Question

in the first paragraph of a cover letter, what should you do? *
tell your life story
express your interest in the job and company
list all your grades and test scores
explain why you left your last job

how can you grab the readers attention in your cover letter? *
use bright colors and large fonts
mention a professional connection or show you researched the company
keep it as generic as possible
make jokes throughout the letter

Explanation:

1. For the first question: The opening of a cover letter should immediately establish your purpose for writing, which is to show you are interested in the specific role and organization. Life stories, grades, and reasons for leaving a past job belong in later sections or are not appropriate for the opening.
2. For the second question: Demonstrating you've researched the company or have a professional connection shows you've put in effort and are not sending a generic letter, which catches the hiring manager's attention. Unprofessional formatting, generic content, and jokes are not effective for a formal cover letter.

Answer:

1. Express your interest in the job and company
2. Mention a professional connection or show you researched the company