoshop skills but rather your typing speed. Mistakes happen, and in addition, everyone loves a custom-written cover letter!