How to Write Good Cover Letter

How to Write Good Cover Letter for oDesk Job with Sample

Read The Job Description: First and foremost step in writing a cover letter is, you should “Read the Description”. Before you can tell them what you can give for them, you must know what they need.

Read their complete requirements, cover letter requirements and all other details they ask. If you are not reading the description, then you are SPAMMING them for sure.

Writing a Cover Letter: Now that we have read what the client requires, let’s get into work. All that we have to do is to put together only what the client needs. Below is a picture to illustrate the parts of a normal cover letter

Profile title: 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.

Code Words / Effective Impression: These are the words that will appear in client’s account even before he opens a Freelancer’s cover letter. Let me show it in an image from my account. This is why some clients say “Write XXXXXX before the application or your application will not be considered”. Write the words / code words as the client requested.

Example: “I am the best web designer”

Write something that will make an immediate impression or lure them into inviting you for an interview.

Example: For a normal project that would take 6 days i will write “I can finish this in 3 days maximum”

Though the client may find it inappropriate, he would like to see, how you can do that and will invite you for Interview. Links to your previous works, your portfolio (Links work better than explanations)

Designation: So this is the part, where you are going to address the client. Though you can just use “Hi Sir” or “Hi Hiring Manager” let me show you a trick in doing this part best. Always when you see a job, go through the end of the job and see previous work feedback of the client. For sure, one of the previous contractors would have mentioned the name of the Client in the feedback. So use the client’s name and it will be very effective in creating an impression.

Short Introduction of yourself: Simple introduction of who you are, what you do, your agency details and how many projects you have done in this particular field of career. Don’t keep on telling them that you are hard working, blah blah in this section. Just tell them shortly, that you are in the same field.

Project Plans, Strategy: Though others say that you should describe about YOU in this section, i say don’t. Come On! Clients don’t want to read whether you are hard working person, how many hours you can work, the promise and all (If they need it, they will ask) So in this section, explain how you are planning to work on the project. Explain in steps, how you have divided the project based on the time frame, the step by step process through which you are gonna work, put together and hand over the final finished project. Explain how many times you are going to report to the client through oDesk, and what will you include in the report.  Small explanation of the fees you charged. Break up charge of the total project so that the client is assuring that they are not wasting their money on someone. Small Recap of previous projects you have done similar to this. Complete Tutorial on How to get your first job on oDesk?

About You: Now here comes the final part, where you are going to talk about yourself, why you are the perfect match for this job, what’s so special about you and all the things? Though 70% of the clients will leave the cover letter page by now, clients offering long term jobs, large scale project offering clients and clients giving confidential details will have a look at your profile too. In this section, instead of explaining everything about you, just tell the client the qualities, which that particular project needs. For example, Data Entry and Writing projects needs the typing speed. And every client would need to have a look at it. Say them how many hours you will be online, how to reach you (Gmail, Skype – Though its against oDesk terms, they don’t follow this seriously) , when to reach you (Time in local time and IST) Links to your previous works, your portfolio (Links work better than explanations). Everyone will be tempted to click on a link when they see one. It works really.

Discuss your interest: 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.

Availability: 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!

Attachments: 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.

Completely read buyer conditions: 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.

Start with a warm and professional greeting: This person is considering hiring you – so your opening should encourage them to think of you as someone they’d like to work with.“Dear Mr. Smith,” “Dear John Smith,” or “Mr. Smith,” are all appropriate. “Hey Bob,” “What’s up, Jim?” or anything extremely casual should be changed to err on the side of formality. Don’t know the name of the person doing the hiring? “Dear Hiring Manager,” is a great way to set a professional tone from the get-go.

Get to the point: Your cover letter is not the time to write a novel about yourself. Let the employer know why you’re contacting them, what skills you have that make you the right person for this position and where they can find more information about your work experience: “I’m interested in the position of Lead Blogger you recently posted. I have been a professional writer for nine years, and am very familiar with WordPress and Typepad. During my 3 years as editor-in-chief of BeingInterested, I managed a team of writers that produced 5 blogs posts a week. You can see some of my own writing in my portfolio (www.odesk.com/users/~~…)

Hit the highlights: Most job postings will give you very clear hints about the type of skills the desired candidate will have. If you have these skills, you should mention them – repeating the employer’s needs for the role and how you fill those criteria will make it clear that you are the right person for the job: “You had mentioned that you were looking for someone with a background in creative writing and journalism. I studied both in college, where I majored in English. I began my career as an assistant editor at the local paper, where I learned to take a hands-on approach to investigative journalism.”

Follow directions: Many potential employers will ask candidates to fulfill a specific request in their cover letter. This is designed to help them quickly weed through applications, and cull out those who are taking the “copy & paste” approach to submitting resumes. If you’re asked to answer specific questions or include a keyword in your reply, make sure you do it! As an added bonus, calling out that they have requested this information is a great way to let them know you are about to make their hiring decision even easier:  “Per your request, here are the links to three articles I’ve written about local events, gardening or technology….”

Meet the client’s tone: A customer looking for someone to write legal documents for his paper company isn’t going to want content with the same tone as someone who needs blog posts about the video games. As such, you should change-up your energy level when pitching a job. Below I’ve included my pitch for a job I got that involved writing about gaming trends.

Even though the message is corny and high-strung, it got me hired. The client wanted someone to write entertaining and opinionated posts. These audience was teenagers and guys in their 20’s. They want jokes and excitement. Anyone who grew up in the golden age of video game journalism will fondly remember gaming magazines for being corny and high-strung. They were filled with jokes and silly humor.

On the flip side, when you have a serious client don’t try pulling cocky or goofy humor. It’s better off to be professional and polite. Software, business, and politics aren’t places where jokes are appreciated.

Tell the client what you can offer them: The biggest mistake that most people make is being self-centered. In order to make sales you have to sell the client on why you can offer them more than anyone else. If you can get that down you’ll start getting work.

Writing about appliances like juicers, blenders, toasters, and refrigerators is a pretty common oDesk job. These tasks get dozens of applicants who all want the contract. Some of them are even willing to write for less than a penny a word. The job that this image was taken from was paying anywhere between three and nine dollars an article. The average bid was something like $4.50. I set my rate at nine, filled out the application, and was hired immediately. I sold the customer on an investment, not a job. By hiring me he was going to get nothing but the best quality service.

Samples:  folks usually attach their samples in Associate in Nursing extremely word file with their application. there is however, a stronger due to do this. instead of merely oral communication verify the attachment for my writing samples, you need to copy and paste atiny low a section of your best article into your cowl letter, and say’…for further samples, kindly seek advice from the connected file’.
In this manner, the leader can instantly see your writing quality and doesn’t have to be compelled to take the pains of first downloading the attachment so gap it to scan your samples. Confine mind you're doing not have one thing special in your profile since you are merely a novice. so you have to make positive you're doing not waste the buyer’s time.
Regarding the attachment, you need to beware in selecting that sample to attach. Don’t merely build one file wherever you dump all of your articles. Instead, build fully totally different files for numerous categories. as Associate in Nursing example, you'll need fully totally different files for each category like Health, Financial, Sports, beauty, Insurance etc. once you apply to employment related to health articles, attach your ‘health’ samples. Equally for jobs requiring articles on insurance, attach the insurance articles. This offers an honest impression and shows you have already worked at intervals the niche. Once the leader sees relevant samples, he has no hesitation hiring you.

Feedback:  similar to sample articles, you may show the feedback and testimonials you have received from different customers in your cowl letter. Merely copy and paste the feedback comments customers have given you. Actually this might exclusively be done once you have completed employment or two. But there is not any hurt in learning the trick for later use. Once you have affixed several testimonials in your cowl letter, tell the shopper ‘for further testimonials, you may examine my full profile.

Final Check: Check your spelling, grammar, and double-check any URL links that are included to make sure they are functioning and presentable.

Contact information: 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.

Different cover letter:  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!

Final Impression: Well, give them a better impression when they leave your cover letter in oDesk. The problem here is that I cannot reveal examples because i cannot think of anything other than I use. These lines should give an impression, a temptation to hire you.

Final Thank you: Just say Thank You and that’s more than enough really. So that’s it. Send the cover letter in oDesk after proof reading through it. Remember to read it thorough because grammar mistakes, Clients hate the most when going through the cover letter in oDesk. Still haven’t got your first job, Read our tutorial on How to get your first job on oDesk?

Reread, edit and consider: Before you click “send”, take another look at the job description. Did you address all of their criteria in your cover letter? If you were the person hiring for this position, would your cover letter fit the bill? Do your profile and your portfolio support your application for this job? (If not, don’t apply! Save your energy for a position that better suits your skills and abilities.) If you’re unsure, ask a friend to review the job posting and your cover letter, and listen carefully to their perspective – they might find a hidden gem that makes the difference in you landing the job!