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A resume will list your experience and accomplishments in chronological order. A cover letter, on the other hand, will introduce you as an ideal candidate to your potential employer.
Unlike a resume, a cover letter allows for expansion. It is not just about your qualifications, but your goals, your attitude, and how well they align with company values. A resume is a cold, paper representation of your qualifications and skills; a cover letter paints a picture, taking you from two-dimensional applicant to three-dimensional candidate.
Hiring managers will often give more attention to applications that include a cover letter. So, including one with your data entry associate application will help you to stand out as a candidate for the position. A well-written and well-formatted cover letter will earn you the interview.
Looking for a job? These position are hiring now near you:
Simply by including a cover letter, you can grab the attention of the hiring manager. Once you have that attention, you want to keep it.
Hiring managers will spot a poorly constructed cover letter with a glance. They spend each day searching through dozens, sometimes hundreds, of applications. They know what they should look like and what they should include.
It is extremely important that you format your cover letter properly and include all of the key elements. If you do not, you may find yourself at the top of the “no pile” in no time.
Every cover letter should include:
Header. A cover letter is a standard business letter and, so, it should follow the same format. Business letters will always include a header. The header will consist of three parts:
Your contact information (in the order it should appear)
Your first and last name
Your current address (optional)
Your phone number
Your email address (your professional email address)
Your LinkedIn, website, or online portfolio (optional)
The date of submission
The employer’s contact information (in the order it should appear)
Hiring manager’s first and last name
Hiring manager’s current position
Company name
Company address
Greeting. You want to address your cover letter to the hiring manager specifically. If you are unable to find their information for some reason, you should follow standard procedure; never address your cover letter with “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam”. Don’t do it.
Opening paragraph. Use your first impression wisely. Grab their attention and keep it.
Body paragraph(s). It is time for your sales pitch.
Closing paragraph. End strong with a thank you and a clear call-to-action.
Sign-off. Remember, this is a business letter, not a casual email or letter to a friend. You need to close your cover letter with a professional sign-off. Use one of the standard sign-offs:
Sincerely
Best regards
Thank you
Thank you for your time and consideration
Respectfully
Best
The opening lines of your cover letter are some of the most critical. This is your opportunity to grab the hiring manager’s attention and entice them to read not only your cover letter but the attached resume.
Your opening paragraph should state your intention (what position are you applying for?), convey your value (why should they hire you?), and communicate your enthusiasm for this company or position. Be genuine here. If you’re laying it on a little thick or not being real, the hiring manager is sure to notice.
This is your first impression. First impressions matter during the hiring process and you only get two: your cover letter/resume and your interview. If your cover letter is strong enough, it can earn you a chance at an in-person first impression.
Example:
Ellery Gray
123 Data Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90001
(555) 123-4567
egray@email.comJanuary 1, 2021
Gillian White
VP of Operations
CrunchData
Los Angeles, CA 90001Dear Ms. White,
I am very interested in the data entry associate position advertised on your website. As a data entry specialist with experience in medical data entry, I am confident that the skills and experience I possess make me an excellent candidate for this position.
Once you’ve got your strong opening, it’s time to move on to the meat of your cover letter. Your cover letter body is your opportunity to sell yourself as an ideal candidate. Here is where you will want to focus on your qualifications, relevant accomplishments, and experience.
Don’t simply repeat your resume verbatim. You have the opportunity to expand on the information included in your resume and highlight the qualifications and accomplishments that the employer will find most important.
The body section of your cover letter can vary. Some include one paragraph that focuses on the most relevant qualifications and experience. Others will include one paragraph and a bulleted list of relevant qualifications and accomplishments.
Others still, will split this into two separate paragraphs. The first focusing on qualifications and experience. The second body paragraph would focus on your goals and values and how they align with the company.
Example:
During my tenure at HealthData Inc., I averaged over 85 words per minute with an accuracy rate of 99.7%. I am also adept at identifying errors and correcting them to ensure maximum accuracy. It was not uncommon to enter high volumes of information into various databases during each shift. You will find that I thrive in fast-paced environments and am more than comfortable multitasking as necessary.
My efficiency with programs such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets earned me a spot on the training team at HealthData Inc. My skills go far beyond simple data entry; I can manipulate spreadsheets, design and process macros, and create necessary pivot tables with ease and accuracy.
If the body of your cover letter is your sales pitch, then you want to use your closing lines to close strong. This is your chance to summarize your best points, thank the hiring manager for their time, and ask for the interview — subtly of course.
Example:
Thank you for your time and consideration of my application for the data entry associate position. I look forward to discussing CrunchData, its goals, and how I can help to bring those goals to fruition.
Sincerely,
Ellery Gray
Looking for a job? These position are hiring now near you:
Ellery Gray
123 Data Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90001
(555) 123-4567
egray@email.comJanuary 1, 2021
Gillian White
VP of Operations
CrunchData
Los Angeles, CA 90001Dear Ms. White,
I am very interested in the data entry associate position advertised on your website. As a data entry specialist with experience in medical data entry, I am confident that the skills and experience I possess make me an excellent candidate for this position.
During my tenure at HealthData Inc., I averaged over 85 words per minute with an accuracy rate of 99.7%. I am also adept at identifying errors and correcting them to ensure maximum accuracy. It was not uncommon to enter high volumes of information into various databases during each shift. You will find that I thrive in fast-paced environments and am more than comfortable multitasking as necessary.
My efficiency with programs such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets earned me a spot on the training team at HealthData Inc. My skills go far beyond simple data entry; I can manipulate spreadsheets, design and process macros, and create necessary pivot tables with ease and accuracy.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my application for the data entry associate position. I look forward to discussing CrunchData, its goals, and how I can help to bring those goals to fruition.
Sincerely,
Ellery Gray
A data entry associate is responsible for entering information from one source into another, updating and maintaining that information, consolidating data, checking for data inconsistencies, and resolving them, all while maintaining confidentiality as it is required by the employer and related laws.
Of course, each individual position will vary, which is why you should not be writing a one-size-fits-all cover letter (or resume) when applying. Focus on the information included in the job listing and use it to your advantage.
The job description will call attention to any specific programs you should be familiar with — like Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Quickbooks, PeopleSoft, etc. The listing may also highlight some specific hard or soft skills they want in their candidates.
While this position does not require a specific degree type, it does require a very specific set of skills. Regardless of what the job description mentions, there are certain skills every data entry associate must possess. It would be smart to include some of them in your cover letter.
Speed is particularly important in data entry. Your typing speed, your accuracy, and the average number of records you completed per day will matter to your potential employers. If this information was tracked during your previous employment, it would be smart to include it in your cover letter (and resume).
Data entry associates must have the following skills in order to find success:
Attention to detail accuracy. Your ability to see the difference between Johnson and Jonson or 8.33356 and 8.3356 is extremely important for accurate data entry and maintenance.
Fast typing speed. Data entry associates must be skilled typists. The job description may even have a specific words-per-minute (WPM) speed they are looking for.
Time management. You will be up against deadlines and you need to be able to manage your time and tasks in order to meet them.
Multitasking skills. This job requires strong multitasking skills. Your attention will be split between a variety of tasks — like reading and inputting data — that must be completed in tandem.
Adaptability. Not only will you be inputting data from multiple sources into various databases, but you will also be dealing with ever-changing priorities. You must be able to adapt seamlessly.
Autonomy and teamwork. The majority of data entry work is done on your own. But many projects are completed as part of a team. You will need to be able to do both.
Numeracy skills. You will often be asked to manipulate data using formulas and tables. Depending on the type of data you are working with, you may need strong mathematical skills.
Literacy skills. You will be expected to understand the data you are reading and inputting. Without that understanding, it will be difficult for you to confirm accuracy.
Communication skills. Despite the generally solitary environment for data entry associates, you will still need to be able to communicate with coworkers, superiors, and potential clients.
Administrative skills. This is a grouping of hard and soft skills that are essential to success as a data entry associate.