In my view, no one will deny that every beginning is a difficult one. No matter if we write a cover letter, forgive someone, or open a new page in our life – every beginning is difficult. “The first step is a reason to make a new thousand steps” – says an old proverb. However, how to make the first step in cover letter writing?

I have already written that cover letters, which start in the following manner, run contrary to my taste: “In response to your advertisement…about the position…” This may be the right way, but for me, such statements are nothing more than clichés, deliberately imposed by the companies. In this way, they know how effective their advertisements in the various media are. Even if we accept that these expressions are required, let us not turn them into the very first sentence. I am sure that the employer wants to know what the cover letter is about, what kind of position you apply for, or how you found about the advertisement.

Let us first get the reader intrigued and wanting to know more about us. It is not necessary to be witty and funny. We have to simply demonstrate that we are capable of solving a given problem or to deal with a certain challenge.

Here comes the question: “How to spot the perfect quote for a cover letter?” Steal it!

You know the specifics of this field and industry. You work in the area for a long time and you will stay there for a long enough. Do some research, and look for interesting facts, quotations, and articles, related to your industry or profession. Find an interview with an official, working at the company, you have chosen. Internet is full of ready-to-use spot-on quotations for cover letters. You have to just find them. To this purpose, you may just write down on a sheet of paper everything seems interesting about this position or the company: vision for future development, past stories of success, specific needs, and interests. You may single out a sentence from the speech of the company’s Executive Director which you found appealing. What comes next? It is time to write down the intro paragraph of your cover letter.

Picture:Markus Rödder