The Art of the Letter
by
ResumeEdge.com
- The Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service
The first rule of cover letters: Never
use a generic cover letter with only: "To Whom It May Concern."
With tons of work on your desk, would you be interested in such
a mass mailing? You would probably consider it junk mail, right?
You would be much more likely to read a letter that was directed
to you personally and so would human resources professionals.
The second rule: Every resume sent by
mail or fax needs a personalized cover letter even if the advertisement
didn't request a cover letter.
The third rule: Resumes sent by e-mail
don't need a cover letter. Use only a quick paragraph with three
to five sentences telling your reader where you heard about the
position and why your qualifications are a perfect fit for the position's
requirements. E-mail is intended to be short, sweet, and to the
point.
This guide will address several cover letter
types. A letter to a recruiter requires different information than
a letter in answer to an advertisement. A targeted cover letter
that tells a story and captures your reader's attention is ideal
when possible, but such letters aren't always practical.
Before we get into specific styles, let's cover
some general rules that apply to most cover letters. The
sample cover letters
demonstrate most of these rules.
1. Customize each cover letter with an inside
address (do not use "to whom it may concern").
2. Personalize the greeting (Dear Ms. Smith). Try to get the
name of a person whenever possible. A blind advertisement makes
that impossible, but in other cases a quick telephone call can
often result in a name and sometimes a valuable telephone conversation.
When you can't get a name, use Dear Recruiter, Dear Hiring Manager,
Dear Search Committee, or Dear Sir/Madam.
3. Mention where you heard about the position so your reader
knows where to direct your resume and letter. The first paragraph
of your cover letter is a great place to state (or restate)
your objective. Since you know the specific job being offered,
you can tailor your objective to suit the position.
4. Drop names in the first paragraph if you know someone in
the company. Hiring managers take unsolicited resumes more seriously
when they assume you were referred by one of their employees
or customers.
5. The second paragraph (or two) is the perfect place to mention
specific experience that is targeted to the job opening. This
is your "I'm super great because" information. Here is where
you summarize why you are absolutely perfect for the position.
Really sell yourself. Pick and choose some of your experience
and/or education that is specifically related to the company's
requirements, or elaborate on qualifications that are not in
your resume but apply to this particular job. If you make mention
of the company and its needs, it becomes immediately obvious
that your cover letter is not generic. Entice the reader to
find out more about you in your resume. Don't make this section
too long or you will quickly lose the reader's interest.
6. The closing should be concise. Let the reader know what you
want (an application, an interview, an opportunity to call).
If you are planning to call the person on a certain day, you
could close by saying, "I will contact you next Tuesday to set
up a mutually convenient time to meet." Don't call on Mondays
or Fridays if you can help it. If you aren't comfortable making
these cold calls, then close your letter with something like:
"I look forward to hearing from you soon." And remember to say,
"Thank you for your consideration" or something to that effect
(but don't be obsequious!).
Click here for
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Give Your Resume an Edge!
From Designing the Perfect Resume, by Pat Criscito.
Copyright 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's
Educational Series, Inc.
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