If you’ve entered the field of construction and engineering, the odds are in your favor. Industry careers are on the rise, as a labor shortage is driving increases in opportunities and salaries.

Don’t waste that advantage by firing off your impressive resume without an equally impressive cover letter to lead the way. A cover letter is the bridge between your resume and your dream job, guiding it safely to desk of the person with the ability to hire you. Sending a resume without one is like tossing it into the wind from the riverbank, and hoping it hits the other side instead of being swept downstream.

Construction jobs are on the rise

As stated by Ken Simonson, Chief Economist of the Associated General Contractors of America, “Contractors in most states are eager to hire. But they are unable to find qualified workers in some cases, and job openings in construction have soared as unemployment rates are at historic lows in many states.”

So it’s an ideal time to build your career in the construction field–as long as you position yourself to take advantage of the job openings out there. This means making sure you have the training you need for the job you want, and the job search materials to prove it.

Your resume should describe your qualifications and experience

The purpose of your resume is to list your work history, education, awards and achievements, in a highly readable format that uses industry keywords to demonstrate your knowledge. You should spend a significant amount of time perfecting your resume for the construction, engineering, or environmental job market.

But once you’ve created a resume that reflects your skills and how they match the type of job you want, you won’t change it often. You should keep your resume updated as your job experience and related qualifications change, but it shouldn’t change every time you apply for a position. That’s the purpose of a good cover letter.

Your cover letter highlights your personality, voice and attitude

A good cover letter should build a connection between yourself and your dream job. It should attract the attention of the hiring manager by showing you are eager and passionate about their job (not just any job) and are willing to work overtime to prove it. It gets them to actually read your resume.

A cover letter may look a little different depending on whether you are sending a “blind” letter to your dream company, responding to a specific job post, or using a third party as a networking contact. But the basics of the letter will be the same.

Do your homework

First, be sure you have a good understanding of company, its core values, and its projects. You can get this by checking out the company’s website or its printed corporate literature. Also, be sure to get a name for the hiring manager or person you want to contact. If no name is listed in the job post, use the company website to find the right contact person, or call their main number to inquire.

Doing this homework demonstrates your work ethic and attention to detail. Don’t be lazy with this, because your cover letter is your introduction, and you never get a second chance to make that first impression.

Open by naming the job you want

In your first sentence, reference the exact job post that you are responding to, or if you are sending a blind letter, name the job title you seek. You don’t need a long and rambling introduction. Your resume can explain your full experience, education and qualifications–the cover letter’s job is to get them to read it.

Use language from the job post in your letter

Read the job post thoroughly before writing your cover letter. Or if you are writing a blind inquiry, review the company info to see how they describe their employees and what they look for in new staff. Your cover letter should focus on the employer’s needs and how you meet them.

Be brief and specific. Stay focused on the company’s job requirements and how your skills and experience meet them. But go a step farther than saying it–show it by describing a project you handled, a problem you solved, or success you had that demonstrates it.

Your cover letter should focus on the company’s need and not your personal story. Include information about your hobbies or outside interests only if they relate to the job or build rapport with the hiring manager. Otherwise, keep your focus tight on what you can do for them.

Use strong action verbs

Read through your cover letter to make sure it conveys energy and action. Construction industry employers are looking to hire candidates who take initiative, solve problems, and work hard to get the job done. Your cover letter should convey that attitude.

Finish with a call to action

Don’t forget to ask for the interview! It may seem to go without saying, but employers will appreciate someone who knows what they want and isn’t afraid to ask for it. Tell them you look forward to hearing from them soon, would like to set up an interview, or will follow up in a few days to confirm they received your materials.

Don’t be pushy, but a follow-up call to verify is a good idea. Your submission could legitimately get lost in the shuffle, and that call might be the prod they need to search up your name and take a look.

Need help to build your career in construction or engineering?

WeBuild Staffing specializes in recruitment and placement of construction, engineering and environmental professionals worldwide. If you need help to craft the perfect cover letter to land your dream job, please contact www.webuildresumes.com . We’d love to help build your career.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com