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Here we look at a resume cover letter. This is
an extract from RESUMES THAT GET INTERVIEWS!
When you are applying for a job, an effective
resume cover letter is an essential part of
your application. A good resume cover letter
will take you a long way towards an interview,
but a poor (or even no) resume cover letter
will certainly kill your application.
The Most Desired Response or "MDR"
of your resume cover letter is to get your
resume read. That's all. Everything you have
on your resume cover letter should have the
MDR in mind. If you cannot answer positively
to 'why this or that?' sentence is on your
resume cover letter...then remove it.
You have less than 10-seconds to secure the
MDR. Every sentence and every word of each
sentence must be relevant...everything must be
working towards the MDR.
Ah a question...'surely the MDR of a resume
covering letter is to get the interview?'
No. That's asking too much of a resume cover
letter. Getting the interview is the MDR of
your resume. The information on a resume will
clinch the interview, while the information
you share on a resume cover letter should pre-
sell your resume - not a re-jigging of the
same information. Your resume covering letter
should complement your resume.
How important is a resume cover letter? Very!
While a resume is thought of as more
'important', there is little doubt that an
effective resume covering letter will pre-sell
your resume almost into an interview.
Your resume cover letter is your chance to
tell a potential employer how your skills will
benefit the company. It is a golden
opportunity to sell yourself as the best
candidate for the job. Your resume cover
letter is about what you can offer to the
prospective employer in terms of enthusiasm,
skills and experience. Don't simply repeat the
details of your resume, such as Professional
Career, Education, or your Resume Objectives
on your resume cover letter.
Here Are The Components of a resume cover
letter:
Greeting:-
Address the letter to a name: "Dear Mr.
Smith," If you don't have the
information, call the company and find it out
- including the correct spelling. If you can't
obtain the information by calling the company,
use a generic title: "Dear IT
Manager"
The Opening Paragraph:-
The opening paragraph should let the reader
know why you are writing to them. Make it
clear which job you are applying for and where
you saw the advertisement. For speculative
letters outline what kind of work you are
looking for.
Your first sentence is most important. Use it
to give the reader context for the rest of
your letter. For example, it can be very
effective to simply say: "I'm applying
for the position of [insert job title] as
advertised on [insert date in [insert
publication]."
If you were referred by someone in the company
then name drop (as long as you are not
breaking any confidence).
The Pre-sell Paragraph:-
Why should the reader look at your resume?
Paragraph two needs to tell the employer, in
more detail, why you are suited to the job and
what skills you have got to offer. Why would
the reader benefit from looking at your
resume?
You need to flag up two or three of your
relevant points and give some concrete
information on the skills and experience you
have. Read the Job Description and Person
Spec. and match your strengths to them so as
to convey your skills as benefits.
The resume cover letter also gives you a
chance to explain skills that you might not be
able to get across in the resume, such as
maturity, calmness or interpersonal skills. It
is vital though that you back up your claims
in your resume cover letter with evidence on
your resume.
Be specific about how your skills and
experience qualify you for the job in
question. However, don't simply repeat your
resume.
Explain what you can bring to the company?
Repeat words and phrases the employer used in
the Job Description.
For increased effectiveness bullet points your
strengths.
The "I Did Some "Research"
Describe how your background can help you meet
current company objectives. You should insert
something you read about the company,
signalling that you did your research.
The key to this paragraph is to focus on the
needs of the employer. A position has been
created due to an "internal company
problem", which requires someone to be
taken on board. Your resume cover letter and
resume must shout..."here is the solution
to your problem."
The Closing Paragraph:-
State when and how you will follow up on your
letter; usually with a phone call.
If you're asked to state your salary
requirement, do some research beforehand (you
could call local recruitment agencies and
canvass their opinions) and give a broad range
or write "negotiable." Never write
an exact figure and never bring up salary
issue unless you are asked to do so (usually
after you have a job offer).
If you have dates when you are available for
interview give them here. "I will be in
the local area on Tuesday and Wednesday next
week and I am available for interview on
either day. However, if these days are not
suitable I am flexible in terms of arranging
an interview."
Thank the employer for reviewing your
application.
Signing Off:-
If you have addressed the letter to a named
person (which is by far and away the best
thing to do), you should end the letter with
"Yours sincerely", if you wrote
"Dear IT Manager", it should end
with "Yours faithfully."
Sign your letter only in black or blue ink and
on the next line return print your name.
Under your name give a contact number and
email address for the reader to contact you.
Make sure you have regular access to the
number or email address.
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InterviewSell
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"Resumes That Get Interviews"
"Interviewing For Job Offers"
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http://www.InterviewSell.com
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"If you really want something in life,
you have to
work for it. Now quiet! They're about to
announce
the lottery numbers." - Homer J. Simpson
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