Sell yourself.
We're not talking about Amsterdam's Red Light District. We're talking
about finding a job. Cover letters are your first sales pitch to potential
employers. Remember that employers receive hundreds of resumes and cover
letters from people that are applying for the job YOU want. Your goal is to
stand out from the other candidates. A good cover letter introduces you to an
employer and explains why you are one of the best candidates applying for a job
with the organization. It should motivate the employer to read your resume and
hopefully invite you to interview for a position you are seeking.
What does a cover letter do? Basically, it expands on your resume and lets you
write about yourself in a more personal way. Cover letters don't have to be
stiff and formal--avoid the "rubber stamp" letter. The voice behind the letter
should be warm, friendly and genuine. Employers want to hire real people, not
robots. Although your letter should reflect your personality, always keep your
audience in mind. Catchy opening sentences are wonderful for creative jobs in
communications and advertising, but Wall Street might not appreciate it. Before
you send out your cover letter, show it to someone in the industry to get
feedback.
-
Have an aggressive closing paragraph and state a specific action, i.e., I will
call you in ten days to set up an interview. P.S.: It is important to keep a
record of all your correspondence and what stage each application is in.
Purpose & Strategies
-
Your cover letter is more than likely the first contact you will have with a
potential employer. If it is well-written, your letter will lead the reader to
your resume. If your letter is poorly written or produced, the employer may not
even take time to review your resume and your application has a good chance of
ending in the circular file.
-
When you prepare the cover letter put yourself in the shoes of the hiring
manager. If you were doing the hiring, what attributes would the ideal
candidate for this job possess? You probably would prefer that the person has
work experience similar to, or at least applicable to, the position he or she
is applying for. You would want the ideal candidate to be ambitious and anxious
to contribute his or her energy and skills to the success of your organization.
The perfect candidate would demonstrated interest in, and knowledge of, your
particular Company or organization. In short, you would want to hire an
energetic, dedicated and skilled candidate.
-
The cover letter affords the opportunity for you to present yourself as the
perfect candidate. Imagine your cover letter as a marketing tool, much like a
television commercial. Effective commercials catch your attention by
highlighting only the most attractive features of a product.
-
Highlight your most attractive features as a potential employee. Remember,
employers typically receive hundreds of applications for each job opening. No
one is going to waste time reading through a long letter crammed with text. Be
brief. You should avoid detailing your entire work history. The best way to
distinguish yourself is to highlight one or two of your accomplishments or
abilities that show you are an above-average candidate for the position.
Stressing only a few unique attributes increases your chances of being
remembered by the recruiter and getting to the interview stage, where you can
elaborate on the rest of your accomplishments.
-
Taking time to research each employer promises to be much more effective than
sending out hundreds of form letters. In effect, you are saying to employers,
"This is where I want to work. I have done my research and I am confident in my
decision."
More Cover Letter Tips
-
Never send out a resume without a cover letter.
-
Address your cover letter specifically to the person by name and title who will
most likely be interviewing for the job you have in mind.
-
Call the employer's switchboard to ask for this information.
-
If you are answering a blind newspaper advertisement- one in which the employer
is not specified- you can address your letter "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear
Hiring Manager."
-
The cover letter should be neat, contain no typos, misspellings or errors in
grammar. Employers judge you on your ability to communicate and your ability to
manage the presentation of information. A cover letter does both.
-
Use 8 1/2 x 11 paper allowing a border of at least one inch. This allows space
for the reader to make notes.
-
Use the same quality paper as your resume. Match envelope as well.
-
Use a clear type face large enough to allow easy reading. Avoid script and
other exotic typefaces.
-
Individualize your cover letter. Each cover letter you write will have a
somewhat different slant, depending on what skills are important to the needs
of the particular employer.
-
Whenever possible, do some research on the organization or Company before you
write your cover letter.
-
Read annual reports or product brochures or by contacting people in the
organization.
-
Keep it to three or four paragraphs and no longer than one page.
-
Always close your cover letter with a request for an interview.
-
Suggest a specific time or reason, such as: "I will be in your area next week
and would appreciate the opportunity for an interview on Tuesday or Wednesday."
-
Be assertive.
-
Make a record and keep a copy of each letter and resume you send.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY...
-
"Mention projects under development, recent awards, or favorable comments
recently published about the Company. You can find such information in the
business press, including the business section of local newspapers and the many
magazines that are devoted to particular industries." -Neale Baxter, from
Occupational Outlook Quarterly
-
"...you need to make it easy for the employer to buy. You need to clearly state
when you will be available to talk to the employer. Be specific: give telephone
numbers where you can be reached both at work and off work. You could have a
tremendous background and see yourself very well, but if the employer can't
reach you, everything could be lost." -Lola M. Coxford, from Resume Writing
Made Easy for High-Tech
-
"No cover letter should carry the salutation, 'To whom it may concern.' It will
concern no one if you don't personalize it. The surest way to get the
information is to find the name in trade journals or in The Standard &
Poor's Register, The Dun & Bradstreet Directory, or other directories.
Failing all that, call the Company and ask for the name of the appropriate
person." -Kenneth and Sheryl Dawson, Job Search, The Total System
-
"Because you can use your cover letter to highlight certain aspects of your
resume, the same resume can be used to pursue different job opportunities. The
beauty of the cover letter is that you can gear it to each particular Company
that is the recipient of your resume by stressing your most important
qualification." -Adele Lewis, from The Best Resumes for Scientists and
Engineers
-
"If there is a catch-22 situation in job hunting, it involves the cover letter.
Even in situations where it is not requested, you should attach a cover letter
to your resume. However, a review of the cover letter is one of the most common
methods by which candidates are eliminated from the process. The cover letter
is rarely anything but a liability, but you must include it because its absence
is worse." -Jeff B. Speck, from Hot Tips, Sneaky Tricks & Last Ditch
Tactics
-
"Poor grammar, bad punctation, and misspelled words suggest that the applicant
is either poorly educated or simply doesn't care about the impression
created... The chances are unusually high that the employer is going to forgo
reading the acCompanying resume and quickly move on to the next job applicant."
-Richard H. Beatty, from The Perfect Cover Letter
Generic Guidelines/Format
Your Address
Your Phone
Date
Contact Person's Name
Title
Address
Dr. Mr./Ms.__________________________
Paragraph 1
State the position you are applying for and how you heard about the opening.
Immediately explain why your background makes you the best candidate for the
position you are applying for. Keep the first paragraph short and hard-hitting.
Paragraph 2
Detail what you could do to contribute to this Company, organization or school
system. Show how your qualifications will benefit the employer. Point out your
unique background and how your experiences make you a qualified candidate for
the position. Remember to keep this letter short; few employers will read a
cover letter over one page.
Paragraph 3
Describe your interest in the Company, organization or school system. Subtly
emphasize your knowledge about the employer (from the results of your research)
and your familiarity with the industry as a whole. You should present yourself
as eager to work for this employer. Paragraph 4
In the closing paragraph, you should specifically request an interview. Include
your phone number and the hours you can be reached. Alternatively, you might
prefer to mention that you will follow up with a phone call (to arrange an
interview at a mutually convenient time within several days).
Sincerely,
Your full name (typed)
Sample 1
1111 School Street
Stonehill, MA 02357
(508) 565-0000
January 1, 2000
Ms. Snapple Lady, Director of College Recruiting
Snapple Industries
P.O. Box 123456
Boston, MA 00000
Dear Ms. Snapple:
I am writing to express my interest in the marketing position you recently
advertised with the Career Services Office at Stonehill College. I will be
graduating from Stonehill College this May with a degree in Management Science
and I am very interested in beginning a career in sales and marketing with
Snapple Industries.
You will note from the enclosed resume that many of my extracurricular and work
experiences involved the organization, promotion and publicizing of events. I
have had direct sales experience soliciting potential customers for We Three
Caterers and have been successful in managing employees in various capacities.
Perhaps the most challenging and rewarding experience I have had was working
with Congressman Kool and the organizing committee of the Stonehill College
Literary Festival. I am confident that I have the sales and managerial skills
required to be a contributing member of the Snapple organization.
A letter and resume can tell you only so much about my motivations and
qualifications. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my background with
you in person. I will call you at the end of next week to discuss whether such
a meeting would be possible and to confirm appropriate next steps.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary Neidajob
Sample 2
253 Brompton Road
Brockton, MA 000000
(508) 588-0000
January 1, 2000
Mr. Richard Smith
Manager of Personnel
Adams Products, Incorporated
22 West Blackstone
Boston, MA 000000
Dear Mr. Smith:
In response to your recent advertisement in the Boston Sunday Globe, I would
like to apply for the position of Personnel Assistant.
I recently read with interest an article about Adams Products, Incorporated, in
the Journal of Industrial Relations. Your research in the area of employee
maximization through quality of life considerations is an exciting development
and I would like to begin my career in labor relations with your Company.
My qualifications are based upon a unique combination of education, skills, and
work experience. While completing my major in Management at Stonehill College,
I studied topics including strategic management, cost accounting and economic
theory. This was combined with twelve hours of psychology which included
coursework in motivation theory and workplace ecology. These courses gave me an
understanding of the concerns facing the personnel specialist. This knowledge
is complemented by practical experience of employer-employee relations gained
while working first as a clerk and then as an evening manager in a retail
store.
My resume is enclosed for your further consideration. I am available for an
interview at your convenience, and I look forward to discussing with you the
contribution I can make to Adams Products in the position of personnel
assistant. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Will U. Paimee
 Instantly
E-Mail This Article To A Friend!
|