Cover Letters: To Send or Not to Send, This is the Question | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

I have discussed this topic in the past, and I see that it is still one of the most frequently asked and hotly debated questions on Linked-In. So I think it is worth revisiting, exploring both sides of the questions. Then you can be the final judge of what to do in your job search.

CONSENSUS:
The only thing that people on all sides of the great cover letter debate agree upon is when a recruiter, employer or job posting requests that you include a cover letter along with your resume that you do so; and you must follow their directions to a tee including sending a detailed salary history if requested.

PRO:
What I observed in evaluating the importance of a cover letter is, just like in politics, the pro and con opinions seem to follow defined lines. In participating in and following up with fellow contributors on these discussions I found that recruiters generally share a point of view that a cover letter is helpful to them and I recommend that you send one to them.

As a recruiter I rarely read cover letters. When I did it was only after reading the resume first, unless I asked for one for a particular assignment, and I will say I rejected more people based on their cover letter than I was swayed to change my original opinion. However I do know many recruiters, especially in high level search and certain industries who feel a cover letter is a required part of the resume submittal process.

So my opinion is that a cover letter should be sent to a recruiter since you need to sell them on accepting you as a candidate and working with you on the current assignment as well as on future assignments. Just make sure your cover letter is on-target, polished and professional.

I also found that corporate people who screen resumes in smaller companies and for companies that don’t hire on a regular basis, or in high volume rely more on cover letters to differentiate between candidates. I think this is because they have not developed the skills to judge candidates on the basis of their resume and social media.

So I would recommend you send one to them as well, but if you do not it is not a major faux pas.

CON:
Many of you will be dealing with recruiters on the corporate side who are working on high volume searches where they receive up to 300 resumes per job, and they generally work on multiple internal assignments with different departments and decision makers. These people do not have the time or inclination to read or receive a cover letter. To them it is another piece of useless clutter on their desk or inbox.

For them I suggest it is best to use the time and effort you put into a cover letter into tweaking and customizing your resume for the specific job you are applying for. The odds of reading your cover letter and sending it up the line are slim. But on the downside the people who do take the time to read your cover letter will scrutinize it so you better be carful how it is written. I have also found most of these recruiters/screeners dislike being sold, have a low tolerance for repetitiveness, and are prone to look for and question discrepancies in your resume and cover letter. So if you have a choice you can get away without a cover letter and it will not have a negative impact on your candidacy.

Now my personal opinion is if a cover letter is not specifically required it can do more harm than good. Most people I know are average to poor resume writers who learn through trial and error; and they are even worse at writing a cover letter. So if resume and cover letter writing is not your forte I suggest you not write one. If you feel a need to do so remember your cover letter will be judged on spelling, grammar, content, style and how well it sells you against other candidates. I think if your resume is a powerful document you should rely on it and save your sales pitch for a personal interview.

CONCLUSION:
I believe the best approach in most cases is the middle ground, which is to send a simple letter of introduction along with your resume. Do not try and sell yourself. Just explain what job you are applying for, that the resume will show why you are a good fit, and offer include contact information and availability for an interview.

Again I would appreciate if you all weigh in on this discussion and leave a comment here or send one to me directly.

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Author:

Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at http://www.perrynewman.com/, and email him your resume at perry@perrynewman.com for FREE resume critique.

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She Succeeds with Two-Column Cover Letter and Wonders about Follow-up - The Career Doctor Blog

Anna writes:

I just wanted to say a big thank you for creating such a brilliant website. I don’t know what I would do without it — it’s my source.

I’ve been sending out cover letters which (at the time) I thought were very good, but I then came across a job ad where they said they are expecting high volumes of responses. It was a job where I didn’t have the exact experience they required so I thought I would change tactics and try out your 2-column dynamic cover letter and see whether I would get offered an interview.

Well, I DID and as soon as I sat for the interview, the first thing he said was that he was very impressed by my cover letter and that all the information was in front of him easy to read.

Quick question for you. I just had the interview yesterday… how soon should I follow-up?

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The Career Doctor responds:

Our mission in everything we do at Quintessential Careers — including this blog — is to empower job-seekers like you and help you succeed, and I am so happy that you were able to use the information on our site to help obtain the interview.

So many job-seekers seem to think that most of the work is done once they get the interview — and I guess I see the logic of that because so much focus is put on obtaining the interview — but really the interview is just an interim step because your goal should be the job offer.

Did you send a thank-you note? A short note thanking the interviewer and reminding him/her of your key selling point is your first line of follow-up, and should be completed as soon as possible after the interview.

Your next follow-up partly depends on the information you received at the interview. If the company is close to making a final decision, then I would follow-up sooner than later. Typically, job-seekers should follow-up once a week by politely contacting the hiring manager and expressing your continued interest in the position and the company.

via careerdoctor.org

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5 Ways to Ensure Your Cover Letter is Not Worth Reading | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

Here are five ways to ensure your resume won’t be read.

1. Write your whole life story in the cover letter.

2. Provide information that is not relevant to the position.

3. Exclude information they’ve specifically asked you to include.

4. Forget to tell them why you’re the best fit.

5. Use a boring closing statement.

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Addressing Salary Requirements in a Cover Letter

Job advertisements sometimes ask you to specify salary requirements when submitting your application. But many job seekers feel uncomfortable revealing their desired salary before they’ve even scheduled an interview. If you’re one of those people, don’t worry – there are some ways to comply with the employer’s request while avoiding having to immediately provide a specific answer.

One technique is to list a range of salaries you’ve earned throughout your career. For those who have been in the workforce for a while, it is common for this range to be fairly wide. So you could say, “I’ve earned between $50,000-$75,000 in previous positions, and I would be happy to discuss salary after an interview.”

Another way to address the issue is to offer a ballpark figure. For instance, you could say, “My current salary is in the low six figures.” Or, “My current compensation, including bonuses, is in the $80s.” Remember to factor in bonuses, 401(k) matching, mileage reimbursement, and other additional forms of compensation when providing them with a number.

Sometimes employers will specifically ask you what you earn in your current position. Non-employee workers (subcontractors) can easily avoid this question by stating, “As a contractor, my compensation varies from month to month.” If you suspect that a position for which you’re applying pays less than you currently earn, you can say, “My current salary is $65,000, but I am willing to negotiate if that is out of the hiring range for this position.”

When asked about salary, the most important thing is to not sell yourself short. Unless the number you stipulate is significantly above what an employer is willing to pay, it shouldn’t prevent you from getting an interview. In addition, providing a somewhat general answer about salary requirements can aid you in appearing flexible and willing to negotiate.

By  Jessica M Holbrook: To receive a free resume analysis send your resume to info@greatresumesfast.com or visit us online at http://www.greatresumesfast.com

via employmentdigest.net

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Cover Letters – Does Anybody Read Those Anymore?

Posted by Bill in Cover Letters, Employment News

In a world where many job applications seem to disappear into a “black hole”, job seekers often wonder if there is any point in sending a cover letter with their application. The answer is absolutely yes! An effective one communicates to an employer why you’re specifically interested in the open position. With so many job seekers indiscriminately applying for hundreds of jobs, your application will automatically stand out if you can demonstrate that you truly have a personal interest in a particular position.

Effectively explaining to an employer why you want the job requires you to cite those qualities and skills that personally make you a good candidate. Generally, the likelihood that you would be a good fit for the position is directly related to your relevant experience and education; for example, a CPA could perform accounting duties for any number of companies. But, telling a hospital that you’ve considered obtaining a master’s degree in health administration makes your interest in the job personal.

In an attempt to personalize their cover letters, job seekers often research a company by examining its Web site. While it’s good to know things such as what a manufacturing company makes or the volume of business a store does every year, including facts like these in a cover letter is ineffective. Hiring managers already know all about their own company; what they don’t know is why you’d be an asset to them.

Your willingness to write one confirms for the employer that you have a serious interest in a specific position. However, to be effective it should demonstrate your knowledge of the company by relating your personal achievements and qualities to that specific business. The people reading your application don’t know anything about you. Your cover letter needs to sell you as a candidate, while your resume supports your assertions with details.

By:  Jessica Holbrook. To receive a free resume analysis send your resume to info@greatresumesfast.com or visit us online at http://www.greatresumesfast.com

via employmentdigest.net

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Addressing Salary Requirements in a Cover Letter » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

Job advertisements sometimes ask you to specify salary requirements when submitting your application.  But many job seekers feel uncomfortable revealing their desired salary before they’ve even scheduled an interview.  If you’re one of those people, don’t worry—there are some ways to comply with the employer’s request while avoiding having to immediately provide a specific answer.

One technique is to list a range of salaries you’ve earned throughout your career.  For those who have been in the workforce for a while, it is common for this range to be fairly wide.  So you could say, “I’ve earned between $50,000-$75,000 in previous positions, and I would be happy to discuss salary after an interview.”

Another way to address the issue is to offer a ballpark figure.  For instance, you could say, “My current salary is in the low six figures.” Or, “My current compensation, including bonuses, is in the $80s.”  Remember to factor in bonuses, 401(k) matching, mileage reimbursement, and other additional forms of compensation when providing them with a number.

Sometimes employers will specifically ask you what you earn in your current position.  Non-employee workers (subcontractors) can easily avoid this question by stating, “As a contractor, my compensation varies from month to month.”  If you suspect that a position for which you’re applying pays less than you currently earn, you can say, “My current salary is $65,000, but I am willing to negotiate if that is out of the hiring range for this position.”

When asked about salary, the most important thing is to not sell yourself short.  Unless the number you stipulate is significantly above what an employer is willing to pay, it shouldn’t prevent you from getting an interview.  In addition, providing a somewhat general answer about salary requirements can aid you in appearing flexible and willing to negotiate.

For a free resume analysis submit your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com. You can also view professionally-written resume and cover letter samples at http://www.greatresumesfast.com.

via greatresumesfast.com

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Cover Letters: Does Anybody Read Those Anymore? » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

In a world where many job applications seem to disappear into a “black hole”, job seekers often wonder if there is any point in sending a cover letter with their application.  The answer is absolutely yes!  An effective cover letter communicates to an employer why you’re specifically interested in the open position.  With so many job seekers indiscriminately applying for hundreds of jobs, your application will automatically stand out if you can demonstrate that you truly have a personal interest in a particular position.

Effectively explaining to an employer why you want the job requires you to cite those qualities and skills that personally make you a good candidate.  Generally, the likelihood that you would be a good fit for the position is directly related to your relevant experience and education; for example, a CPA could perform accounting duties for any number of companies.  But, telling a hospital that you’ve considered obtaining a master’s degree in health administration makes your interest in the job personal.

In an attempt to personalize their cover letters, job seekers often research a company by examining its Web site.  While it’s good to know things such as what a manufacturing company makes or the volume of business a store does every year, including facts like these in a cover letter is ineffective.  Hiring managers already know all about their own company; what they don’t know is why you’d be an asset to them.

Your willingness to write a cover letter confirms for the employer that you have a serious interest in a specific position.  However, to be effective a cover letter should demonstrate your knowledge of the company by relating your personal achievements and qualities to that specific business.  The people reading your application don’t know anything about you.  Your cover letter needs to sell you as a candidate, while your resume supports your assertions with details.

via greatresumesfast.com

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Typos and Misspellings a Top Peeve of Hiring Decision-Makers - Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog

Hiring decision-makers surveyed for the book, Top Notch Executive Resumes identified this as one of their Top 30 Executive Resume Pet Peeves: Resume has spelling errors, typos and grammatical flaws.

Hiring decision-makers cited this peeve more than any other. It may surprise some that misspellings and typos pervade even executive-level resumes, but they do. A job-seeker-submitted sample considered for the executive resume book, for example, contained the common error of spelling “manager” as “manger.” You’ll note that this misspelling won’t be picked up by spell-check functions because “manger” is a correctly spelled word. So is “posses,” the plural of posse, which I often see on resumes when the job-seeker intends “possess.”

“I once received a resume where the applicant misspelled the name of the University from which he received his MBA,” said Jeff Weaver, regional manager for a global information services company.

“Poor spelling and grammar … is particularly worrying,” said Pete Follows, senior consultant, for SaccoMann, Leeds, UK. “If a candidate is not giving due care and attention to a document to improve their own personal circumstances, what care would they take with documents with less personal significance?”

A few tips on avoiding typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors:

• Use spell-check functions but remember that they aren’t enough.
• Proofread. Then put the resume down overnight and proof it again in the morning with fresh eyes.
• Try proofing from the bottom up. Reading your resume in a different order will enable you to catch errors that you may have glossed over before because your brain was accustomed to reading your verbiage in the expected order.
• Ask a friend or family member to proof, preferably one who is a meticulous speller and grammarian.
• Be careful about company and software names, which are frequently misspelled and can damage your credibility.
• Consider hiring a professional resume writer.

via resumesandcoverletters.com

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Cover Letter is Not Synonymous With Share Everything! » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

This week we’re exploring strategies and best practices for writing cover letters.  So take out your cover letter, dust it off, and let’s go.

The purpose of your cover letter is not to bore the hiring manager with your entire life story, explain and justify every gap in employment, account for your career path, and so on and so forth.  Your cover letter has one purpose—and one purpose only.  Get the hiring manager’s attention so that he reads your resume!  It’s your opportunity to make a great first impression and let him know you deserve his time.  Here are a few points to remember to ensure your cover letter is a success:

-         Be concise.  Enough said.

-         Be specific.  Focus on the specific job opening.

-         Be relevant.  What have you done previously that is an exact match for what they need?

-         Showcase, Sell, and Brag – Oh my!  (Just kidding.)  Seriously, talk yourself up (but be truthful and professional).

Be sure to reference the specific position in which you are interested, and work the company’s name in there at some point.  Also, mention the source where you heard about the position.  (It’s always nice as a hiring manager to know which sources bring you the most qualified candidates.)

I know most of you are applying for countless positions every week, and that it takes time to customize each individual cover letter.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … if making five minutes worth of adjustments now saves you days or weeks in your job search, that five minutes will have been well worth it.

As always, you can request a free resume analysis by submitting your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com.

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Study Shows Cover Letters Still Important - Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog

MENLO PARK, CA — As the job application process increasingly moves online, some job seekers might be tempted to think a formal cover letter is no longer necessary — not so, a new survey shows. Eighty-six percent of executives polled said cover letters are valuable when evaluating job candidates. Moreover, eight out of 10 (80 percent) managers said it is common to receive electronic resumes accompanied by cover letters.

The study was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based on telephone interviews with 150 senior executives from the largest companies in the United States.

Executives were asked, “When evaluating prospective job candidates, how valuable is the cover letter that accompanies the resume?” Their responses:

Very valuable		23%
Somewhat valuable		63%
Not valuable at all		14%
		100%

Executives also were asked, “When you receive a resume electronically from a job candidate, how common is it for that resume to be accompanied by a letter of introduction or cover letter?” Their responses:

Very common		37%
Somewhat common		43%
Not common at all		18%
Don’t know		2%
		100%

“Submitting a resume without a cover letter is like not shaking hands when meeting someone for the first time,” said Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Those who aren’t including cover letters with their resumes are missing an opportunity to make a good first impression and set themselves apart from other job applicants.”

Willmer added, “A cover letter should demonstrate the applicant’s knowledge of the company, highlight applicable skills and work experience, and explain any resume anomalies, such as extended employment gaps.”

OfficeTeam offers the following seven tips to help job seekers develop strong cover letters:

1. Name names. Address your letter to the specific hiring manager rather than including a generalized introduction. If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, call the company and ask.
2. Do your homework. Research the company online and demonstrate how your knowledge and skills fit the job and could benefit the organization.
3. Solve any mysteries. If you have any long employment gaps, explain how you filled the time. Mention professional development courses or volunteer activities that show additional efforts to keep your skills current.
4. Leave something for the resume. Limit your cover letter to one page, if printed, or a few paragraphs, if submitted in the body of an e-mail.
5. Make a plan. Demonstrate your excitement for the position and conclude by identifying next steps such as, “I’ll follow up with you next week to discuss meeting in person.”
6. Read and reread. Just as you would scrutinize your resume, take time to review your cover letter for typos and grammatical errors. Have a friend or mentor read it as an added precaution.
7. Be a savvy submitter. When applying through online job boards, always choose the option to add your cover letter to your resume. When e-mailing application materials to a hiring manager, paste your cover letter within the body of your message.

Original press release here.

via resumesandcoverletters.com

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How to Ensure Your Cover Letter is Read by the Hiring Manager » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

I could complicate this blog article and make it ten times longer than it needs to be.  But I know you’re busy trying to find a job, so I’ll keep it short and sweet.  If you want to make sure the hiring manager reads your cover letter, don’t attach it to the e-mail—just copy and paste it into the body of the e-mail.

This strategy ensures about a 99% guarantee the hiring manager will read it.  People are drawn to e-mails … something about them (much like the allure of receiving a greeting card) inherently says “must read”.  So next time you’re applying for a position online (or elsewhere) and you’re submitting your resume and cover letter via e-mail, make sure you copy and paste the cover letter instead of attaching it to the e-mail.  Now, whether the cover letter is effective in getting him to read your resume is a whole other story.  (Here’s a hint: “My resume for your review” does NOT qualify as a cover letter or adequate e-mail text.)  For additional advice on cover letters, subscribe to our blog posts via e-mail because in the next few days we’ll be starting a series that will focus on cover letters.

As always, you can request a free resume analysis by submitting your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com.

via greatresumesfast.com

 

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Career Change Cover Letter – A Resume’s Key to Getting Read | EmploymentDigest.net

Applying for a worthwhile job can be a highly competitive business, even if it is for the continuation of your current career. If you are keen to get the job, then you can rest assured there will be dozens or even hundreds of other applicants seeking the same desirable vacancy. If you have decided to change career and apply for the job, then that competitiveness will be amplified; out of all the applicants, you will probably stand alone as the one making a career change.

While you may seem to be at an instant disadvantage, but there are ways you may turn that around to arouse interest rather than disdain. There will be some hiring managers who just ignore you for their own personal reasons; they may be risk averse, they may even be jealous that you can make such a step to change your career. On the other hand, if you can grab attention with a career change cover letter that impresses their senses, then you will stand a chance of having your resume read, and hopefully be shortlisted for interview. One thing for sure is that once the hiring manager has decided to interview you, he will probably remember you more than the others simply because you are different. You should aim to reinforce that with a powerful cover letter and resume.

Before writing your career change cover letter and resume, think through what the potential employer is looking for, what problems they are hoping to solve by recruiting, and what relevant training, skills and experience and training you can bring forth from your current and previous career. By doing so, and then getting those points across in your cover letter and resume, you will build a bridge between the old careers and new, along which you can guide the hiring manager. If they feel secure on the bridge, then they will be more inclined to walk across it again, and maybe see it as a useful short cut.

There is no doubt it is important to have an accurate and convincing resume, but that resume will be of no value if it is not read. You should therefore see the cover letter as the first stepping stone to your career change dreams, without which you cannot get to the second stepping stone. You therefore need to put some concentrated effort into creating the cover letter that will get you noticed and your resume read. By changing career you have made your task more difficult, but with the right approach, it is far from impossible to land that new job in a new career. After all, people across the world do that very thing every day, and there is no reason why you should not do so too.

This career change cover letter article was written by  Roy Thomsitt. For more please visit http://www.careerchangecoverletter.net

via employmentdigest.net

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Unsolicited Resume Cover Letter – This is How I Get it Past the Unsolicited Label | EmploymentDigest.net

I had to send a few unsolicited resume cover letters and resumes, while looking for a good meaningful job recently. I had been working at the same place for a little over two years and recently graduated college. I was fortunate to have a job, the market being the way it is and all. Yet I still wanted to make a move for the better. Again, being that the job market was as slow as it was here in my area. I decided to go fishing a little, sending my resume and cover letter to places where I would like to work.

What I did was, learn as much about the company as I could. I was working on an unsolicited resume cover letter, after all, and sending my resume with no sort of introduction wasn’t an option. I wanted to come across genuinely interested in becoming part of the company. The best way I could figure was by finding out all I could and planting a picture of myself being part of the very fabric of the company.

I put together a resume cover letter that accentuated my skills and recent achievements. I also, placed much emphasis on my desire to become part of a company that was at the front of my chosen career. In an effort to stand out, I directed if to the company President and made sure HR received a copy also. I didn’t want to step on any ones toes. You know how that can go.

I also made sure to point out the position I wanted and how I would be diligent at accomplishing my goal of becoming an asset to the company. While at the same time I understood that I had to work my way up and would be willing to start in a different area of the company where my talents could also be utilized. I know how to be an asset to a company and working my way up wouldn’t be a problem. I just need an opportunity.

I did land a few interviews from doing this and though I haven’t been hired on the spot. I have been called back on second interviews. The detail, I think was in the way I put together my unsolicited resume cover letter. I don’t think I would have accomplished anything if I wouldn’t have made a custom letter with details about the company. As a matter of fact, the interviewers were surprised by the knowledge I had of their companies. I do expect to be hired. Maybe I’ll do the Napoleon Hill thing and send them a certified letter every hour for a couple of days. I’ll have to try it and write an article.

Casey Alexander says in my experience, a good cover letter has made a difference between landing the interview and not. That’s the first step, right? I catch the reader with the knowledge I have of their organization and a few other key tips I learned to incorporate into my letter. I’ve helped my sister and brothers with their letter and they’ve also landed the jobs. What I picked up made the difference on how I write my unsolicited resume cover letters. Get all the tips today at Resume Cover Reviews, it can help you land a better job.

via employmentdigest.net

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Cover Letter Tips & Career Advice from Career Expert Jessica Holbrook Hernandez : CAREEREALISM

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

How many times have you replied to a job ad via e-mail by shooting them a copy of your resume and cover letter? I’m going to venture a guess and say at least 20 (but more likely hundreds of times) if you’ve been searching for any significant length of time. Here are some of the most notorious mistakes we’ve seen—and what you can do to greatly improve your chances of being noticed.

Attaching the cover letter to the e-mail.

What’s wrong with that, you ask? Most hiring managers aren’t going to open the cover letter and read it. They’ll go straight to the resume instead. Want to ensure your cover letter gets read? Copy and paste it into the body of the e-mail. Whoever received the e-mail will be much more likely to read it if it’s already right there in front of their face.

Writing your whole life story in the body of the e-mail.

Don’t go overboard with details; keep it short. The hiring manager won’t be willing to invest a lot of time reading your e-mail. Keep it short and to the point.

Providing information not relevant to the position.

Here is a great example. When I want to bring an additional resume/cover letter writer on staff, I’m not looking for someone with technical writing expertise, article writing skills, or journalism savvy. Those forms of writing aren’t relevant to what we do here. I want a writer who has extensive expertise and certification in resume writing. If someone goes on and on in their cover letter (or in the body of the e-mail) about all their other writing experience, they will lose my interest.  Instead, I want them to tell me about their most relevant experience as it relates to my needs.  I want them to tell me about any resume writing experience they have. Give the hiring manager a brief overview of the most relevant experience you have, appropriate to the position they are trying to fill. This will pique their interest—rather than lose it.

Excluding information they’ve specifically asked you to include.

Depending on the position, the employer may ask you to submit a sample of your work, portfolio, hours of availability, or even salary requirements. Whatever it is they’ve asked you to include, make sure you include it in your cover letter. If not, you will most certainly be removed from consideration for failing to follow instructions. Following instructions and acknowledging everything the employer has asked you to address in the job ad not only saves the employer time but makes you look good. I can tell you this from experience because 9 out of 10 applicants will fail to address every stipulation the employer has listed. It happens to us all the time.

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Not using a cover letter at all.

We’ve received e-mails from applicants, and the body of the e-mail provides either little or no information whatsoever.  Some simply state, “Here is my resume for your review.” You are selling yourself short by not including at least a brief introduction. Especially if the employer outlines specific requirements. Take the time to write, “I see you need someone with availability to work nights and weekends; I would enjoy working these hours and am available to do so.” Or, “I have included a sample of my work for your consideration along with my resume. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

Forgetting to tell them why you’re the best fit.

Let me tell you about one of THE BEST cover letters I’ve ever seen: I could tell this person put effort into it—and she took the time to specifically and meticulously review our job requirements. She scrutinized our requirements and detailed in her cover letter how she had experience meeting those needs. It was applicable, relevant, and attention getting. It was probably one of the only cover letters that actually made us want to read the corresponding resume.

Using a boring closing statement.

Instead of using the same old boring line, spice it up a bit. One of the more daring cover letter closings I have read closed with, “Call today, don’t delay.” I applauded her boldness and had to call her. The closing was confident, feisty, and it certainly grabbed my attention. Not to mention the entire cover letter addressed everything she brought to the table as a potential employee and how these elements were relevant to meeting our needs.

What I am trying to get you to see is boring the hiring manager with details  not relevant to the opening—or not making the most of the space and time you’re getting is really to your detriment. Instead, take the time to write something catchy, relevant, and targeted to the position for which you are applying. Sure, it may take a few extra minutes—but in the end, if you get the interview, won’t it be worth it?

For a free resume analysis submit your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com. You can also view professional and executive resume samples at www.greatresumesfast.com/samples.htm.

Did you enjoy this article? Read more articles by this expert here.

CAREEREALISM Expert, Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter. She has written hundreds of articles that are featured on some of the best career advice Web sites today. In addition, her writing has been included in Launch Pad, a career search strategy guide featuring exclusive information by the top career experts in the industry. Follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

via careerealism.com

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Lack of Cover Letter is One Cause of Job-Search Failure - Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog

One of the “Top 5 Reasons Why Job Hunters Fail” is “not writing a cover letter,” Robin Ryan notes in an article in her monthly newsletter.

“Human-resources managers state that cover-letter writing is becoming a lost art,” Ryan writes, “since job hunters think they can skip this step when they apply electronically.”

“A well-written cover letter has great power with employers and should always precede any resume sent. Open the letter with a powerful first paragraph that sums up the background, key strengths, skills and accomplishments you have to offer. Human-resource managers say that a good cover letter demonstrates your communication skills and can capture the interview,” Ryan advises. For an overall refresher on cover letters, see our Cover Letter Tutorial.

via resumesandcoverletters.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Concerned You Have A Weak Resume, CV or Cover Letter?

Are  your shoes dirty?

You’ve heard me talk here before about the value of a career coach.  And I really do believe in what they do.  Likewise for resume writers.  They lend a voice, a structure and a strategy to folks who a need a big leg up.

If you are out looking for your next job.  Or are employed but looking for something better.  You might want to take a look at a career expert directory.  Just to see who is out there and what an expert can do to help.  But before you do that, read my post about hiring a career expert.

Because hiring an expert should be a decision you make as part of a larger job search strategy.  And you should do it early in your process if you decide it makes sense.

You know your strengths.  You’ve identified your weak spots.  And now you are going to make one key investment to make sure that dirty shoes will not hamper your ability to impress people.

But not everyone can afford a career coach.  And not everyone’s weak spots require professional help.

Sometimes a spit shine will do.

A spit shine is something you can do at home.  At your own pace.  You just need a little guidance.  And in the case of a spit shine, for me this came during high school.  From my dad who came down into my room with his can of shoe shine.  He popped it open, spit without reservation into the can.  And mixed the shine into a  really unpleasant looking stew.  As if he were spitting into his baseball glove.

That stew warmed my shoes to a deep black color.  Then he buffed them out to a pretty good shine.  Good enough for me to leave the house confident and ready to impress.  Instead of running down for a professional shine at the shoe store.

A spit shine for your resume

If you could solve the majority of the problems on your resume without a major expense, you would.  I think we would all do that, right?

I wrote about some of these simple solutions in my guest post on Ryan Rancatore’s Personal Branding 101 blog.  It included 5 reasons your resume makes me sick.  They make me sick because they can be solved with a little bit of knowledge and a little bit of time.

So where do you get ideas for a spit shine?  Well, here of course!  Be sure to check out the posts here in the resume and cover letter category.  That’s one option.  You can also compare your resume with new friends you meet while networking.  Especially those that are getting calls on theirs.

You can check with your local church to see if they have a career ministry.  Or check with your city’s government EDD office.  Or ask your friends who do a lot of hiring to take a look.

Free advice from the experts

But the truth is that most really good career experts share their spit shine ideas on a blog.  Or on Twitter.  And if you go into the directory, look for their links.  By reading their free ideas and advice, you may find a voice that you can trust enough to pick up the phone.  And, if it makes sense, one that you can pay to upgrade from a productive spit shine to a professional one.

As time allows, I review resumes for people.  Spit shines only.  Many can be quickly improved with just a few adjustments.

And a few need to be burned at the stake.

via timsstrategy.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Simple Tips To Improve Your Resume And Cover Letter | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

I’ve had a few conversations recently with a wide range of individuals about resumes and cover letters, and I was finding a common theme: whatever the career services people at their school taught them is not really in line with what businesses are looking for today.

To be clear, this is not a knock or insult to the university/college career services department.  They have an enormous value to many students (the ones that actually take the time to seek their input and guidance, anyway).  I am looking to provide further insight into and clarification about a few key issues.

Having said that, I think there are a few areas they miss, or do not stress enough.  The resume and cover letter are about you, but are not just about you.  They are about how you are the best candidate to help the company.  It’s about making a match!

Cover Letter

• 3 Paragraphs – This may seem short to most of you but, for the most part, recruiters don’t want to spend their day reading your cover letter.  Three paragraphs is the perfect length.  First paragraph should be an introduction to you and the role you are applying for.  Second paragraph is to discuss your experience related to the role.  Third paragraph is to close strong with a lead towards an interview.  Do not send a full page cover letter.
• Keep it simple – Please do not give your life or career story.  Convey your message in succinct sentences that highlight your experience related to the role.  Do not write a 10 sentence paragraph either.  Get to the point and show your…
• Value Proposition – You need to convey why your experience makes you the ideal candidate for the company in the particular role.  Companies do not care how they can help you achieve your personal or career goals, companies care about how you will help them achieve their goals.  You may ultimately get a lot out of the opportunity, but that is not why a company will hire you.
• Include all of your contact information

Resume

• Mission Statement – Similar to how companies create their own mission statement, you should consider creating a personal mission statement.  This is a nice way to highlight your experience and provide a little insight into you.  A nice resource to look at is from Randall Hansen that provides a 5-step plan for a personal mission statement.
• Action Words – This is such an easy point but one that so many of us don’t do well.  The majority of us use passive words such as “participated” or “assisted” instead of true action words.  This may lead you to a little revision on your resume but it is a must to highlight the work you actually performed.  Consider the action words from SeekingSuccess.com to help get you started.
• Value Proposition – Again, you must continue to assert why you are the ideal candidate for the particular role.  Your resume should reflect the work you performed and how it relates to what the position you are applying is seeking.  You will probably need to revise your resume for each position to highlight the particular experience.  This is not lying, this is responding directly to each position and treating it like an interview question.

As you can see, value is the critical thread for both the cover letter and the resume.  However, value is most important to the company to which you are applying.  Express your personal interest and why you are the right person for the job but always focus on how you will make the company better.

Image credit goes to MinorityJobs.net

Keith McIlvaine manages the recruiting social media strategy for a Fortune 500 company and is an avid networker.  He is a social media advisor, coach, speaker, blogger and an all around fanatic.  Connect with Keith on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.  (The statements posted on this site are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer)

via blog.brand-yourself.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Simple Tips To Improve Your Resume And Cover Letter | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

I’ve had a few conversations recently with a wide range of individuals about resumes and cover letters, and I was finding a common theme: whatever the career services people at their school taught them is not really in line with what businesses are looking for today.

To be clear, this is not a knock or insult to the university/college career services department.  They have an enormous value to many students (the ones that actually take the time to seek their input and guidance, anyway).  I am looking to provide further insight into and clarification about a few key issues.

Having said that, I think there are a few areas they miss, or do not stress enough.  The resume and cover letter are about you, but are not just about you.  They are about how you are the best candidate to help the company.  It’s about making a match!

Cover Letter

• 3 Paragraphs – This may seem short to most of you but, for the most part, recruiters don’t want to spend their day reading your cover letter.  Three paragraphs is the perfect length.  First paragraph should be an introduction to you and the role you are applying for.  Second paragraph is to discuss your experience related to the role.  Third paragraph is to close strong with a lead towards an interview.  Do not send a full page cover letter.
• Keep it simple – Please do not give your life or career story.  Convey your message in succinct sentences that highlight your experience related to the role.  Do not write a 10 sentence paragraph either.  Get to the point and show your…
• Value Proposition – You need to convey why your experience makes you the ideal candidate for the company in the particular role.  Companies do not care how they can help you achieve your personal or career goals, companies care about how you will help them achieve their goals.  You may ultimately get a lot out of the opportunity, but that is not why a company will hire you.
• Include all of your contact information

Resume

• Mission Statement – Similar to how companies create their own mission statement, you should consider creating a personal mission statement.  This is a nice way to highlight your experience and provide a little insight into you.  A nice resource to look at is from Randall Hansen that provides a 5-step plan for a personal mission statement.
• Action Words – This is such an easy point but one that so many of us don’t do well.  The majority of us use passive words such as “participated” or “assisted” instead of true action words.  This may lead you to a little revision on your resume but it is a must to highlight the work you actually performed.  Consider the action words from SeekingSuccess.com to help get you started.
• Value Proposition – Again, you must continue to assert why you are the ideal candidate for the particular role.  Your resume should reflect the work you performed and how it relates to what the position you are applying is seeking.  You will probably need to revise your resume for each position to highlight the particular experience.  This is not lying, this is responding directly to each position and treating it like an interview question.

As you can see, value is the critical thread for both the cover letter and the resume.  However, value is most important to the company to which you are applying.  Express your personal interest and why you are the right person for the job but always focus on how you will make the company better.

Image credit goes to MinorityJobs.net

—

Keith McIlvaine manages the recruiting social media strategy for a Fortune 500 company and is an avid networker.  He is a social media advisor, coach, speaker, blogger and an all around fanatic.  Connect with Keith on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.  (The statements posted on this site are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer)

via blog.brand-yourself.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Employment Digest: 4 Rules to an Amazing a Cover Letter

There are four simple rules that you must follow when writing your next cover letter. If you hit all four points, you are sure to land more quality interviews!

Rule Number One – Be personal!

You need to research the company and the hiring manager. Go to the library or hit the internet and find some simple fact that you can use to your advantage in your cover letter. Always find out the name of the Hiring Manager and use it to address him or her in your letter! A good source for the hiring manager’s name is the front desk receptionist, call the location and ask the kind person on the other end of the phone. If they are reluctant to share the information, just let them know that you are applying for the open job and would like to address your cover letter and resume directly to that person. Often times, that will be enough for the person on the other end of the phone to spill the much needed information!

Rule Number Two – Let your Personality Show!

It is very important to use the information from your research but it is equally important to show the reader who you are. Show your personality in your writing! Mix the facts with your personality and you are sure to write a cover letter that will be read from start to finish!

Rule Number Three – Call to Action!

Make sure to include a call to action statement at the end of your cover letter! What is a “call to action”? Simply put, you need to close the deal! Ask for the interview! The only purpose your finely crafted cover letter has is to land you a face to face meeting with the hiring manager. You need to ask for it!

Rule Number Four – Short and Sweet!

Do not get too long winded in your cover letter.

Never exceed one page with your entire letter. If you need to shorten it, do so but make sure to keep your best stuff intact!

Never use a smaller font just to get it down to one page!

Use short paragraphs and “white space” to make it more readable!

Get in and get out! Grab the hiring manager’s attention and then keep it by making your letter interesting. If it gets long, chances are they will not make it down to your “call to action” and your shot at an interview will be lost.

This is just one tip to help you Learn How to Write a Cover Letter. Follow Roland Johanson over to http://www.simple-cover-letters.info to learn more and finally land that job of your dreams.

via feedproxy.google.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

4 Rules to an Amazing a Cover Letter | EmploymentDigest.net

There are four simple rules that you must follow when writing your next cover letter. If you hit all four points, you are sure to land more quality interviews!

Rule Number One – Be personal!

via employmentdigest.net

Posted via web from AndyWergedal