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? 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:
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? 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:
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.
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:
Kelly writes:
When submitting a cover letter and application via the “career opportunity” section of a company’s website, what street address does one use and to whom is it addressed?
Since many of the larger companies may have several branches in the area, how can you know where your email is going and also, who is receiving it?
The Career Doctor responds: A two-part question, so let me answer in two parts.
I’ve found that most corporate career centers give you explicit instructions for how they want to receive your cover letter and resume. Some request that you email it, some request that you submit it via a form from the company’s Website, some request that you fax it, and a very small few ask you to mail it. Some will include the name of the hiring manager, while others will simply ask you to respond with a job number.
Email cover letters are a bit different from regular cover letters, though most of the same rules apply, so you are wise in asking about how to address the letter. While our book, Dynamic Cover Letters, provides some good information and sample email cover letters, we also offer an new article, titled Tips for a Dynamic Email Cover Letter. This article will give you all the direction you need, along with a sample email cover letter.
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:
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? 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:
Greg Falasz writes:
I would appreciate getting feedback to the following questions concerning classified ads:
- do you recommend replying to blind box ads;
- do you recommend replying to ads that only list a first name and fax number; and
- do you recommend replying to e-mail addresses that don’t include a company/firm name?
I can appreciate addressing correspondence to a specific person, but in the event no specific person can be discovered, is the following salutation acceptable?
“Dear Madam or Sir,”
The Career Doctor responds: Responding to blind ads of any kind is a personal choice, but I’m sure I would respond if the job seemed right for me. If you choose to respond to these type of “blind” ads though, know that the odds are slim that you will get an interview. In other words, do not make these kind of ads your sole method of job-hunting. Take advantage of other avenues of finding a job, such as networking, headhunters/recruiters, and cold calling.
As for your salutation in your cover letter, you should always avoid sexist greetings — and try to avoid stilted greetings, and I would include “Dear Madam or Sir” as one to avoid. I would recommend that you do one of the following:
- address the cover letter to “Dear Boxholder” — a favorite of mine;
- address the cover letter to “Dear Hiring Manager for “XYZ” Position (where XYZ is replaced with the name of the position);
- address the cover letter to “Dear Friends” — though some find that too informal;
- don’t include a salutation; instead simply put “Re: Job XYZ” (where XYZ is replaced with the job listing code or name).
You can find other cover letter advice at our Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts.
Also refer to the third edition of Dynamic Cover Letters (Ten Speed Press).
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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