Archive for the ‘Cover Letter Articles’ Category

They say there’s a first time for everything. Taken literally, that would mean that there is a chance that one of these days you are going to stretch your arms out, the wind will pick you up and you’ll reach a cruising altitude, really flying! You can dream. But, when the dreaming is done, the work has just begun. Although flying can be an analogy of the success you may achieve in the corporate world (or as a blue collar worker, if you so chose), let’s come back down to earth for a spell and discuss why “firsts” are important.

Remember when you were a child — think way back — when everything was fresh, and each dawn was the hatching of a new experience, and excitement over the simplest things would abound? Admit it; you were mesmerized by all the “firsts” — completely impressionable!!! Much of who you are today is a smorgasbord of all the ingredients from that which happened to you and around you as a child. All of those “first” experiences combined to paint your worldview, for good or for ill.

Sooner than you thought would happen, you realized you had a family to support, a mortgage to pay, insurance premiums, mouths to feed, etc. And whether it’s your first prospective job or you’re far into your adult working life, you will likely be finding yourself doing this one thing over and over again — for the first time: trying to impress someone you’ve never met before through the medium of the printed word on paper.

You have an amazing grasp on the obvious, even if it is on delay. Sooner or later, you came to the realization that everybody has a resume, and although they can vary a bit from person to person in the areas of education, work experience, skills, and even the format of the document itself, by and large resumes are dull and boring and do very little to attract the kind of personalized attention you need to set you apart from the rest of the dozens of applicants all competing for the same opening.

Now, follow me here — back to childhood again — your own child’s childhood this time (or if you don’t have one, make due by pretending): how are you going to explain it when the little one asks for the first time how the TV works or how an airplane stays up in the sky without falling? Are you going to be technical and dogmatic in your explanation, or are you going to be animated and imaginative, urging and inspiring the youngster?

The difference between a callback and no callback has very little to do with qualifications on a resume (that comes later), and everything to do with “firsts”. Resumes are like eating meat before you are weaned from the bottle. They’re a little hard to digest without careful and proper preparation. Why are so many resumes overlooked or simply passed by? They are too technical, dogmatic, and uninspiring. You have a serious leg up when you remember the human touch; introductions are critical.

Just like you experienced so many exhilarating “firsts” when you were growing up, you need to realize there is A) An order to the way in which we as humans are open to receiving information, and B) That when that information is received in a unique and exciting manner, it stimulates a lasting impression from which to build upon. That is why a resume cover letter is so important in the hiring process. To think that some overlook or disregard this step altogether is mind-boggling. Keep A and B in mind when submitting any resume for review. Spice up your resume cover letter, remembering the human element and that you are more than just your resume. You are full of vibrant life; an extremely valuable component of any employer’s staffing needs. Of course, you need to be relevant, but tailor your introduction (resume cover letter), your first contact with a prospective employer, in a fashion that would — while helping the employer realize your strengths and aptitude for the job — also seem like you were explaining something extremely captivating for the first time ever, to anyone!

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Many professional applicants choose to include a cover letter with their resume or application when submitting a bid for an open position with a company. Cover letters are simply letters that are addressed to the hiring committee or chairperson in charge of filling a position within a company and are a good way for a corporation to understand a few things about an applicant prior to meeting them:

1. How articulate is the applicant? Cover letters will provide a basic understanding of the type of communication that the applicant is most familiar and comfortable with. If the corporation largely relies on email communications, but a person cannot write a coherent cover letter, this may indicate the job may not be a great fit for them.

2. How dedicated is the applicant? Cover letters do not just write themselves and they do take some research on the part of the applicant to understand the best way to write a letter to the corporation. In this respect, a very good cover letter could indicate that the applicant is willing to go above and beyond the job requirements when needed.

3. How bad does the applicant want the job? In many cases there may be a tie between applicants with regards to qualifications and job fit, yet the hiring committee hires the applicant that is “chasing” the job harder. Well written cover letters indicate preparedness and desire.

In order to provide an effective cover letter, remember a few specific tips.

1. Begin the letter with a personalized salutation – Do a bit of research and determine the name of the person whom will be accepting your letter. Address the letter to them as this will add a very personal touch to a normally impersonal task.

2. Customize the letter – Research the company and the job as much as possible. Pick keywords out of the job description and use them to help describe your past experience or qualifications. Utilize this information to tailor every aspect of the letter to sell you and your skills as the best for the position.

3. Focus on your strengths – Do not include information that could not be considered a strength. Remember, the cover letter is a chance to sell yourself, nothing more. Any other pertinent information that needs given to the employer can be dealt with AFTER you get an interview.

4. Provide your contact information and keep the tone professional – While the letter is a chance to show your potential employer who you are and why you are the best at what you do, it is still important to maintain a professional attitude throughout the letter. Provide the most up to date contact information so that the employer can get ahold of you and then close the letter professionally (Sincerely or Kind Regards are two good endings to use).

Stick to these tips and your cover letters will be drawing you more attention than you ever thought possible during the job hunt process.

A good cover letter is a way to sell yourself as an employee or applicant. It is often the first impression you will make on an employer and should be concise, well worded, and able to detail all of your strengths. Often it seems that applicants will look at a cover letter as a way to reiterate their resume (which in most cases is included in addition to the letter) or as a simple note that accompanies their resume submission.

Unfortunately, what many people will miss if they utilize a cover letter in this way is their dream job or the promotion of a lifetime. Cover letters are not simply a way to inform of an employer of your intent to bid on a position, they are a chance to explain in minute detail exactly why you are the right candidate for the position. When writing cover letters there are a few essential steps that you should take in order to make your cover letter as effective as possible.

1. Begin with a proper salutation – Do a bit of research about the company and the person to whom your letter will be arriving. If you can determine the person’s name, address them directly in the letter. This personalizes the letter and also shows that you are intuitive enough to do a bit of background research on the position.

2. Describe where you learned of the position – Open the letter with an introductory paragraph describing where and how you learned of the position and why you are applying. Say something like, “I learned of this position from an ad in the local newspaper and am very interested in pursuing this opportunity.”

3. Give a BRIEF description of your education and work experience – Give just enough relevant information about your past work experience and your education to prove you are qualified for the position. Do not go into great detail about your alma mater as this is not the focus of your letter.

4. Describe your work experience and relevant accomplishments – This is the main portion of the letter that you want the potential employer to read. Describe your past jobs and why you were great at them. Focus on meaningful and positive changes you made in the work place and tailor your strengths to the job announcement (ie do not include explanations of how you improved the copying process in your office building if you are applying for a job as a stunt man).

5. Close with a “clincher” and your contact information – Conclude with a paragraph telling the reader exactly what qualifies you as the best candidate for the job and why they would be remiss if they did not choose you. Include your contact information including phone number and email and explain that you would love to meet with someone to further discuss your qualifications and the specifics of the job.

6. End with “Sincerely” – Close the letter respectfully and professionally by using “Sincerely” (or Kind regards). Include your name, current title, contact information, and a signature.