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by Peter Newfield The
value of a cover letter is the ability to present your intentions,
qualifications, and availability to a prospective employer
in a succinct, appealing format. Your resume can give the
nitty-gritty of dates, places of employment, and education
but your cover letter must entice the reader to take the extra
few minutes to consider you when faced with hundreds and thousands
of candidates for any one job opening.
I. Do you really need a cover
letter? You bet! Just as you would never just show
up unannounced at a prospective employer’s door, your
resume should never just appear solo on a decision-maker’s
desk. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to introduce
yourself.
II. Personalize it to the
company - Sure, you could save time and effort by reproducing
a “canned” cover letter and hope for the best.
Instead, take a few minutes to personalize your cover letters
to demonstrate your commitment to the job search effort and
show that you are really serious about working for the companies
you are contacting. State the reason that you are interested
in working for that particular company. Address the cover
letter to a specific individual whenever possible.
III. Why are you sending
your resume and cover letter? Cover letters should
be clear and to the point. Include the specific job title,
2-3 reasons why your experience makes a good fit, and a brief
outline of career highlights.
IV. Highlight your strengths!
You may be a great person and never call in sick but prospective
employers really want to know why they should consider you
for this position. Brag a little! Give a few facts, list relevant
skills, and state accomplishments on your present or most
recent jobs that will be impressive. Increased widget sales
by 93%? Negotiate new financial leases/loans? Implement new
training programs which reduced staff turnover by 15%?
V. State your intentions
and qualifications right up front! If you expect a
senior personnel manager or recruiter to wade through a mish-mash
of information on your cover letter before understanding why
you are sending your resume, chances are, it will never happen.
VI. What makes you different?
Emphasize your skills, talents, and experiences to show how
you would be a valuable addition to the team. If you have
relevant volunteer/professional experience include it briefly
in your cover letter.
VII. No negative information!
Never include personality conflicts with previous employers,
pending litigation suits, or sarcastic remarks in your cover
letter. If you are bad-mouthing your present place of employment,
interviewers will feel uneasy and may relegate your resume
to the circular file.
VIII. When to include salary/relocation
information - Rule of thumb is to always include salary
requirements and salary history in the cover letter (not on
the resume) if a prospective employer requests it.
IX. How are you prepared
to proceed? Take a proactive approach in your cover
letter. State the fact that you are available for a personal
interview; give your home, work, e-mail and cell phone numbers
where you can be reached.
X. Be direct! A professionally
written cover letter and resume can open the doors to your
next position on the corporate ladder.
A winning cover letter is your calling
card to a new opportunity.
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