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RESUME COVER LETTER HELP:
5 Cover Letter Mistakes
Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes
Cold-contact Cover Letter
Follow-up Letter
Job-specific Cover Letter
Purpose of a Cover Letter
Types of Cover Letters
Individualized Cover Letters?
How to Make My Cover Letter Unique?
Article contains sample clauses and ideas for
making your cover letters different.
What Does "Attachment" Mean at
the End of a Letter?
How Do I Properly Address the
Letters?
Proper business format is critical.
How Do I Add Salary Requirements?
Adding salary
requirements to your letter properly will help the reader.
7 Secrets of a Highly Effective Resume Cover Letter
written by Jimmy Sweeney
How to Write a Job-Winning Cover Letter written
by Brett Krkosska
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How To Write A Job-Winning Cover Letter
Whether you are searching for a telecommuting
job or a traditional job, you need a great cover letter to go with your resume.
As a manager I've screened hundreds of applicants. During the process of selecting
candidates for interviews, it often comes down to the person's cover letter
as the deciding factor. Without a doubt, those who submit a great cover letter
with their resume have an edge. Although Human Resource Managers and recruiters
all have their own way of doing things, here is my approach to looking at
new applicants...
A
Good Resume Invites Recruiters to Read Your
Cover Letter
I always look at a person's resume first. I quickly breeze over qualifications
and employment history. If they look promising in these areas, then their
cover letter gets my attention.
The cover letter provides insight to a person, e.g. how organized they are
by examining the presentation of the letter, whether they took the time to
find out anything about my company, whether they have had or do have ties
to the company, whether they have specified the job they want, will they travel,
etc.
The meat is in the resume - it provides facts for quickly assessing your skills,
achievements, and work history. If you look qualified for a job via your resume,
then your cover letter becomes the deciding factor for a possible interview.
The Goal of a Cover Letter
The goal of your
cover letter is to introduce yourself to
the company and to sell yourself. If you do this well enough, you are at the
top of the list for an interview, assuming you are qualified for the position.
Advise for a Strong Cover Letter:
- Make it short. Definitely no more than
one page. Half a page is better. Two paragraphs is even better. If you can
whittle it down to that and make your case succinctly, then you are proving
yourself to be a great communicator. That's a huge bonus in my book.
- Be professional and concise. Never try
to be humorous. Keep your tone on a "business only" level.
- Always put yourself in the best light and
never give hints that you may be under-qualified, even if you think you
are.
- Never mention work experience in the cover
letter that isn't included on your resume. This no-no equals an automatic
strike out.
- Make sure it contains no typos or poor
grammar. Have someone proof your letter before using it.
- Know what you are applying for. Be specific.
Know the job title. Never say you'll take anything available. You are a
professional. State the job title you are wanting to be considered for in
the first paragraph of your cover letter.
- I always ask candidates why they want to
work for me. This is where they have the opportunity to impress me by saying
something such as "Because your company is the largest retailer of wireless
communication devices, I feel strongly that I should position my future
with a leader in the industry." Do you see what I mean? I want to know that
they have done a little research. I want to know that they understand my
business and at the same time they see a opportunity for self-fulfillment
within my company. This is information you include in the first paragraph
of the cover letter.
- Next, you must have a clear understanding
of the contributions you will make to the company. This is paragraph number
two. Ask yourself how your set of skills and past experiences will directly
impact the company. This paragraph can be called the "What can you do for
the company?" section.
- Never conclude a letter with a flippant
"I hope you call me" type of ending. Always specify a date that you will
follow-up with the company and how you will follow-up.
Applying these tips will help you to be a
step ahead of the pack. Recruiters routinely discard many applicants based
solely on a poorly
written cover letter. Since your goal is
to get in the door for an interview, taking the time to create a
winning cover letter is a tactic you can't
afford to skip!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brett Krkosska provides how-to advice on small business and home-based work
issues. His site, http://www.HomeBizTools.com, helps small businesses reach
their fullest potential. He is also the publisher of Straight Talk, a fresh
and original newsletter that offers a unique perspective on today's business
issues
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