Cover Letter Summary

Here is a summary of this weeks blogs on cover letters.

A cover letter creates a strong first impression of you and it will play a large role in determining whether or not your resume should be considered.

The purpose of the cover letter is:

1. To quickly highlight your most valuable skills related to the specific position.


2. To match your skills and interests to the job


3. To demonstrate your personal qualities (tact, judgment, selling and communication skills)


4. To request an interview
   

A cover letter should consist of:

• OPENING PARAGRAPH: Indicates the purpose of the letter, such as response to advertisement, acting on a referral or writing a letter of inquiry, as well as references company research.
• THE BODY: The place to highlight your interests and key skills and relate them to the position advertised.
• CLOSING PARAGRAPH: To be used to request an interview.
  Every cover letter you write must be:

ORIGINAL
Write a new cover letter for each job application you make and tailor it specifically to each job.

CONCISE
If your cover letter is poorly written, long-winded or difficult to read, the employer may never read the attached resume.

• Do not be too aggressive, too friendly, or too vague.
• Make certain your cover letter does not exceed one page in length.
  
• An effective Cover Letter:
  IS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE RESUME: formally introduces you to the employer, indicating the source of your information about the job for which you are applying.
• SUMS UP WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER: highlights the particular aspects of your education, work experience, activities or personality which would make you an asset to their company and this job.
• BRIEFLY STATES HOW YOUR QUALIFICATIONS RELATE TO THE JOB: links together your experiences and abilities to the company's needs, indicating your knowledge of the job for which you are not applying at random, but have taken the time to inform yourself.
  STATES THAT YOU INCLUDED A RESUME : mentions the fact that a resume follows this short introduction.
  

Cover letter DON'Ts

Here are some cover letter Don'ts to help you with your job search

Don’t make spelling, grammar or punctuation errors
Don’t appear conceited or arrogant about your ability to do the job
Don’t focus on what they can do for you – focus on what you can do for them
Don’t discuss unrelated skills and qualifications
Don’t address any skills or qualifications that you may lack in your cover letter
Don’t forget to sign your letter
Don’t wait until the last day of the job application deadline to submit your cover letter & resume

Cover Letter Do's

Here are some cover letter Do's to keep in mind when you attach to your resume.


Do include your contact information in the cover letter.

Do let your enthusiasm for the job, the industry and the company show

Do maintain your professionalism in your letter

Do keep your letter brief – cover letters should be limited to one page in length

Do use specific examples of your skills & experiences

Do use specific letters for each application

What makes a Good Cover Letter?

A cover letter should be short, specific and no longer than one page. You should specify your career objectives in relation to the position, what appeals to you about the job and a short summary of your experience and skills. Here are some tips for your cover letter.

1. No spelling or typing errors. Not even one.
2. Address it to the person who can hire you. Resumes sent to the HR department usually get lost. If you can find out (through networking and researching) exactly who is making the hiring decision, address the letter to that person. Be sure the name is spelled correctly and the title is correct. A touch of formality is good too: address the person as "Mr.," "Ms.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Dr.," or "Professor." (Yes, life is complicated.)
3. Write it in your own words so that it sounds like you - not like something out of a book. Employers are looking for knowledge, enthusiasm, focus.
4. Being "natural" makes many people nervous. And then even more nervous because they are trying to avoid spelling errors and grammatical mistakes.
5. Show that you know something about the company and the industry. This is where your research comes in. Don't go overboard--just make it clear that you didn't pick this company out of the phone book. You know who they are, what they do and you have chosen them!
6. Use terms and phrases that are meaningful to the employer. (This is where your industry research and networking come in.) If you are applying for an advertised position, use the requirements in the ad and put them in BOLD type. For example: the ad says--
   "2 years' experience processing magnetic media (cartridge, tape, disc); interface with benefit plan design, contracts and claims; and business background with strong analytical & technical skills--dBase, Excel, R&R, SQL."
   Make sure your cover letter contains each of these requirements and shows how you measure up.

Who Needs a Cover Letter?

Everyone who sends out a resume does! Even if the cover letter never "came up" in conversation or wasn't mentioned in an advertisement, it is expected that you will write one.
It is regarded as a sign of laziness (sorry about that) to send out a cover letter that is not tailored to the specific company. In the days before word processors, you could maybe get away with it. Not anymore.
Yes, it adds to the wear and tear of looking for a job! But the good news is: the cover letter gives you another chance to emphasise what you have to contribute to the organization. Don't give the person screening the resumes a second to entertain the thought: "But how can this person help US?" Your cover letter will answer that question in your own words. Your resume will answer the same question in a somewhat more rigid format.

It may take a few more minutes of your time...but it is worth it...Just do it!

Cover Letters and Your Foot in the Door

I will focus this weeks blogs on the importance of cover letters.

Cover letters are necessary when sending your resume, but remember to keep your cover letter short. The purpose of a cover letters is to obtain an interview, not tell a lengthy story. The focus should be on your qualifications, and setting up an interview. There are two types of cover letters - specific and general. The specific cover letter is directed at a specific company, specific person, and position. The specific cover letter personally addresses the company’s needs. It also sends a positive message to the employer that you are truly interested because you took the time to write an individual letter. A general cover letter is often addressed to the Recruitment manager or department and emphasises your qualifications in hopes that a position will be available to utilize your skills.