This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
LaShun writes:
It seems every piece of advice about cover letters says to call the company
you want to work for to get a SPECIFIC NAME of the person who has the authority
to call you for an interview. But what if the company refuses to give that information?
Most of the companies I call say just send a resume to the HR department
at an email address or fax number but won’t give a name. And when I do get
a specific name, I’m sure I’m not the only one who called. What else can I do?
The Career Doctor responds:
I empathize with all the job-seekers who are finding it harder and
harder to get the name of the hiring manager — which is what all job
experts recommend you do. Unfortunately, companies seem to be
making it harder and harder for job-seekers to identify and follow-up
with the hiring manager.
You have several options for getting the name (and correct spelling)
of the hiring manager. You could call the human resources office, but
remember that office’s role is one of screening. So, I would avoid HR
altogether and simply call the main switchboard and ask the receptionist
for the name of the department manager for the position you are seeking.
Receptionists are wonderful sources of information — so cultivate them!
You could also default to writing to the division or company president and
hope your application trickles down to the hiring manager, but more often
than not, if it does trickle down, it goes to HR. The final possibility is
another important use of your network; contact all the people in your
network and see if anyone works or knows someone who works for the
company — and then ask that person to use internal channels to get
you the name of the hiring manager.
One final comment about the many employers who state in job ads:
“no phone calls.” This comment refers to applying by phone — but should
not stop any job-seeker who has submitted an application from following-up to check on the status of his/her application.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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- HR department,
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- resume
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Mike writes:
I would appreciate your help with a couple of questions. Is gray granite paper
acceptable for a resume and cover letter? As well, is it necessary to send the
resume in a large envelope so the resume doesn’t need to be folded? I have heard
conflicting opinions on whether or not to print a cover letter on personal letterhead.
What is your professional opinion on this?
The Career Doctor responds:
Resumes are one of the fundamental tools of job-hunting, and while most of your time
and effort should be focused on the content, it’s also important to discuss format issues.
Remember that the entire goal of a resume is to generate enough interest from the
employer to grant you a job interview.
But before I get to the format issues, let’s just hit the highlights of resume content.
- Resumes should be specifically focused to the job you are seeking; there is
no such thing as a “general purpose” resume.
- Resumes need to focus on your key accomplishments, not on duties and
responsibilities; employers want to see that you can produce results.
- Resumes must have zero errors; one typo or misspelling can easily be the difference between getting an interview and having the resume tossed in the trash.
- Resumes are statements of fact; do not lie or stretch the truth when writing your resume.
Back to your question about resume format. Here are some general resume rules:
- Paper: plain white is perfectly acceptable. If you want to go with a color, choose
muted colors, such as gray, beige, slate, etc.
- Printing: ideal is still a laser printer, but ink jets are fine — as long as you let the
ink dry so that the ink does not smear.
- Mailing: sending your resume in a standard size business envelope is fine, though
more and more job-seekers are using larger envelopes so that the resume does not
need to be folded.
- Style: your resume and cover letter should match — in letterhead, in type style (font),
and in paper color. And never, ever send a cover letter on company letterhead.
One final comment about resumes: Whenever possible, it’s always best to see if the employer
has a preferred resume style. Some elements of resume design are very subjective. Many
employers now list these requirements on the corporate career Websites. I have a client who
has an amazing functional resume (organized around skills clusters), but a recent prospective
employer asked her to totally rewrite and reformat her resume into a standard chronological resume because that format was preferred.
Looking for more resume help? Quintessential Careers has
resume quizzes
and an article on creating
Web-ready resumes. Go to: Quintessential Careers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Laura writes:
Since moving to Daytona Beach 5 years ago, I have worked for 10 employers and also tried
self-employment. (Four of the jobs were temporary.) Only one of those employers was a good
match for me, but unfortunately, they went out of business nine months after I started working
for them. I am a highly qualified accountant/bookkeeper, but it seems this town is unwilling to
pay a decent salary to someone with my skills and more than 25 years of experience. My age (over 50)
may also have something to do with my inability to get a good job offer. I have been on several
interviews, but I seem to come in second or third choice.
The Career Doctor responds:
I think now is the time to reinforce the whole concept of a job search as a marketing
campaign. Your cover letter and resume are the key marketing promotion documents
and the job interview is the critical sales call. If you then look at yourself as a product,
it puts job-hunting in a much different light.
You have a number of issues/problems/concerns that need to be addressed. First, I let
me preface the rest of this answer with the depressing news that the Central Florida job
market is one of the weakest and low-paying that I have ever researched. So, as you’ve
discovered, job-seekers need to keep their expectations tempered.
Your resume. There are a number of issues you need to deal with here. First, you need
to remove older job experience and take older dates off your experience and education
so that employers can’t easily guess your age. Next, you need to do something with all
the jobs; 10 jobs in five years is a huge red flag. I would consider lumping all your temporary
work into one grouping in a traditional resume — or consider experimenting with some sort of chrono-functional resume, in which skills are emphasized and employment history is secondary. Next, are you
current with your training/technology skills — and if so, does it come across on your resume?
So much of accounting and bookkeeping practices have changed, even in the last 10 years,
that employers may assume older job-seekers still do it the “old” way and may be resistant
to change. Your task is to not let them assume that!
In the interview. Your resume can only do so much for you — which is basically get you to the
interview. Now you need to sell yourself to the employer. Don’t go into interviews, as some
older workers do, with anything but a positive attitude — focused on how you can make an
immediate contribution to the company (rather than relying on all your years of solid experience).
Attitude, especially with older workers, is critical.
I strongly recommend that you read some of the articles and other resources in this section of
Quintessential Careers: Job
Resources for Mature and Older Jobseekers.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Ben writes:
I have a question concerning submitting my cover page and resume via email. The
question is that most companies will not accept attachments so I must submit my
resume within the message body of my email vs. attachments. How do I maintain
the same appearance as the original written in MS Word?
The Career Doctor responds:
The short answer is you can’t. And while appearances are important for
traditional cover letters, the most important element is the content. The
same holds true for resumes; appearances are important for traditional
resumes, but content is the most critical element — regardless of the format.
So, how are emailed cover letters different than traditional cover letters? Let
me walk you through some of the key issues, but before I do, let me emphasize
that you should always go to each employer’s career center site and examine
the guidelines for submitting electronic documents, if they list them.
Here are the five critical email cover letter issues.
First, know the rules of writing a cover letter. If you are still writing “vanilla”
cover letters, you won’t get any employer response — no matter how you send it.
Second, keep it short. Email cover letters need to be more concise and shorter in
length than traditional cover letters.
Third, take advantage of keywords. Be sure to use all the keywords from the
employment listing — and any other important jargon or keywords from your industry —
without making the letter a string of sentences full of jargon.
Fourth, watch your line length. Some email software automatically perform line returns
for you, but I would make sure the lines of your email are no longer than 60 characters.
Fifth, take the time to send the email cover letter to yourself first — so you can see
what it looks like after transmission.
Finally, as you know, don’t even bother with attachments. Most employers don’t want them.
Instead, consider developing Web versions of your resume and providing the URL to the
employer (in addition to providing a text-based version).
Find more information and guidelines in my article,
Tips for a Dynamic Email
Cover Letter, published on Quintessential Careers. You can also find more information
about types of resumes in the Resume
Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Galen writes:
I have been searching for a job for about 2 and 1/2 months. Every one I show my resume to, or e-mail/fax/snail mail to says that they really like my resume, or WOW, or this is a really strong resume.
Problem is no interviews, no follow-up calls from headhunters on-line or otherwise for jobs which I submitted my resume. Many of these jobs I am definitely qualified for, some over qualified, some under. Most, 80% fall into the definitely qualified for.
- What am I doing wrong?
- How do I get the headhunters to respond?
- etc.
The Career Doctor responds:
A key part of any job-search is follow-up. It’s not good enough just to be pounding the pavement, sending out cover letters and resumes, expanding your network of contacts, responding to job ads and postings, and contacting headhunters and recruiters. All those activities are important, but they’ll all be for naught unless you take the time to follow-up every single job lead.
No interviews is a bad sign to me. It means that there is something wrong with your job search…and probably not just your lack of follow-up.
I strongly urge you have a career professional — a resume service, a former boss or colleague, or a headhunter — carefully review your resume and cover letter. In fact, you should have him or her evaluate your entire job search plan.
I also strongly suggest you read our article, Ten Questions to Ask Yourself if You Still Haven’t Found a Job, published on Quintessential Careers. The article discusses some of the common roadblocks to a successful job-search — and how to get through them.
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Don’t repeat your resume. Instead, use your cover letter to give context to the achievements and job functions listed in your resume. Frame your accomplishments with the journalism questions — who, what, when, where, why and how — and do it succinctly. Use paragraphs to tell the story (the context) and bullets for achievements (results). You can write about each experience with the formula: situation, action and results.
This tip brought to you by OptimalResume.com, a cutting-edge technology firm specializing in flexible, online solutions for resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, portfolios, skills assessments, video resumes, and professional website creation, along with options for recruiters and employers to find, screen and interview candidates online. OptimalResume.com will debut its latest software, Optimal 2.0, in July 2009.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
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The same rules that govern cover letters don't apply to their e-mailed counterparts. With e-mail cover letters, the goal is to write so the reader can see the entire letter when he or she first opens the email, which means your message must be shorter than a printed letter. Give a brief (few sentences) introduction of yourself and why you're writing. Follow with 3-5 relevant accomplishments or qualifications in bullet-point format.
This tip brought to you by OptimalResume.com, a cutting-edge technology firm specializing in flexible, online solutions for resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, portfolios, skills assessments, video resumes, and professional website creation, along with options for recruiters and employers to find, screen and interview candidates online. OptimalResume.com will debut its latest software, Optimal 2.0, in July 2009.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Anonymous writes:
How do I explain to a potential employer that I was let go from my job after committing an honest mistake that I did not realize there was a policy on?
The Career Doctor responds:
Let me begin by stressing the importance of not raising this issue — ever — but especially not in your cover letter or resume. (And yes, we often come across these odd admissions.) Even in the interview, let the employer ask you why you left your last job.
Once the issue has been raised, the best answer is always the truth. Admit that you made a mistake — and, more importantly, show how you have learned from that mistake.
Read my article, Getting
Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
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Connect the dots for your reader in your cover letter. Show the reader how elements of your past experience have led you to apply for the job opening. When you’re finished, the cover letter should explain how your past experiences have made you qualified for and interested in the current position. Don’t feel obligated to include every experience; select the ones most relevant to the position.
This tip brought to you by OptimalResume.com, a cutting-edge technology firm specializing in flexible, online solutions for resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, portfolios, skills assessments, video resumes, and professional website creation, along with options for recruiters and employers to find, screen and interview candidates online. OptimalResume.com will debut its latest software, Optimal 2.0, in July 2009.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
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Place a powerful headline at the top of your cover letter, says Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of the “Amazing Cover Letter Creator.” “Just above the greeting in your cover letter (Dear Mrs. Smith), place your ‘killer’ headline in boldface print and center it on the page. (Two lines maximum.),” Sweeney suggests.
He offers these three examples of first-rate cover-letter headlines — the secret, he says, to landing more quality job interviews:
- Three reasons I feel confident I’m the candidate you’re searching for regarding the [insert job opening title here].
- I have visited the [company name] website and believe I am a great match for the position of [insert job opening title here].
- I would love the opportunity to be interviewed in person for the position of [insert job opening title here].
“By creating a stellar headline you are attracting attention to your cover letter,” Sweeney says, “and bringing it the attention it deserves. Starting your cover letter off with an attention-grabbing headline is a highly effective way for you to stand out from the crowd in a positive light.”
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Kristen writes:
I had written a cover letter and wasn’t
sure where to put my name and contact information. I had originally
put it on the top of the page, in the middle so that it would match the
heading on my resume. However, my mom told me that she has never
heard of putting that information in the top middle of the page. She said
that it had to be right or left aligned or that it could be at the bottom after
I sign my name. I looked in the cover-letter resources on the website
but I am still not sure. Could you let me know if all of those are
acceptable?
The Career Doctor responds:
You know, I don’t really have anything against well-meaning parents, aunts,
uncles, cousins, etc., but unless they work in the career-management field,
they are probably not the best people to ask about these things — and I get
these kinds of comments all the time.
So, I am glad you have asked me. In the ideal situation, all of your job correspondence should look exactly the same — a matched set. The “header”
of your resume - where you have your name and contact information — should
be the same on your cover letter, as well as on your references page, salary history page, and any other supplemental pages.
It doesn’t matter if the type is centered, left-justified, or right-justified. What
matters is that you are consistent and use a readable font.
And just a reminder about what should go in the header: name, address, phone
number (home and/or mobile), email address. Provide as much contact
information as possible, but if you use an email address, be sure it’s a
professional one, not like one I received recently from “sexyprincess84.”
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Veso writes:
If I use a professional name, instead of my real name, which name should I include on my resume and cover letter?
The Career Doctor responds:
If you are known in your industry by your professional name, then you should use it on your resume and cover letter. There’s no sense trying to explain it or confusing the potential employer with multiple names.
Obviously, when the time is right — certainly when you are completing hiring papers, you will need to use your real name.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Clyde writes:
When writing a cover letter, should I mention I had been laid off and/or include the reason for the layoff?
The Career Doctor responds:
Never, never — never ever — include any negative information in your cover letter. Negative information immediately puts your cover letter (and entire application) into the trash.
You need to think of your cover letter as a sales document. Thus, talk only of the great things about you and how you are going to make a contribution to your future employer. Discuss what you can bring to the employer; discuss your key skills and qualities.
I suggest you take some time to go through a wonderful tutorial on cover letters. Go to the Dynamic Cover Letters Tutorial For Developing a Stunningly Effective Cover Letter. You’ll find more than 100 pages of advice, hints, and samples to help you create successful cover letters.
You might also want to read an article from my partner, Katharine Hansen: Cover Letter Success is All About Specifics.
And if you are more of a book person, may I now suggest that you obtain a copy of the 3rd edition of Dynamic Cover Letters.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Karen writes:
I am a “non-traditional” recent college graduate. My work experience does not coincide with my degree at all. I have followed all the cover-letter and resume tips and guidelines from multiple sources and sent out close to 100 resumes. I can’t even get an interview! I know I have a lot to offer these companies but they don’t even give me a chance. Can you help????
The Career Doctor responds:
Karen, what you need to do is build a resume around your recent degree and the transferable skills you have from your previous experiences (work and school).
I assume you want to enter the field that relates to your degree. If this assumption is correct, then you need to examine the skills that employers in that field are looking for in job candidates and see if you used many of those skills in your previous jobs —regardless of the field. You can read more about how to do this analysis by going to
Strategic Portrayal of Transferable Skills is a Vital Job-search Technique. Then you need to rebuild your resume around those skills, possibly experimenting with a chrono-functional
resume. You can find the best sources of information at Quintessential Careers: Resume Resources.
Now onto a possible second problem with your situation: Are you doing anything besides sending out resumes? Are you calling these companies where you sent your resumes and asking for an interview? You cannot wait by the phone expecting these employers to call you — you need to be proactive and call them! Are you taking advantage of your network of friends, colleagues, and family by trying to get job leads from them? Are you using the career services office of your college? The alumni network of your college? Are you looking online for jobs?
I think if you redo your resume to focus on your transferable skills, become more proactive in your job search, and take advantage of networking opportunities, you should find your job searching much more productive.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Michelle writes:
I recently was let go from my position at my office due to financial reasons.
How do I start off a cover letter letting the employer know this information in
a positive manner? I just need some advice on how to construct the first part
of the cover letter and I did not see that on the website. Hope you can help
and thank you for your time.
The Career Doctor responds:
Repeat after me — again and again — never ever put any kind of negative information
in your cover letter, resume, or any other job-search materials. The time to address
any of these negative issues — such as being fired — is in the job interview ONLY
after the employer raises the issue.
Your cover letter is the job-search tool that sets the tone for you as a job-seeker and
provides the critical first impression for the employer. How positive an impression is the
prospective employer going to have if your opening paragraph states, “although I was
recently let go from my previous job because the company was having financial difficulties… ”
The employer is going to stop reading before he/she even gets to the end of your sentence.
But you are not alone. In the thousands of cover letters I have seen over the years, it
is absolutely amazing the kind of negative information job-seekers put in their cover letters.
Perhaps they mistakenly think that full disclosure is necessary. Or perhaps because
professionals stress being truthful, they think this means they need to fess up to all prior
mistakes.
Please remember a cover letter is a marketing document. Its sole purpose is to entice the
hiring manager just enough to review your resume. It’s then the resume’s job to verify that
you are worthy of getting an interview for the open position.
If your cover letter is not focused, if it provides negative information, if it has typos or spelling
errors, or if it has too little or too much detail, your resume will simply not get a look
and your job prospects for the position are officially over.
Finally, let me once again stress that I am not saying to lie. I am simply saying do NOT
disclose negative information (or even too much information) until the employer asks you
about it. And at that point you need to put a positive spin on the negative information —
but only then.
I believe you need to review two key resources. First, read my article about moving beyond after
getting laid off: Getting Fired: An
Opportunity for Change and Growth.
Second, take advantage of the all the tools and resources we offer in this section of Quintessential Careers: Cover Letter Resources for Job-Seekers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Eugene writes:
I am a student studying law, and I recently decided to apply for a position as a
paralegal with some law firms. I spent some time looking at your Quintessential
Careers website. Now, I do not doubt for a minute that much research is able to
substantiate the information that you have presented, but I find it difficult to
imagine that some of the techniques you mention do work. What immediately
springs to mind is the section on closing paragraphs: “I will call your office in
the next week to schedule an appointment.”
To me, that sounds quite unorthodox, and perhaps even pushy and rude. I
actually incorporated a line to the same effect in my cover letters after
reading your website, but now I am wondering whether it was the best thing
to do. Could you please explain to me why this works?
The Career Doctor responds:
In any job market, but especially in this job market, job-seekers need to know
how to best market themselves to prospective employers. This self-marketing strategy has several components when writing cover letters.
First, rather than saying something like “I hope you’ll find my qualifications a good
match with what you’re looking for,” you need to show — and tell — the employer that
you are a good match for the position. Describe how your accomplishments, skills, and training are a perfect match for the employer’s needs.
Second, you do need to end your letter with an aggressive stance. If you do not want
to be so aggressive as to say you will call for an interview, you can simply say you
will call to discuss the job. Employers want go-getters, not passive employees.
Third, as I have stated numerous other times, you MUST follow-up all your cover
letters and job applications. Saying you are going to call is the easy part; the hard
part is actually making the phone call. And in the phone call, you need to still be
aggressive in not taking no for an answer — just remember to stay professional
at all times — while showcasing why you are the perfect person for the job.
Find lots more helpful information and resources in the
cover letter resources
section of Quintessential Careers.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Greg writes:
I am in the process of locating a position after being employed for nine years with one employer. I have my resume completed, but I need to know what information to include on my references for the interviews.
The Career Doctor responds:
References are a funny thing. Most employers ask for them, but depending upon the position, only a small percentage of employers really bother to call all the people on a job-seeker’s reference list.
Here are a couple of tips regarding reference lists:
- Never put references on your resume. Make a list on a separate sheet of paper that matches your resume (and cover letter).
- Never include references with your resume and cover letter, unless specifically asked by the potential employer.
- Choose people who know you professionally and can speak well of your skills, abilities, and accomplishments. Always list your strongest reference first.
- Make sure you ask people if they mind serving as a reference for you — and then contact them again when you think they may be contacted by a potential employer.
- Try to use people who know you professionally, but if you are a recent college graduate or someone returning to the workforce, you can list a personal (character) reference.
- Make sure you completely identify each reference, including name, title, company, address, phone number, e-mail address.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Francis writes:
I have been scouring the Internet for some guidance concerning cover letters when responding to ads for jobs from web sites like Monster, Yahoo Hot Jobs, etc. The current thinking is that you should always respond with the name of a person. If this is the case, no one seems to advocate not applying for a job using one of the above sources to submit a resume since many times there is no name given.
My experience is limited in calling to find out who to send the resume to. One time I called and was told “we don’t give out names” when I asked for a contact.
Would you tell me why this is so? Is it because it could be financial suicide if this type of advice were given?
Thanks for your time. I have found you web site very helpful.
The Career Doctor responds:
There are critical differences between traditional job-hunting and job-hunting on the Web — and you’ve discovered a big one. An emailed cover letter, while having the same job-search function, is quite different than a traditional cover letter. An emailed cover letter needs to be shorter and more concise, needs to grab the attention of the reader more quickly, and needs to focus on keywords.
An emailed cover letter is generally no more than three paragraphs. The first paragraph identify the key benefits you can offer the employer — in a dynamic and inviting style. The second paragraph provides the details that support the benefits you mention in the first paragraph. The third paragraph must close the deal by asking for the interview.
You should still try and identify the hiring manager for the position if it is not listed in the job posting. Contacting the company and asking for the name of the hiring manager will work for many organizations, but some may have privacy policies — or concerns about getting deluged with responses. Alternative solutions include “Dear Hiring Manager” or skipping the salutation completely and just starting the letter with “Re: Job Posting XX7783Y.”
You can get much more tips and advice about writing email cover letters by reading my article, Tips for a Dynamic Email Cover Letter.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Jacqueline writes:
I have a question regarding the closing, “Take Care,” at the end of business
cover letters. Is that considered “less” professional than all the traditional closings?
The Career Doctor responds:
I consider “take care” as a bit too informal for traditional cover letters. I have
seen it in email cover letters, and I find it a bit more acceptable there. When
writing conventional cover letters, I would stick with the traditional closings:
sincerely and cordially.
In the grand scheme of cover-letter writing, though, I think how you close the
letter is of little consequence compared to the much bigger issues that I list
below.
Key cover letter strategies:
- Addressing the letter to a named individual. Job-seekers must address the
letter to a person — the hiring manager. And if you make the effort to get the name,
make sure you spell it correctly. Do not write to the Human Resources department.
- The first paragraph must engage the reader and entice him/her to read more
of your letter. Do not waste this opening paragraph with the typical boring one that
many job-seekers use.
- The second and third paragraphs must show how well you fit the position you
are seeking — as well as highlight key accomplishments. Focus on what you can
do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
- The last paragraph must state how you plan to follow-up the letter (usually
with a phone call). Be sure to give a timeframe — and then be sure to do what you
say you are going to do.
Finally, be sure also to avoid:
- Long (read boring) sentences and paragraphs;
- Letters longer than one page;
- Typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors;
- Simply rehashing/highlighting your resume
And remember to follow-up all cover letters with a phone call — showing your
continued interest in the position and the employer.
Read more in this article published on Quintessential Careers:
Don’t
Make These 10 Cover Letter Mistakes.
And to find just about everything you ever wanted to know about cover letters, including
numerous samples, go to the Cover Letter Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Kris writes:
Should I have a cover letter to accompany my resume when I go for an interview on Tuesday?
If you can assist me in any way I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time.
The Career Doctor responds:
The main purpose of a cover letter is to entice a prospective employer to review your
resume in consideration for a job interview, and since you have cut through the process
and already have an interview, a cover letter seems unnecessary at this point.
Do make sure your resume is sharp in appearance and directed specifically at the job
you are seeking. Just as you would write a different cover letter for each position, so
too should you tweak your resume for each position.
Instead of the cover letter, if you have a portfolio of samples of your work experience,
bring it along to the interview. And be sure to bring multiple copies of your resume.
And before the interview, be sure to brush up on the types of questions you are expecting
in the interview. You don’t want to memorize your answers, but you do want to have a
basic story prepared so that you will showcase your experience and fit.
Let me just add a final comment about cover letters. First, when you are applying for
any position — unless the employer specifically requests you not send one — you should
always send a cover letter and resume as part of your job-search package. Your cover
letter should be brief and specifically address why you are the perfect candidate for the
position. Cover letters should be no longer than 3-5 short paragraphs — and never
longer than one page.
You can read more about special
cover letter formats that grab employers’ attention, as well as find lots more articles and
tools in the cover letter section of Quintessential Careers.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Diane writes:
I would like to send my resume with a cover letter to recruiters/employment
agencies. The career development office I’m working with advises that it is
better to have someone’s name to address the cover letter to. Since it would
require a great deal of time to try and get a staff member’s name for each
agency, would it be acceptable to use a generic salutation, such as Dear
Recruiter?
The Career Doctor responds:
The rules of cover-letter writing are a bit different when writing letters to
headhunters than when writing letters to employers, but the one rule of
all cover letter writing is that the job-seeker must — as best as possible —
address the letters to named individuals. Think about it, when was the last
time you read (junk mail) addressed to “Dear Homeowner” or “Dear Pet
Owner.” If you don’t read these kinds of letters, why should busy professionals?
Job-seekers must always take the time to get names and titles for cover letters.
Before I get to the differences in content, let me also address one other red flag
in your question. Why would you be sending off so many letters to recruiters?
Take the time to research the recruiting agencies that specialize in your field
and in your preferred location — and contact only those recruiters. Don’t waste
your time — and the time of those recruiters — by writing to recruiters who don’t
work in your area.
One other comment about strategy. The majority of recruiters say that the resume
is the single most important document they look at when evaluating job-seekers;
cover letters are a distant second. The message here? Make sure your resume is
exceptional.
Your cover letter to a recruiter should focus on these elements:
- Contact information
- Why you are on the job market
- Job titles and industries of interest to you
- Salary history and salary expectations
For more information about this topic, please read the article published on
Quintessential Careers written by my partner Katharine Hansen:
Cover Letters
to Recruiters Require Special Handling.
You can also follow this link to a
sample cover letter to a recruiter.
And don’t forget to follow all the other guidelines for good cover letters —
especially avoiding typos and misspellings and always being truthful. Find
more resources in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Cover Letter Resources.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Lorraine writes:
I have a query. My husband was retrenched almost 8 months ago now, and
I want to send his CV to as many printing
companies that I can find in South Africa. I also want to send a covering
letter attached with his CV explaining that he was retrenched 8 months ago and
would like to know if any of these companies have any vacancies. Please help
me with the wording of this letter as I am at a loss?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
The Career Doctor responds:
Certainly one of the key components of a job search should still be cold contact,
where the job-seeker sends his or her cover letter and resume (or CV) to companies
that might have job openings. The critical factor with this strategy is getting the
name and title of the hiring manager for your area of expertise and then writing
a powerful cover letter. Why does cold contact work? It works because of the
large hidden job market; the vast majority of job openings never get advertised
or posted, so cold contact is a way of applying for positions that may in fact be
open.
I assume that while you are writing the letters, that they will actually be signed
by your husband. The cover letter is critical — its function is to spark enough
interest so that the employer then looks at your resume (or CV). Think of the
cover letter as a sales pitch letter, where the item you are selling is yourself —
your mix of skills, accomplishments, and education. You NEVER want to put
anything negative in your cover letter. And while many folks are being retrenched
or rightsized or re-engineered out of jobs, it’s still a negative. Employers want to
see job-seekers who are (or appear) gainfully employed. So, please, say nothing
about the retrenchment in your cover letter; saying anything will only harm your
husband’s chances. Read more about writing cover letters in the Quintessential
Careers Cover Letter Tutorial.
Finally, please remember that your efforts are not complete once you mail the
cover letters and CVs to the printing companies. The last paragraph of your cover
letter should request action — an interview — and after a reasonable amount of time
(1-2 weeks), you MUST follow-up and contact each company — each hiring
manager — and ask for the interview. If you don’t follow-up, you are wasting your
time even sending the cover letters and CVs.
A note to all job-seekers: Please don’t wait eight months after being downsized to
start job-hunting. Take some time to reflect and consider whether it’s time to change
careers — but even if you get a big severance package, you should get right back out
there on the job market. The longer you wait to start job-searching, the harder it will
be for you.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Dave writes:
I made the mistake of writing my salary request in my cover letter (per the request of the person that recommended me for the position). Two months have passed since I
submitted the resume and I finally have an interview. Now I wish I would have asked for more. Is there a way to ask for more money now or should I just cut my losses and look to another company for a position.
The Career Doctor responds:
Don’t give up just yet! While it is quite often a mistake to put your salary requirements in your cover letter, you do have an interview — so, by following protocol, you have moved to the next step in the employment process.
The question you need to ask yourself at this point is how much you really want the position. Is the position a “dream job” at a “dream company?” If you really want the position, I suggest you go for it. I would also suggest talking with the person who recommended you for the position to see if you can get the salary range to determine if your current demands are in the salary range.
Then go to the interview and knock their socks off. Don’t mention salary requirements until the employer does; spend the time leading up to the first mention of salary by showing how you’ll make critical contributions to the company.
Once salary is raised, you’ll need to be prepared with reasons for why you now feel you warrant a higher salary; perhaps you have since gotten a promotion, further education, or earned a certification. Most employers are willing to negotiate.
For more information, tips, and strategies regarding salary negotiation, I suggest you go to our Salary and Job Offer Negotiation Tutorial.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Sharnjit writes:
Hello! I need to apply for a position as a staff accountant, but many firms are looking for applicants with prior experience. I have very little experience. About 6 months is max.
Also, what is the best way to write a general cover letter?
The Career Doctor responds:
A two-part question, so let me answer in two parts.
First, the experience issue. One solution may involve using transferable skills from your past jobs and education to show that you indeed have the critical experience. Read:
Strategic
Portrayal of Transferable Skills is a Vital Job-search Technique. Another solution is get the experience now through volunteering your accounting services to local non-profit organizations; you help a worthy organization and gain the experience you need to move to a better job.
Second, the cover letter issue. I know you didn’t mean it, but your question is one of the biggest problems we see with cover letters. There is NO such thing as a general cover letter; well, there is, but we call it a BAD cover letter. Cover letters are all about specifics — about showcasing how you can make a difference to the company. You really need to read Cover
Letter Success is All About Specifics, written by my partner, Katharine Hansen.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Shannon writes:
I would like to type a new cover letter for a couple of job openings. However, I have an unlisted phone number and would prefer not to put it on my resume or cover letter. I found the last time I applied for a new job that the companys had sold my resume to other companies, and I began receiving several unwanted phone calls. How would I handle something like this? I do work full-time and will list that number in the cover, but I am very reluctant to give me home number.
Someone at my work suggested using an e-mail address instead of a phone number. Is this the way to go? How would I word that into the cover letter?
The Career Doctor responds:
I can’t believe that any company would sell your resume to other companies — unless it was not a legitimate business or some kind of unethical recruiter.
Regardless, I think most experts would agree that when you are job-hunting, you cannot place any obstacles in your path, and while I am a big proponent of email communications, I believe that if you leave off your phone number you risk missing out on some opportunities.
If you are concerned about unwanted phone calls, you may want to get a screening device, such as an answering machine or Caller ID.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Clyde writes:
When writing a cover letter, should I mention I had been laid off and/or include the reason for the layoff?
The Career Doctor responds:
Never, never — never ever — include any negative information in your cover letter. Negative information immediately puts your cover letter (and entire application) into the trash.
You need to think of your cover letter as a sales document. Thus, talk only of the great things about you and how you are going to make a contribution to your future employer. Discuss what you can bring to the employer; discuss your key skills and qualities.
I suggest you take some time to go through a wonderful tutorial on cover letters. Go to the Dynamic Cover Letters Tutorial For Developing a Stunningly Effective Cover Letter. You’ll find more than 100 pages of advice, hints, and samples to help you create successful cover letters.
You might also want to read an article from my partner, Katharine Hansen: Cover Letter Success is All About Specifics.
And if you are more of a book person, may I now suggest that you obtain a copy of the 3rd edition of Dynamic Cover Letters.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Delia writes:
I am planning to move back to California from Utah to be closer to my family. How do I address that relocation in the cover letter without it seeming as though there are professional problems?
The Career Doctor responds:
Why do you need to say anything? In your cover letter — or in the interview — you simply need to say you are relocating for personal reasons. But with people on the move all the time, changing geographic locations should not be an issue.
Now, get focused on the more important issue: your strategy for finding a new job before you relocate. Start contacting those in your network — especially back in California — and let them know you are relocating and looking for a new job back in California. Then, get on the Web and do some research on the types of jobs, companies, industries where you want to work.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Bill writes:
I’ve sent out 175 resumes. Some I’ve received an email acknowledgments and others I received snail mail acknowledgments, but the rest I’ve received neither. How should I handle the no replies? Should I send another resume — or email or phone them?
The Career Doctor responds:
Bill, okay … I am assuming you sent out cover letters with your resumes, and I am further assuming you followed the proper cover letter techniques — specifically, writing to a named individual, requesting an interview, and promising action — I would strongly suggest that you put all those recipients into a spreadsheet and start contacting them right away. You should never expect employers to respond to your inquiries, and as you have discovered, very few do so.
Not knowing how much time has elapsed, you may need to send out another cover letter and resume once you’ve spoken with the people. If that’s the case, then send those people your resume and cover letter and follow-up about a week to 10 days later with a phone call.
If you did not write a cover letter, or you did not follow the cover-letter rules — and the biggest no-no is not addressing each letter to a named individual — then you might as well start all over again because the likelihood that your cover letter and resume are still somewhere in the employers’ offices is pretty darn slim.
You can read more about cover letters and job-hunting at Quintessential Careers:
Cover Letter Resources, which includes a link to the cover letter tutorial.
Follow-up is crucial in all aspects of job-hunting.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Sheila writes:
Although I currently reside in San Francisco, I am planning to relocate to Indianapolis within the next 3 months (or so). My boyfriend suggested that I submit my resume with a cover letter to various companies in hopes of establishing a relationship and inquiring about employment opportunities. My problem is that, I just don’t know what specifically the cover letter should say. Can you please help me?
The Career Doctor responds:
A cover letter is an extremely important part of your direct-mail campaign. Before I get to cover letters, though, I want to make sure you have some overall strategy about relocating. You are smart to contact companies before you move, but you need a strategy in terms of the types of companies, finding the companies, and finding the right people to contact. And once you’ve sent out your cover letter and resume packages, you need to make sure you follow up and contact these people and try to get some interviews — either by phone or as soon as you get to Indianapolis.
In terms of a cover letter, here’s the short version. The cover letter is a crucial marketing document that must be directed to a named individual and create enough interest on the part of the potential employer to have him or her then look at your resume. You must create interest while also quantifying your qualifications for the position you seek. You must also demonstrate some knowledge of the company and stress what you can do for the company. Finally, you must request action — an interview.
The long version? Go visit Quintessential Careers: Cover Letter Resources, where you’ll find a cover letter tutorial, a do’s and don’ts of cover letters, and a cover letter formula, and much more.
And for more help with the relocation, check out this section of Quintessential Careers:
Job-Seeker Relocation Resources.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Mark writes:
My past with the automotive aftermarket leads me to think I never was a true salesman. I seem to service accounts more than sell them. Could I say I was a customer relations or account manager? I sold maybe 20 percent of the time and did stock adjustment, new part numbers. and buying lunch.
The Career Doctor responds:
You have to remember that above all else, a resume is a marketing tool. A resume’s purpose is to interest the potential employer just enough to grant you an interview and help you along to the next step in the job-hunting journey.
So, my answer is yes, of course you can define your accomplishments — and your transferable skills — as you see fit. From your brief description, I would have to totally agree. And believe me when I tell you I have seen some pretty long stretches when I have reviewed resumes.
The key for you is determining if servicing accounts or account management is important. If it is, then you should certainly emphasize all the experience you have in this area.
You can read much more about resumes and find some great resources
by going to Quintessential Careers:
Resume Resources.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Jill writes:
I recently graduated with a BS in social psychology at 41 years of age. The past 10 years I have been in the clerical field and now more than anything want to work with teenagers. In my cover letter and resume how do I relate my past experiences with the changing career choice I would like to make? Any information would be appreciated.
The Career Doctor responds:
There are a few keys to making the successful transition. In terms of your cover letter and resume, you need to sit down and think about the skills you have learned and used and how they can apply to your new career field. For example, organizational skills are extremely important in the clerical field, and working with teens requires organizational skills as well. Read more about the topic by visiting Quintessential Careers:
Transferable Skills.
The next key to success is to review the job descriptions of the types of jobs you are considering. How does your education and experience match up with the requirements? Can you position yourself to fit these requirements? If not, you may need to take some additional courses or look at different types of jobs.
Finally, I would encourage you to talk with people who currently have jobs that are similar to what you want to be doing or are supervising people who are doing the type of job you want to be doing. We call these informational interviews, and they are an extremely valuable resource for gaining knowledge, making contacts, and networking. Get the scoop by visiting Quintessential Careers: Informational Interviewing Tutorial.
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In response to a question about common mistakes in cover letters, Phyllis Korkki said, “A cover letter with typos, misspellings and poor sentence structure may take you out of the running for a job. If you cannot afford to pay someone to review your cover letter and résumé, enlist a friend or a family member with good language skills to do it instead.
Korkki continues:
Another misguided thing people do is to make the cover letter all about them: “I did this, I’m looking for, I want to … I, I, I.” Structure your letter so that it stresses the company and what you can do to help it reach its goals, [experts] said.
Korkki cites well-known career-management expert Wendy Enelow for the advice to avoid including too much information — for example, very specific salary or geographic requirements. Enelow also told Korkki that it is also unwise to point out that you do not meet all the criteria in the job description. You can deal with that later, if you get an interview. Hiring managers are looking for ways to exclude you as they narrow down their applications. Do not give them that ammunition.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
JoAnn writes:
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Need info on sending resumes over the net on e-mail. What about cover letter and the best format to use?
The Career Doctor responds:
The thing to remember when doing any kind of job-seeking activities is to make whatever you do easy for the employer. If the hiring manager has to spend more time on your application than on others … guess what? He or she won’t; he or she will simply move on to the next applicant.
With those words ringing in your head, let me suggest that with sending cover letters and resumes over the Internet, you want to make it as easy as possible for employers to consider your application.
Thus, I suggest that you always send your cover letter and resume as unformatted text within the email message as well as formatted as attachments. Otherwise, you risk not being considered because some employers only want text, some only want formatted, some don’t open attachments for fears of viruses or other security reasons, and some may not be able to open your attachments because of software incompatibilities.
As with everything else, there are guidelines to follow when doing a text-based resume. I encourage you to read my article, Scannable Resume Fundamentals: How to Write Text Resumes. (Note that “scannable” resumes are rarely used anymore, but they are fundamentally the same as the text resumes employers prefer.)
You might also want to read my Tips for a Dynamic Email Cover Letter.
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In the June 1, 2009, Business Communication Quarterly, (Vol. 72, No. 2, pages 163-176), authors Nancy M. Schullery, Linda Ickes, and Stephen E. Schullery, report on survey results on “Employer Preferences for Résumés and Cover Letters.”
Here’s the abstract of their article:
This article reports the results of a survey of employers’ preferences for résumé style, résumé delivery method, and cover letters. Employers still widely prefer the standard chronological résumé, with only 3 percent desiring a scannable résumé. The vast majority of employers prefer electronic delivery, either by email (46 percent) or at the company’s Web site (38 percent), with only 7 percent preferring a paper copy. Cover letters are preferred by a majority (56 percent). Preferences regarding résumé style and cover letters were independent of national (USA) vs. multinational geographic range, company size, type of industry, or respondent’s job function. Smaller companies prefer résumé delivery by email, and human resources workers prefer delivery using the company’s Web site.
Keep in mind that academic research is often outdated because the publication cycle is so long; this abstract does not state when the survey research was conducted.
You can access the full article in a library or an academic library database.
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In a guest blog posting on All Moms Work, Debra Wheatman of Resumes Done Right (www.ResumesDoneWrite.com and ResumesDoneWrite.blogspot.com) offers this tip for increasing the chances that your cover letter will be read by a hiring manager: Include it in the body of your email and attach your résumé. That way the hiring manager will have to open one one attachment and can quickly read the cover letter when opening your email.
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In a guest blog posting on All Moms Work, Debra Wheatman of Resumes Done Right (www.ResumesDoneWrite.com and ResumesDoneWrite.blogspot.com) notes that your cover letter is part of the résumé package.
She writes:
The package is not complete without the cover. Will everyone read the cover? Probably not. While I haven’t done a full study of how many hiring managers read them vs. those that don’t, I can tell you this: when I worked in human resources I ALWAYS read them. I gained a better understanding of the candidate, what underlying skills he [or she] possessed and how he [or she] might contribute in the organization I represented.
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In a guest blog posting on All Moms Work, Debra Wheatman of Resumes Done Right (www.ResumesDoneWrite.com and ResumesDoneWrite.blogspot.com) notes that your cover letter is an opportunity for you to highlight certain things that you might not have been able to include in the résumé.
She writes:
For example, perhaps you have been designing model houses since childhood, but have worked in another industry and now want to enter architecture. A cover letter would be the optimal place to discuss such information and provide specific examples of what you have designed. Or, maybe you have been cooking gourmet meals and regularly have dinner parties at your house and your friends’ houses. If you were applying for a position in a test kitchen, the cover letter would be the appropriate place to reveal this information - especially if you currently work in a more traditional business role.
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In a guest blog posting on All Moms Work, Debra Wheatman of Resumes Done Right (www.ResumesDoneWrite.com and ResumesDoneWrite.blogspot.com) notes that your cover letter serves as your introduction. She writes:
You don't expect to walk into someone's house through their kitchen, right? The cover is your entranceway. Here, you can enter with grace, set the tone of what the reader should expect to see on the résumé.
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In response to a job-seeker who wondered if cover letters are still necessary in this "day and age," Phyllis Korkki wrote:
Cover letters are still necessary, and in a competitive market they can give you a serious edge if they are written and presented effectively.
Cover letters are a graceful way to introduce yourself, to convey your personality and to impress a hiring manager with your experience and your writing skills, said Katy Piotrowski, an author of career books and a career counselor based in Fort Collins, Colo. You can also tailor them to a specific company in ways that you cannot with a résumé.
Ms. Piotrowski recently had a job opening at her small company, Career Solutions Group, and she was dismayed when about a quarter of the 200 applicants did not send cover letters. Most were within five years of graduating from college, she said, reflecting a more informal mind-set among younger people.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Mike writes:
No too long ago, I used one of your samples for resume and cover letter writing.
I must say, they really helped me.
The Career Doctor responds:
OK. So technically there is no question here, but I wanted to address this
issue because I had been recently interviewed on the subject of job-seekers
borrowing too heavily from samples found on job-search Websites and
books. And by the way, I am not saying that Mike did anything wrong; I
am assuming he used the samples correctly.
Why do career professionals provide samples? I know I do so as a learning
tool. I want you to be able to see what a good resume, cover letter, thank-you letter, etc., looks like. I have seen so much poorly written job-seeker
correspondence, that I thought it important for you to see good examples.
But I do not expect job-seekers to copy phrases or sentences word-for-word
in academic circles, we call that plagiarism, and if I were a hiring manager, I
would call it a reason not to interview or hire you. Borrowing someone else s
work brings into question your ethics — and work ethic.
So, please use the samples you find as guidelines for what your resume or
cover letter should look like and sound like, but do not lift whole chunks and
use them as your own. And be sure to read the accompanying articles that
describe in detail how to develop your job-search documents.
One final point. Someone raised the question of the difference between
borrowing a sample resume versus hiring a professional to write the resume
for you. The difference is one is stealing someone else’ s work (that may not
even apply to you) and the other is paying a professional to develop a
document specifically for you.
For those interested in samples, check out the many sample job-search
materials we have in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Job-Hunting
Samples and Examples.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
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- cover letter writing,
- hiring manager,
- job-search documents,
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“Cover letters accompany your resume when you can’t,” says Mary Jeanne Vincent in her WorkWise newsletter.
“They introduce you to your potential employer. Effective cover letters identify the position you are interested in by referencing the job title and the requisition number. They add value to your resume by highlighting your specific qualifications as they relate to the position for which you are applying.”
“There is no such thing as a good generic cover letter! If it is generic, then it isn’t effective,” Vincent emphasizes.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Anonymous writes:
I don’t think its smart to have my resume for all to review, how I can I post my resume and keep it confidential?
The Career Doctor responds:
There certainly is validity to wanting to be discrete about job-hunting when you are currently employed — you wouldn’t want your current employer to do a search for a position and get your resume from one of these job sites.
The good news is that many job boards now offer you a confidentiality option — thus your resume is still out there getting viewed, but you control who actually knows it is your resume. There are a few other job sites that even allow you to block your resume from going to certain companies, thus allowing no chance that your current employer will see your resume. You can search through a list of The Top 10 Job Web Sites.
And one final warning. Please remember that job-hunting on the Net should only comprise a small portion of your overall job-hunt — a little larger for people in technical and computer fields. You’ll do much better taking advantage of networking and other more traditional job-search techniques, but I also understand the value of the Web in a passive job search — putting your resume online and seeing what kind of responses you get, even when you are fairly happy with your current position.
confidentiality, employer, job board, job-hunting, resume, Top 10 Job Web Sites
Use Resume and Cover-Letter Samples Carefully
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Mike writes:
No too long ago, I used one of your samples for resume and cover letter writing.
I must say, they really helped me.
The Career Doctor responds:
OK. So technically there is no question here, but I wanted to address this
issue because I had been recently interviewed on the subject of job-seekers
borrowing too heavily from samples found on job-search Websites and
books. And by the way, I am not saying that Mike did anything wrong; I
am assuming he used the samples correctly.
Why do career professionals provide samples? I know I do so as a learning
tool. I want you to be able to see what a good resume, cover letter, thank-you letter, etc., looks like. I have seen so much poorly written job-seeker
correspondence, that I thought it important for you to see good examples.
But I do not expect job-seekers to copy phrases or sentences word-for-word
in academic circles, we call that plagiarism, and if I were a hiring manager, I
would call it a reason not to interview or hire you. Borrowing someone else s
work brings into question your ethics — and work ethic.
So, please use the samples you find as guidelines for what your resume or
cover letter should look like and sound like, but do not lift whole chunks and
use them as your own. And be sure to read the accompanying articles that
describe in detail how to develop your job-search documents.
One final point. Someone raised the question of the difference between
borrowing a sample resume versus hiring a professional to write the resume
for you. The difference is one is stealing someone else’ s work (that may not
even apply to you) and the other is paying a professional to develop a
document specifically for you.
For those interested in samples, check out the many sample job-search
materials we have in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Job-Hunting
Samples and Examples.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
- career professionals,
- cover letter,
- cover letter writing,
- hiring manager,
- job-search documents,
- job-seekers,
- Quintessential Careers,
- resume,
- sample resume,
- samples,
- thank-you letter
Bill Belknap and Helene Seiler, in the excellent book For Executives Only, describe a case study in which a client wrote a targeted letter to a hiring decision-maker after already having sent one in response to a job posting for the same job. The authors write:
She tracked down who the hiring manager was and wrote him directly. The hiring manager was impressed enough to ask HR to pull her resume out of the stack, and she was interviewed within a few days.
The candidate began her targeted letter by noting that she had applied for the position through the employer’s Web site. Her next paragraph expressed her understanding of the key requirement of the position. Then, she included a bulleted section recapping significant, relevant career accomplishments. She concluded with a proactive paragraph asking for an interview and noting that she would call the recipient’s assistant to schedule an appointment.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Linda writes:
My husband is retiring from the service. He has made his way
up the ladder, from an enlisted personnel to an officer. He is in
the engineering field. The problem is most of the minimum
requirements for positions he is applying for require a bachelor’s
degree. He is approximately 20 credit hours away from this,
and still actively in school. What are some suggestions on
verbiage for the cover letter and resume to address this?
The Career Doctor responds:
First, kudos to your husband, both for the service to our country,
but also for working on furthering his education in preparation for
work in the civilian sector.
Your husband has three things working for him right now. First,
many employers are actively seek transitioning military veterans
because of the extensive experience and training they receive
while in the service. Second, engineering is an occupation back
in demand. Third, he is close to completing his degree.
Here’s how you address his situation on these key documents.
On the resume. The goal of a resume is to secure a job interview.
I would start with a summary of qualifications section, outlining
his three or four key qualities that make him the perfect candidate
for the job he is seeking. One of those bullets should be his
college education, the others should focus on his experience.
Since he is actively working on his education, I would list
education next, and when you list the degree he is receiving,
put the date you expect him to be done with it. Then list his
experience. I would also have a section on his advancement
from enlisted personnel to officer.
On the cover letter. Remember the key task of the cover letter is
to sell the hiring manager just enough so that he or she will
review the resume. You want to start of strongly identifying the
key strengths — and ideally tie those directly to what the employer
is looking for in a job candidate. In the second paragraph, I would
highlight some of the specific accomplishments of the work
experience, along with the number of years in the field. In the
third paragraph, I would mention the near-completed degree,
and the specific date when it’s expected to be completed.
Note: some employers will substitute years of experience for
an incomplete education. For example, college grad and five
years experience, or some college and eight years of experience.
Learn more both in the
resume resources
and the military transition
sections of Quintessential Careers.
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Here’s a point not often raised in the ongoing debate on whether to send a cover letter with your resume:
Bill Belknap and Helene Seiler, in the excellent book For Executives Only, note that a “key advantage of the cover letter is you can focus the reader exactly where you want [him or her] to focus. With just your resume, you are never quite sure of where [he or she] will focus.”
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Stephen Van Vreede of No Stone Unturned believes job-seekers should take a few extra moments to personalize cover letters, noting that he is especially impressed by letters that answer these questions:
- Why are you choosing to apply here? (Whatever you do, make it sound like you are interested in the company as a whole, not just because you want a job.)
- What do you know about my company?
- What do you know about the products/services we provide?
- What types of clients do we serve?
- How do you see yourself fitting in to the mission of our organization?
“A simple perusal of the company website can certainly help answer these questions,” Van Vreede observes. “I don’t think anyone expects you to have insider knowledge. But it is nice to know that you are considering a candidate who took a few extra minutes to tailor the letter to your company. No one likes to think they are potentially hiring someone who is willing to work anywhere, even if that is true.”
[This entry was excerpted from an article that appears here.]
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Heather Eagar of www.ResumeLines.com cautions job-seekers to ensure that employers know how to contact you. Eagar asks: “Have you ever left off your contact information from your cover letter? Job-seekers believe that if they include it on their resumes, they’re set. Sadly, they’re mistaken.”
She explains one of the reasons to include contact information:
When there is a job opening, all kinds of paperwork is flying around the office. A cover letter and resume can get separated from one another and sometimes get lost all together. It’s always best to have all your contact information on both your resume and cover letter so that no matter which document the employer has, you’re covered.
One way to ensure contact information is on your cover letter is to use the same “letterhead” for both resume and cover letter, a technique that also creates a consistent, branded look for your documents. It doesn’t hurt to also repeat your phone number and e-mail address in your final paragraph.
Eagar concludes with these words about cover letters:
Cover letters can be tricky; even what you deem as insignificant can have a major impact on your ability to get interviews. What may seem as unimportant to you may end up making the difference between waiting for an interview and actually getting one.
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Heather Eagar of www.ResumeLines.com advises using your cover letter to point out the highlights of your resume. Says Eagar: “Sometimes employers get so bogged down with resumes that they resort to weeding them out rather quickly. The first thing they read about you comes from your cover letter. Be sure to look at the job description for which you are applying and make a point to highlight them in your cover letter.”
She continues with a technique for making this information easy to read:
One of the most effective ways to do this is by using bullets. The reader might only spend 20 seconds on your resume package before deciding whether or not to read the entire document. You don’t want to go through all that work only to have him or her believe you’re not qualified (when you really are). By making your cover letter easy for the reader to skim over while picking up on all the important information, you’ve just made the hiring manager quite pleased. And if your qualifications are indeed a good fit, then you have a great chance of being moved into the ‘interview’ pile.
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Heather Eagar of www.ResumeLines.com advises the unusual approach of including a title on a cover letter. Says Eagar: “This is a tactic that really helps hiring managers focus in on what job you are applying for without having to take even a few seconds to figure it out. Remember, anything you can do to make their job easier you should try to do. “
Says Eagar:
The title doesn’t have to be word-for-word the actual position but something very closely related. You can work it in pretty effortlessly in the first sentence of your cover letter.
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Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of the www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com, advises sending an e-mail (as one option) to follow up if you haven’t heard from an employer within 10 days of applying with a resume and cover letter. Says Sweeney: “Professionals … often prefer e-mail for quick messages. Use this effective means to your advantage. Follow up your original cover letter with an e-mail reminder.”
Here’s the sample wording Sweeney suggests:
Dear Mr./Ms. Jones:
On January 23 I submitted a cover letter and resume to apply for the position of general accounts executive at Capricorn Enterprises, Inc. I appreciate the fact that you have many applications to read. However, I am committed to showing you that I am well qualified to fill this opening. Would you have 30 minutes available for an interview this week or next? You choose the date and time, and I’ll be there prepared to talk and listen. Thank you for taking the time to read my request. I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in person.
Joe Job Seeker
joejobseeker@xyz.com
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Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of the www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com, advises “Ask for the job interview upfront. Says Sweeney: “Make your intention clear. “May we meet to discuss the position of [Fill in job title here]. I’m available at your convenience. I look forward to the opportunity for a personal interview.” (Now there’s a statement that practically commands a response.)
Another nice, clear and direct statement requesting a job interview:
“I’m eager to meet you in person to discuss [Insert job title here] how I can exceed your company’s expectation for this position. All I can ask for is the opportunity to be interviewed and I am prepared for that chance. I sincerely thank you for your consideration.”
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An article on CollegeSurfing.com, The Piece of Paper Standing Between You and Your Next Interview: The Cover Letter, by Robyn Tellefsen, quotes Quint Careers. We're continuing to excerpt parts of the article:
Keep it simple.
Three or four paragraphs should suffice. In your first paragraph, explain why you are writing. In the middle paragraph or two, highlight why you are a good candidate for the position, convey a clear story about your career, and detail what you can do to help the company reach its goals. Your closing paragraph should indicate how you will follow up on your submission.
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An article on CollegeSurfing.com, The Piece of Paper Standing Between You and Your Next Interview: The Cover Letter, by Robyn Tellefsen, quotes Quint Careers. We're continuing to excerpt parts of the article:
Get a name.
How hard is it to Google a company and get the decision maker's name to put on your cover letter? The extra few minutes it takes to procure that info can save your resume from the recycling bin with all the other "To Whom It May Concerns." Take it from Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., creative director and associate publisher of Quintessential Careers, who wrote: "The largest employer in Central Florida tosses cover letters in the circular file if they are not addressed to him personally." Wow!
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Bill writes:
I’ve sent out 175 resumes. Some I’ve received an email acknowledgments and others I received snail mail acknowledgments, but the rest I’ve received neither. How should I handle the no replies? Should I send another resume — or email or phone them?
The Career Doctor responds:
Bill, okay … I am assuming you sent out cover letters with your resumes, and I am further assuming you followed the proper cover letter techniques — specifically, writing to a named individual, requesting an interview, and promising action — I would strongly suggest that you put all those recipients into a spreadsheet and start contacting them right away. You should never expect employers to respond to your inquiries, and as you have discovered, very few do so.
Not knowing how much time has elapsed, you may need to send out another cover letter and resume once you’ve spoken with the people. If that’s the case, then send those people your resume and cover letter and follow-up about a week to 10 days later with a phone call.
If you did not write a cover letter, or you did not follow the cover-letter rules — and the biggest no-no is not addressing each letter to a named individual — then you might as well start all over again because the likelihood that your cover letter and resume are still somewhere in the employers’ offices is pretty darn slim.
You can read more about cover letters and job-hunting at Quintessential Careers:
Cover Letter Resources, which includes a link to the cover letter tutorial.
Follow-up is crucial in all aspects of job-hunting.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Jill writes:
I recently graduated with a BS in social psychology at 41 years of age. The past 10 years I have been in the clerical field and now more than anything want to work with teenagers. In my cover letter and resume how do I relate my past experiences with the changing career choice I would like to make? Any information would be appreciated.
The Career Doctor responds:
There are a few keys to making the successful transition. In terms of your cover letter and resume, you need to sit down and think about the skills you have learned and used and how they can apply to your new career field. For example, organizational skills are extremely important in the clerical field, and working with teens requires organizational skills as well. Read more about the topic by visiting Quintessential Careers:
Transferable Skills.
The next key to success is to review the job descriptions of the types of jobs you are considering. How does your education and experience match up with the requirements? Can you position yourself to fit these requirements? If not, you may need to take some additional courses or look at different types of jobs.
Finally, I would encourage you to talk with people who currently have jobs that are similar to what you want to be doing or are supervising people who are doing the type of job you want to be doing. We call these informational interviews, and they are an extremely valuable resource for gaining knowledge, making contacts, and networking. Get the scoop by visiting Quintessential Careers: Informational Interviewing Tutorial.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
LaShun writes:
It seems every piece of advice about cover letters says to call the company
you want to work for to get a SPECIFIC NAME of the person who has the authority
to call you for an interview. But what if the company refuses to give that information?
Most of the companies I call say just send a resume to the HR department
at an email address or fax number but won’t give a name. And when I do get
a specific name, I’m sure I’m not the only one who called. What else can I do?
The Career Doctor responds:
I empathize with all the job-seekers who are finding it harder and
harder to get the name of the hiring manager — which is what all job
experts recommend you do. Unfortunately, companies seem to be
making it harder and harder for job-seekers to identify and follow-up
with the hiring manager.
You have several options for getting the name (and correct spelling)
of the hiring manager. You could call the human resources office, but
remember that office’s role is one of screening. So, I would avoid HR
altogether and simply call the main switchboard and ask the receptionist
for the name of the department manager for the position you are seeking.
Receptionists are wonderful sources of information — so cultivate them!
You could also default to writing to the division or company president and
hope your application trickles down to the hiring manager, but more often
than not, if it does trickle down, it goes to HR. The final possibility is
another important use of your network; contact all the people in your
network and see if anyone works or knows someone who works for the
company — and then ask that person to use internal channels to get
you the name of the hiring manager.
One final comment about the many employers who state in job ads:
“no phone calls.” This comment refers to applying by phone — but should
not stop any job-seeker who has submitted an application from
following-up to check on the status of his/her application.
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The rules of good writing certainly apply to cover letters — and resumes for that matter. Here’s a tip from WRITER’S WEB WATCH (published by WritingThatWorks) covering four verb issues to watch out for.
To assess how much work a manuscript [or cover letter] needs, run your finger down the page and check only the verbs. Do they summarize the content? If not, they need work. Go through again and mark
- Passive voice,
- “To be” verbs,
- Verbs (particularly “make” or “do”) followed by a noun derived from a verb (e.g., “make a decision” rather than “decide”),
- Verbs dependent on adverbs (e.g., “went quickly” rather than “hurried” or “raced”).
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The final paragraph of a cover letter should fill in the blank in this sentence, says Deborah Brown-Volkman in an article on Quintessential Careers: “Here’s my contact information…”
“In this paragraph, tell the employer that you are excited and looking forward to the interview,” Brown-Volkman says, “Make note of your contact information and state what next steps will be. If you will wait for their reply, tell them that. If you will be following up, tell them when they can expect to hear from you. Whatever you put down, make sure you do what you say will you do.”
Then, it’s up to you…
An ideal cover letter can get you the interview. What you do once you get there is in your hands.
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The fourth paragraph of a cover letter should fill in the blank in this sentence, says Deborah Brown-Volkman in an article on Quintessential Careers: “Here’s why I am a good candidate…”
“In this paragraph,” Brown-Volkman says, “describe who you are and what makes you stand out. Include your strengths and what you are passionate about in your career.”
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The third paragraph of a cover letter should fill in the blank in this sentence, says Deborah Brown-Volkman in an article on Quintessential Careers: “Here are relevant examples of what I have done that match with what you are looking for…”
“In this paragraph, discuss your accomplishments or highlights that you want to showcase or have the employer locate quickly,” advises Brown-Volkman. “Bullets work well in making your accomplishments easy to read.”
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The second paragraph of a cover letter should fill in the blank in this sentence, says Deborah Brown-Volkman in an article on Quintessential Careers: “I like your company because…”
“In this paragraph, compliment the employer on what it has done right and what you admire about the organization,” Brown-Volkman says. “Sincere flattery goes a long way and shows that you have taken the time to get to know the employer in more detail.”
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Mike writes:
I would appreciate your help with a couple of questions. Is gray granite paper
acceptable for a resume and cover letter? As well, is it necessary to send the
resume in a large envelope so the resume doesn’t need to be folded? I have heard
conflicting opinions on whether or not to print a cover letter on personal letterhead.
What is your professional opinion on this?
The Career Doctor responds:
Resumes are one of the fundamental tools of job-hunting, and while most of your time
and effort should be focused on the content, it’s also important to discuss format issues.
Remember that the entire goal of a resume is to generate enough interest from the
employer to grant you a job interview.
But before I get to the format issues, let’s just hit the highlights of resume content.
- Resumes should be specifically focused to the job you are seeking; there is
no such thing as a “general purpose” resume.
- Resumes need to focus on your key accomplishments, not on duties and
responsibilities; employers want to see that you can produce results.
- Resumes must have zero errors; one typo or misspelling can easily be the difference between getting an interview and having the resume tossed in the trash.
- Resumes are statements of fact; do not lie or stretch the truth when writing your resume.
Back to your question about resume format. Here are some general rules for “print” resumes — those you use for networking, interviews, and the rare occasions when you still send a resume and cover letter via postal mail:
- Paper: plain white is perfectly acceptable. If you want to go with a color, choose
muted colors, such as gray, beige, slate, etc.
- Printing: ideal is still a laser printer, but ink jets are fine — as long as you let the
ink dry so that the ink does not smear.
- Mailing: sending your resume in a standard size business envelope is fine, though
more and more job-seekers are using larger envelopes so that the resume does not
need to be folded.
- Style: your resume and cover letter should match — in letterhead, in type style (font),
and in paper color. And never, ever send a cover letter on company letterhead.
One final comment about resumes: Whenever possible, it’s always best to see if the employer
has a preferred resume style. Some elements of resume design are very subjective. Many
employers now list these requirements on the corporate career Websites. I have a client who
has an amazing functional resume (organized around skills clusters), but a recent prospective
employer asked her to totally rewrite and reformat her resume into a standard chronological resume because that format was preferred.
Looking for more resume help? Quintessential Careers has
resume quizzes
and an article on creating
Web-ready resumes. Go to: Quintessential Careers.
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The first paragraph of a cover letter should fill in the blank in this sentence, says Deborah Brown-Volkman in an article on Quintessential Careers: “I am writing to you today because…”
“In this section, state why you are writing to the employer,” Brown-Volkman says. “Where did you see the ad for the position, or who recommended you?”
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Laura writes:
Since moving to Daytona Beach 5 years ago, I have worked for 10 employers and also tried
self-employment. (Four of the jobs were temporary.) Only one of those employers was a good
match for me, but unfortunately, they went out of business nine months after I started working
for them. I am a highly qualified accountant/bookkeeper, but it seems this town is unwilling to
pay a decent salary to someone with my skills and more than 25 years of experience. My age (over 50)
may also have something to do with my inability to get a good job offer. I have been on several
interviews, but I seem to come in second or third choice.
The Career Doctor responds:
I think now is the time to reinforce the whole concept of a job search as a marketing
campaign. Your cover letter and resume are the key marketing promotion documents
and the job interview is the critical sales call. If you then look at yourself as a product,
it puts job-hunting in a much different light.
You have a number of issues/problems/concerns that need to be addressed. First, I let
me preface the rest of this answer with the depressing news that the Central Florida job
market is one of the weakest and low-paying that I have ever researched. So, as you’ve
discovered, job-seekers need to keep their expectations tempered.
Your resume. There are a number of issues you need to deal with here. First, you need
to remove older job experience and take older dates off your experience and education
so that employers can’t easily guess your age. Next, you need to do something with all
the jobs; 10 jobs in five years is a huge red flag. I would consider lumping all your temporary
work into one grouping in a traditional resume — or consider experimenting with some sort of chrono-functional resume, in which skills are emphasized and employment history is secondary. Next, are you
current with your training/technology skills — and if so, does it come across on your resume?
So much of accounting and bookkeeping practices have changed, even in the last 10 years,
that employers may assume older job-seekers still do it the “old” way and may be resistant
to change. Your task is to not let them assume that!
In the interview. Your resume can only do so much for you — which is basically get you to the
interview. Now you need to sell yourself to the employer. Don’t go into interviews, as some
older workers do, with anything but a positive attitude — focused on how you can make an
immediate contribution to the company (rather than relying on all your years of solid experience).
Attitude, especially with older workers, is critical.
I strongly recommend that you read some of the articles and other resources in this section of
Quintessential Careers: Job
Resources for Mature and Older Jobseekers.
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- accountant,
- bookkeeper,
- Central Florida,
- chrono-functional resume,
- cover letter,
- education,
- employers,
- employment history,
- experience,
- immediate contribution,
- interview,
- job experience,
- job offer,
- job search,
- job-seeker,
- marketing campaign,
- older worker,
- positive attitude,
- Quintessential Careers,
- Resources for Mature and Older Jobseekers,
- resume,
- self-employment,
- skills,
- technology skills,
- temeporary work,
- training
Does your cover letter convey who you are and what you want quickly, or does it confuse the reader? That’s what Deborah Brown-Volkman asks in an article on Quintessential Careers.
“A cover letter is a document that introduces you and your resume to potential employers, Brown-Volkman writes. “It is your opportunity to give employers a good look at yourself, your credentials, and your background. In many cases, it is the first thing an employer sees (because it goes in front of your resume), so expect it to make your opening impression.
“Cover letters can do more than simply introduce you. They can give an employer a more in-depth view of who you are and what you will bring to the table.
“The ideal cover letter is focused, professional, and well-written. While the hiring decision-maker is reading your cover letter, he or she is deciding if it makes sense to continue onto your resume. If you cannot make your cover letter great, then the employer has no reason to believe you will do great work for them either,” Brown-Volkman cautions.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Ben writes:
I have a question concerning submitting my cover page and resume via email. The
question is that most companies will not accept attachments so I must submit my
resume within the message body of my email vs. attachments. How do I maintain
the same appearance as the original written in MS Word?
The Career Doctor responds:
The short answer is you can’t. And while appearances are important for
traditional cover letters, the most important element is the content. The
same holds true for resumes; appearances are important for traditional
resumes, but content is the most critical element — regardless of the format.
So, how are emailed cover letters different than traditional cover letters? Let
me walk you through some of the key issues, but before I do, let me emphasize
that you should always go to each employer’s career center site and examine
the guidelines for submitting electronic documents, if they list them.
Here are the five critical email cover letter issues.
First, know the rules of writing a cover letter. If you are still writing “vanilla”
cover letters, you won’t get any employer response — no matter how you send it.
Second, keep it short. Email cover letters need to be more concise and shorter in
length than traditional cover letters.
Third, take advantage of keywords. Be sure to use all the keywords from the
employment listing — and any other important jargon or keywords from your industry —
without making the letter a string of sentences full of jargon.
Fourth, watch your line length. Some email software automatically perform line returns
for you, but I would make sure the lines of your email are no longer than 60 characters.
Fifth, take the time to send the email cover letter to yourself first — so you can see
what it looks like after transmission.
Finally, as you know, don’t even bother with attachments. Most employers don’t want them.
Instead, consider developing Web versions of your resume and providing the URL to the
employer (in addition to providing a text-based version).
Find more information and guidelines in my article,
Tips for a Dynamic Email
Cover Letter, published on Quintessential Careers. You can also find more information
about types of resumes in the Resume
Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
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Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of the www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com calls the “Resume Cover Letter” one of two powerful types of cover letters that few people know about. For the other one, see this entry.
Says Jimmy Sweeney:
The resume cover letter is a two-for-one because it combines the best of a cover letter and resume. Here is a tool you’ll want to use again and again because it can catch the interest of headhunters, recruiters, and placement agencies where brevity and speed are essential. It also works well for networking because it is brief and easy to scan.
Pull together the most important points from your resume and put them in a bulleted list within the letter itself. Limit yourself to one page. This amazing document will help you make your point, ask for what you want, and produce results — the job you’re looking for.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Galen writes:
I have been searching for a job for about 2 and 1/2 months. Every one I show my resume to, or e-mail/fax/snail mail to says that they really like my resume, or WOW, or this is a really strong resume.
Problem is no interviews, no follow-up calls from headhunters on-line or otherwise for jobs which I submitted my resume. Many of these jobs I am definitely qualified for, some over qualified, some under. Most, 80% fall into the definitely qualified for.
- What am I doing wrong?
- How do I get the headhunters to respond?
- etc.
The Career Doctor responds:
A key part of any job-search is follow-up. It’s not good enough just to be pounding the pavement, sending out cover letters and resumes, expanding your network of contacts, responding to job ads and postings, and contacting headhunters and recruiters. All those activities are important, but they’ll all be for naught unless you take the time to follow-up every single job lead.
No interviews is a bad sign to me. It means that there is something wrong with your job search…and probably not just your lack of follow-up.
I strongly urge you have a career professional — a resume service, a former boss or colleague, or a headhunter — carefully review your resume and cover letter. In fact, you should have him or her evaluate your entire job search plan.
I also strongly suggest you read our article, Ten Questions to Ask Yourself if You Still Haven’t Found a Job, published on Quintessential Careers. The article discusses some of the common roadblocks to a successful job-search — and how to get through them.
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- boss,
- career professional,
- colleague,
- cover letter,
- follow-up,
- headhunters,
- interview,
- job ads,
- job postings,
- job search,
- network,
- Quintessential Careers,
- resume,
- resume service,
- roadblocks
Linda Matias of Career Strides offers these sample paragraphs for closing a cover letter:
- Sample #1: I will contact you within the week to follow up on this letter of inquiry. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if I need to furnish you with additional documentation. Thank you for your time and consideration.
- Sample #2: My resume is enclosed to provide you with additional details regarding my technical/supervisory skills and achievements. I would welcome the opportunity for an interview with your organization. Thank you for your time and consideration.
- Sample #3: My resume contains additional details regarding my career accomplishments. I would welcome an opportunity for a personal interview to discuss your organization’s needs and the results you can expect from me in addressing those needs. And I thank you in advance for your time and review of my qualifications.
- Sample #4: To provide you with details concerning my qualifications and accomplishments, my resume is enclosed. I will contact you next week to follow up on this letter of inquiry; perhaps we could arrange a meeting to discuss our mutual interests. Thank you for your time and consideration.
- Sample #5: Thank you for taking the time to review my credentials. I hope you feel a personal meeting would be beneficial; I am available at your convenience. If you have any questions, Questions, or when you are ready to schedule an interview, please give me a call.
Certified in all three areas of the job search — Certified Interview Coach (TM) (CIC), Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW)—Linda Matias is qualified to assist you in your career transition, whether it be a complete career makeover, interview preparation, or resume assistance. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, How to Say It: Job Interviews (Prentice Hall Press, August 2007). You can contact Linda Matias at linda@careerstrides.com or visit her website www.careerstrides.com for additional career advice and to view resume samples.
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To get what we need and want we must ask for it,” advises Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com. “Yet, when it comes to including in a cover letter, the all-important request for a job interview, some job-seekers shy away from asking, ‘May I meet you to discuss the opening for restaurant manager (or whatever the position may be)?’ or ‘May I come to your office for an interview?’”
ASKING is essential, Sweeney says. “Without the question, the hiring manager has no reason to respond. Your cover letter might read well, but unless you ask for an interview, the manager will likely set your letter aside. You risk the chance of never hearing from that person about your interest in the job opening.”
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Communicate your enthusiasm at the end of your letter, advises Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com:
I look forward to meeting you and to hearing in person what you want in the person you hire to manage your fine restaurant. I feel confident we will relate well to one another. You can reach me any time on my cell phone: 555-555-5555. Thank you for the opportunity.
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In the final paragraph of your cover letter, suggest a meeting time, advises Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com:
Are you available to schedule an interview within the next 10 days? I’m free any afternoon between 1 pm and 4pm. Expect me to arrive prepared and eager to listen to your expectations, as well as to answer any questions you may have.
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State your qualifications at the beginning of your cover letter, advises Jimmy Sweeney president of CareerJimmy and author of www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com. Here’s some suggested wording:
Thank you for describing the candidate you’re seeking to fill the position of restaurant manager. Co-workers and supervisions have acknowledged me for all the character traits you mentioned. I am organized, friendly, a solid leader, knowledgeable about the restaurant business, and excellent with customers and staff.
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Give the hiring manager reason to keep reading your cover letter by creating a HEADLINE written and centered in bold text right above the greeting in your cover letter:
I Would Welcome The Opportunity To Interview For The Position Of [Fill In Job Title Here].
So advises Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com
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Jimmy Sweeney, author of the “Amazing Cover Letter Creator,” suggests writing a cover letter that “take[s] back control and win[s] more interview opportunities immediately.”
Here’s how Sweeney says to do so:
- Write a NEW kind of cover letter. ASK for the job interview and mean it. No polite suggestions or innuendos. Be upfront, clear and direct:
“I would appreciate meeting in person to discuss the position of [fill in job title here]. I will adjust my schedule to meet yours. What time and date work best for you? I welcome the opportunity for a personal interview.” (Now THAT’S a statement that all but demands a response.)
“May we schedule an interview when it works best for you? [Insert company name here], is at the top of my list of companies I’d like to work for and I’d love to meet with you in person to discuss the position of [fill in job title here].” (Another nice, clear and direct statement to be called for the job interview).
- Dial an interview. Wait for several days after you mail your cover letter. Then pick up the phone and call the person in charge and ASK for an interview person-to-person. Don’t sound pushy, just eager to get together. Your enthusiasm will impress him/her. Example: “Are you free for 30 minutes on Wednesday afternoon? I would love to interview for the position of [fill in job title here].
- Send an e-mail. Professionals today rely on e-mail for quick messages. Use this effective means of communicating to your advantage. Follow up your original cover letter with an e-mail reminder. Something like this will work.
Dear Mr./Ms. Jones:
On September 10 I sent a cover letter and resume to apply for the position of sales manager at Sunshine Corporation. I’m sure you have many applications to sort through but I feel confident that I’m just what you’re looking for. I would welcome the chance to interview for this position and am asking for that opportunity when your schedule permits. Thank you for taking a moment to read my request. I look forward to meeting with you in person.
Jill Job Seeker jilljobseeker@xyz.com
“That’s it!,” Sweeney says. “Take charge in an upbeat and friendly way, and you’ll be in charge. And remember to follow up everything. Step up to the quality job interviews today — and tomorrow you just may be launching the career of your dreams.”
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new www.amazing-cover-letters.com. Jimmy is also the author of several career-elated books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
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Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of the Amazing Cover Letter Creator, asserts that a post-interview cover letter (also known as a thank-you or followup letter) moves job-seekers to the top of the “must consider” list.
Sweeney notes that few job-seekers take time to express their gratitude in writing, so those who do are bound to stand out.
“A simple ‘thank you,’ ‘I appreciated our meeting today,’ or ‘I’m grateful we had a
chance to get together,’ can draw the line between getting hired and being ignored,” Sweeney says.
Sweeney points out that “your follow-up letter will also reveal the kind of person an employer would like to hire — someone who is thoughtful, other-centered, and caring.
You have only one chance to make a great first impression—and a lasting one!
He notes that mail addressed to a specific person in the sender’s handwriting
will be opened first.
Here is an example of Sweeney’s suggested clear and precise post-interview cover letter that hits the mark:
Dear [specific name of ] Hiring Manager:
I really enjoyed meeting you today. Thank you so much for making time for me. I appreciated the tour of your facility, meeting some of your colleagues, and having a chance to see the department where the new candidate will work. It was very kind of you to invite me to explain why I feel I am the best-qualified person to fill the job opening. Your humor and good eye contact put me at ease. I know I’d like working for your company very much. I felt right at home. Please call if you’d like me to return for a second visit. Give me a date and time that work for you and I’ll be there. Again, thank you for meeting with me this afternoon.
Sincerely yours,
Fiona (or Foster) Follow-Up
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the Amazing Cover Letter Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Anonymous writes:
How do I explain to a potential employer that I was let go from my job after committing an honest mistake that I did not realize there was a policy on?
The Career Doctor responds:
Let me begin by stressing the importance of not raising this issue — ever — but especially not in your cover letter or resume. (And yes, we often come across these odd admissions.) Even in the interview, let the employer ask you why you left your last job.
Once the issue has been raised, the best answer is always the truth. Admit that you made a mistake — and, more importantly, show how you have learned from that mistake.
Read my article, Getting
Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
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"Your goal as a job-hunter is to land an interview, not bury the employer in a vocabulary
landfill," notes Jimmy Sweeney, president of CareerJimmy and author of the Amazing Cover Letter Creator. "Keep in mind, these men and women are just like you and me. They sleep and eat, go to work, play with their kids on the weekends, and catch a movie or read a book in their free time. And they want to keep their job by filling job slots in their company!"
Sweeney advises job-seekers to communicate clearly, concisely, and courteously. Employers "will not only appreciate you but will want to meet you in person because you are such a rarity," he says.
Sweeney recommends that cover-letter writers, "let your personality shine. Speak to the employer as you would a good friend. In short, be yourself."
Here's the kind of language Sweeney advises:
After reading the description of the job you want to fill, I felt as though it was meant for me. Everything you want in an employee rings true for me. I have experience and expertise as a restaurant manager and special culinary skills that will allow me to oversee the chefs as well as the restaurant workers. I would love the opportunity to meet in person for an interview. I am available for the next two weeks. The best phone number to reach me at is 555-555-1212.
Thanks in advance, I look forward to it.
Here's the kind of language he disdains:
Pursuant to attached resume, you will see my qualifications to turn around your ailing business. Chief among my outstanding characteristics is my ability to codify and quantify the statistics that have lowered your overall performance during said year. Should you decide to meet with me in person, and I trust you will, given my expertise, you will quickly discern that I have a penchant for disseminating information that is not recognized by the common employee and therefore. . .
"Can't you just hear the paper shredder warming up in the background?" Sweeney asks.
Sweeney suggests that you read your cover letter aloud. "Look at it. Search out those weedy words and grab them with the pruning shears. Rewrite until the words and sentences make you smile. If you want that job, ask for it clearly and politely -- with a dash of your unique personality. You increase the odds you will be rewarded with an interview as well as the job you're fighting for.
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the Amazing Cover Letter Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Christie writes:
I’m looking to change my career. Do you know of any links where a person may find help with writing a cover letter?
The Career Doctor responds:
Every once in a while when I get an email like yours, I wonder if you’re pulling my leg, but because cover letters are my first love — and for the sake of other visitors — let me answer your question.
My site, Quintessential Careers, has a plethora of resources on cover letters. My partner and I wrote the book on cover letters — literally — in Dynamic Cover Letters (third edition).
For everything you ever wanted to know about cover letters — from writing them to seeing sample letters — including original articles and a detailed tutorial on cover letters, please visit Quintessential Careers: Cover Letter Resources.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Brian writes:
I came across Quintessential Careers last night as I was trying
to unearth the answer to a question which was plaguing me all night.
I’d be most grateful if you could tell me whether or not one should
include a resume with a broadcast letter.
I’ve heard conflicting opinions on the subject. What’s your advice?
The Career Doctor responds:
The answer is: it depends.
Although not talked about as much compared to networking and online job-hunting, a broadcast cover letter is part of a direct marketing
campaign by the job-seeker —in which you identify a list of prospective employers, research the names of the hiring managers at each
employer, and send an unsolicited letter to tap into what has been
called “the hidden job market.”
The strength of this strategy is that you can sometimes catch a hiring
manager just as an opening is occurring, giving you sort of a first-strike
advantage over other job-seekers before the position is even advertised —
internally or externally. Because turnover happens frequently, a broadcast
letter is still a good job-seeker strategy.
But I never liked using the term broadcast letter because it carries the
implication that the job-seeker can write one cover letter and broadcast it
to a large number of employers — and that strategy will just not work.
If you want to effectively use a direct-marketing approach, you will need to
target (customize) each letter for each prospective employer. While parts of
the letters can be the same, you will need to adjust other parts to showcase
your knowledge of the company.
Should you include a resume with your cover letter? My view is yes —
always. But again, as with the cover letter, you will need to customize
each resume to each employer. You’ll want to use some of the keywords
that each employer uses in describing themselves in describing yourself.
Other experts, such as Jeffrey Fox, author of Don’t Send a Resume,
say that job-seekers should send resume after first winning over the hiring manager
with a dazzling cover letter. In fact, Fox says a job-seeker should not send a resume
to the employer until after the job interview — so that the resume can be as narrowly
targeted to the position and employer as possible.
Read more about cover letters —
and resumes — in these sections
of Quintessential Careers.
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- broadcast cover letter,
- cover letter,
- direct marketing campaign,
- direct-marketing approach,
- Don't Send a Resume,
- employers,
- hidden job market,
- hiring managers,
- Jeffrey Fox,
- job interview,
- job-seeker,
- job-seeker strategy,
- keywords,
- networking,
- online job-hunting,
- prospective employers,
- Quintessential Careers,
- resume
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Kristen writes:
I had written a cover letter and wasn’t
sure where to put my name and contact information. I had originally
put it on the top of the page, in the middle so that it would match the
heading on my resume. However, my mom told me that she has never
heard of putting that information in the top middle of the page. She said
that it had to be right or left aligned or that it could be at the bottom after
I sign my name. I looked in the cover-letter resources on the website
but I am still not sure. Could you let me know if all of those are
acceptable?
The Career Doctor responds:
You know, I don’t really have anything against well-meaning parents, aunts,
uncles, cousins, etc., but unless they work in the career-management field,
they are probably not the best people to ask about these things — and I get
these kinds of comments all the time.
So, I am glad you have asked me. In the ideal situation, all of your job correspondence should look exactly the same — a matched set. The “header”
of your resume — where you have your name and contact information — should
be the same on your cover letter, as well as on your references page, salary history page, and any other supplemental pages.
It doesn’t matter if the type is centered, left-justified, or right-justified. What
matters is that you are consistent and use a readable font.
And just a reminder about what should go in the header: name, address, phone
number (home and/or mobile), email address. Provide as much contact
information as possible, but if you use an email address, be sure it’s a
professional one, not like one I received recently from “sexyprincess84.”
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Veso writes:
If I use a professional name, instead of my real name, which name should I include on my resume and cover letter?
The Career Doctor responds:
If you are known in your industry by your professional name, then you should use it on your resume and cover letter. There’s no sense trying to explain it or confusing the potential employer with multiple names.
Obviously, when the time is right — certainly when you are completing hiring papers, you will need to use your real name.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Kris writes:
Should I have a cover letter to accompany my resume when I go for an interview on Tuesday?
If you can assist me in any way I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time.
The Career Doctor responds:
The main purpose of a cover letter is to entice a prospective employer to review your
resume in consideration for a job interview, and since you have cut through the process
and already have an interview, a cover letter seems unnecessary at this point.
Do make sure your resume is sharp in appearance and directed specifically at the job
you are seeking. Just as you would write a different cover letter for each position, so
too should you tweak your resume for each position.
Instead of the cover letter, if you have a portfolio of samples of your work experience,
bring it along to the interview. And be sure to bring multiple copies of your resume.
And before the interview, be sure to brush up on the types of questions you are expecting
in the interview. You don’t want to memorize your answers, but you do want to have a
basic story prepared so that you will showcase your experience and fit.
Let me just add a final comment about cover letters. First, when you are applying for
any position — unless the employer specifically requests you not send one — you should
always send a cover letter and resume as part of your job-search package. Your cover
letter should be brief and specifically address why you are the perfect candidate for the
position. Cover letters should be no longer than 3-5 short paragraphs — and never
longer than one page.
You can read more about special
cover letter formats that grab employers’ attention, as well as find lots more articles and
tools in the cover letter section of Quintessential Careers.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Karen writes:
I am a “non-traditional” recent college graduate. My work experience does not coincide with my degree at all. I have followed all the cover-letter and resume tips and guidelines from multiple sources and sent out close to 100 resumes. I can’t even get an interview! I know I have a lot to offer these companies but they don’t even give me a chance. Can you help????
The Career Doctor responds:
Karen, what you need to do is build a resume around your recent degree and the transferable skills you have from your previous experiences (work and school).
I assume you want to enter the field that relates to your degree. If this assumption is correct, then you need to examine the skills that employers in that field are looking for in job candidates and see if you used many of those skills in your previous jobs —regardless of the field. You can read more about how to do this analysis by going to
Strategic Portrayal of Transferable Skills is a Vital Job-search Technique. Then you need to rebuild your resume around those skills, possibly experimenting with a chrono-functional
resume. You can find the best sources of information at Quintessential Careers: Resume Resources.
Now onto a possible second problem with your situation: Are you doing anything besides sending out resumes? Are you calling these companies where you sent your resumes and asking for an interview? You cannot wait by the phone expecting these employers to call you — you need to be proactive and call them! Are you taking advantage of your network of friends, colleagues, and family by trying to get job leads from them? Are you using the career services office of your college? The alumni network of your college? Are you looking online for jobs?
I think if you redo your resume to focus on your transferable skills, become more proactive in your job search, and take advantage of networking opportunities, you should find your job searching much more productive.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Michelle writes:
I recently was let go from my position at my office due to financial reasons.
How do I start off a cover letter letting the employer know this information in
a positive manner? I just need some advice on how to construct the first part
of the cover letter and I did not see that on the website. Hope you can help
and thank you for your time.
The Career Doctor responds:
Repeat after me — again and again — never ever put any kind of negative information
in your cover letter, resume, or any other job-search materials. The time to address
any of these negative issues — such as being fired — is in the job interview ONLY
after the employer raises the issue.
Your cover letter is the job-search tool that sets the tone for you as a job-seeker and
provides the critical first impression for the employer. How positive an impression is the
prospective employer going to have if your opening paragraph states, “although I was
recently let go from my previous job because the company was having financial difficulties… ”
The employer is going to stop reading before he/she even gets to the end of your sentence.
But you are not alone. In the thousands of cover letters I have seen over the years, it
is absolutely amazing the kind of negative information job-seekers put in their cover letters.
Perhaps they mistakenly think that full disclosure is necessary. Or perhaps because
professionals stress being truthful, they think this means they need to fess up to all prior
mistakes.
Please remember a cover letter is a marketing document. Its sole purpose is to entice the
hiring manager just enough to review your resume. It’s then the resume’s job to verify that
you are worthy of getting an interview for the open position.
If your cover letter is not focused, if it provides negative information, if it has typos or spelling
errors, or if it has too little or too much detail, your resume will simply not get a look
and your job prospects for the position are officially over.
Finally, let me once again stress that I am not saying to lie. I am simply saying do NOT
disclose negative information (or even too much information) until the employer asks you
about it. And at that point you need to put a positive spin on the negative information —
but only then.
I believe you need to review two key resources. First, read my article about moving beyond after
getting laid off: Getting Fired: An
Opportunity for Change and Growth.
Second, take advantage of the all the tools and resources we offer in this section of Quintessential Careers: Cover Letter Resources for Job-Seekers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Eugene writes:
I am a student studying law, and I recently decided to apply for a position as a
paralegal with some law firms. I spent some time looking at your Quintessential
Careers website. Now, I do not doubt for a minute that much research is able to
substantiate the information that you have presented, but I find it difficult to
imagine that some of the techniques you mention do work. What immediately
springs to mind is the section on closing paragraphs: “I will call your office in
the next week to schedule an appointment.”
To me, that sounds quite unorthodox, and perhaps even pushy and rude. I
actually incorporated a line to the same effect in my cover letters after
reading your website, but now I am wondering whether it was the best thing
to do. Could you please explain to me why this works?
The Career Doctor responds:
In any job market, but especially in this job market, job-seekers need to know
how to best market themselves to prospective employers. This self-marketing strategy has several components when writing cover letters.
First, rather than saying something like “I hope you’ll find my qualifications a good
match with what you’re looking for,” you need to show — and tell — the employer that
you are a good match for the position. Describe how your accomplishments, skills, and training are a perfect match for the employer’s needs.
Second, you do need to end your letter with an aggressive stance. If you do not want
to be so aggressive as to say you will call for an interview, you can simply say you
will call to discuss the job. Employers want go-getters, not passive employees.
Third, as I have stated numerous other times, you MUST follow-up all your cover
letters and job applications. Saying you are going to call is the easy part; the hard
part is actually making the phone call. And in the phone call, you need to still be
aggressive in not taking no for an answer — just remember to stay professional
at all times — while showcasing why you are the perfect person for the job.
Find lots more helpful information and resources in the
cover letter resources
section of Quintessential Careers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Greg writes:
I am in the process of locating a position after being employed for nine years with one employer. I have my resume completed, but I need to know what information to include on my references for the interviews.
The Career Doctor responds:
References are a funny thing. Most employers ask for them, but depending upon the position, only a small percentage of employers really bother to call all the people on a job-seeker’s reference list.
Here are a couple of tips regarding reference lists:
- Never put references on your resume. Make a list on a separate sheet of paper that matches your resume (and cover letter).
- Never include references with your resume and cover letter, unless specifically asked by the potential employer.
- Choose people who know you professionally and can speak well of your skills, abilities, and accomplishments. Always list your strongest reference first.
- Make sure you ask people if they mind serving as a reference for you — and then contact them again when you think they may be contacted by a potential employer.
- Try to use people who know you professionally, but if you are a recent college graduate or someone returning to the workforce, you can list a personal (character) reference.
- Make sure you completely identify each reference, including name, title, company, address, phone number, e-mail address.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Jacqueline writes:
I have a question regarding the closing, “Take Care,” at the end of business
cover letters. Is that considered “less” professional than all the traditional closings?
The Career Doctor responds:
I consider “take care” as a bit too informal for traditional cover letters. I have
seen it in email cover letters, and I find it a bit more acceptable there. When
writing conventional cover letters, I would stick with the traditional closings:
sincerely and cordially.
In the grand scheme of cover-letter writing, though, I think how you close the
letter is of little consequence compared to the much bigger issues that I list
below.
Key cover letter strategies:
- Addressing the letter to a named individual. Job-seekers must address the
letter to a person — the hiring manager. And if you make the effort to get the name,
make sure you spell it correctly. Do not write to the Human Resources department.
- The first paragraph must engage the reader and entice him/her to read more
of your letter. Do not waste this opening paragraph with the typical boring one that
many job-seekers use.
- The second and third paragraphs must show how well you fit the position you
are seeking — as well as highlight key accomplishments. Focus on what you can
do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
- The last paragraph must state how you plan to follow-up the letter (usually
with a phone call). Be sure to give a timeframe — and then be sure to do what you
say you are going to do.
Finally, be sure also to avoid:
- Long (read boring) sentences and paragraphs;
- Letters longer than one page;
- Typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors;
- Simply rehashing/highlighting your resume
And remember to follow-up all cover letters with a phone call — showing your
continued interest in the position and the employer.
Read more in this article published on Quintessential Careers:
Don’t
Make These 10 Cover Letter Mistakes.
And to find just about everything you ever wanted to know about cover letters, including
numerous samples, go to the Cover Letter Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Kyle writes:
I have sent out numerous resumes and cover letters and have received no response. I have a bachelor’s degree in communications, served an internship and have one solid year of experience. I have had several opinions about the format and quality of both my cover letters and resume with very positive feedback. I don’t know what to do. Please help. I have attached a resume and cover letter for your feedback if you have the time.
The Career Doctor responds:
I think the one rule of job-hunting that no one ever talks about enough is the need to be proactive. You could send out tons of resumes and cover letters, post your resume online, and apply to job postings, but you won’t get as many interviews (or job offers) if you wait for the employers to call you. Job-seekers need to be aggressive in finding a job; it is not a passive activity. You need to call all those companies where you have sent your resume and ask about the status of filling those positions.
Of course, one of the other rules of job-hunting is that the best way to find a job is through networking, not sending out resumes or posting your resume on job boards. My partner has written a great book about networking that is extremely useful and really shows you the ins and outs of successful networking. Go to your library or your favorite
bookstore and get a copy of A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market (Ten Speed). You should also visit the networking section of Quintessential Careers.
Finally, unless you are completely sure of the strength of your resume and cover letter, you might consider getting it critiqued. Check out the services offered at: Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by CareerPerfect.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Diane writes:
I would like to send my resume with a cover letter to recruiters/employment
agencies. The career development office I’m working with advises that it is
better to have someone’s name to address the cover letter to. Since it would
require a great deal of time to try and get a staff member’s name for each
agency, would it be acceptable to use a generic salutation, such as Dear
Recruiter?
The Career Doctor responds:
The rules of cover-letter writing are a bit different when writing letters to
headhunters than when writing letters to employers, but the one rule of
all cover letter writing is that the job-seeker must — as best as possible —
address the letters to named individuals. Think about it, when was the last
time you read (junk mail) addressed to “Dear Homeowner” or “Dear Pet
Owner.” If you don’t read these kinds of letters, why should busy professionals?
Job-seekers must always take the time to get names and titles for cover letters.
Before I get to the differences in content, let me also address one other red flag
in your question. Why would you be sending off so many letters to recruiters?
Take the time to research the recruiting agencies that specialize in your field
and in your preferred location — and contact only those recruiters. Don’t waste
your time — and the time of those recruiters — by writing to recruiters who don’t
work in your area.
One other comment about strategy. The majority of recruiters say that the resume
is the single most important document they look at when evaluating job-seekers;
cover letters are a distant second. The message here? Make sure your resume is
exceptional.
Your cover letter to a recruiter should focus on these elements:
- Contact information
- Why you are on the job market
- Job titles and industries of interest to you
- Salary history and salary expectations
For more information about this topic, please read the article published on
Quintessential Careers written by my partner Katharine Hansen:
Cover Letters
to Recruiters Require Special Handling.
You can also follow this link to a
sample cover letter to a recruiter.
And don’t forget to follow all the other guidelines for good cover letters —
especially avoiding typos and misspellings and always being truthful. Find
more resources in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Cover Letter Resources.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
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This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Anonymous writes:
In your Do’s and Don’ts you say to always address the cover letter to a specific
person. Most of the job opportunities that I am sending to are blind drops. There
is no person listed to send to. They frequently are email sites with no names
attached. How should this be handled?
The Career Doctor responds:
For those who are unaware, let me stress the rule before addressing your question.
First, always send a cover letter with your resume unless the employer specifically
requests that you do not send a cover letter (and very few do this). Second, always
strive to address the cover letter to a named individual rather than rather a title or job number.
The problem with a number of online job postings is that they do not list the name
of the hiring manager — and some of the ads even go as far as to request “no phone
calls.” So, what is the good job-seeker to do? It’s a two-part answer.
First part: you can follow the rules and simply address the letter to the “Hiring
Manager for Job #49394” or “Dear Friends” or “Dear Boxholder.” Don’t use a sexist salutation, such as “Gentlemen” when answering a blind ad.
Second part: I cannot stress this important fact often enough — are you ready?
When job-hunting, job-seekers should use as many sources as possible to find
job leads. And if you need to rely more heavily on one source over another, put
the emphasis on networking, not job postings.
A good article for you is Maximize
Your Internet Job Search, published on Quintessential Careers.
And to get more help with networking, go to the
Art of Networking section of
Quintessential Careers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document?
Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Lorraine writes:
I have a query. My husband was retrenched almost 8 months ago now, and
I want to send his CV to as many printing
companies that I can find in South Africa. I also want to send a covering
letter attached with his CV explaining that he was retrenched 8 months ago and
would like to know if any of these companies have any vacancies. Please help
me with the wording of this letter as I am at a loss?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
The Career Doctor responds:
Certainly one of the key components of a job search | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
