Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited
Return to career-consulting-limited.com
People |
|
|
 |
Cover Letters
Cover Letters: Are you telling them what they want to know? Let's face it. Recruiters (or employers) are smarter than we think. Bigger organizations pay a hefty salary to their HR department to filter out and sieve through hundreds and thousands of resumes. The idea is to build an organization with people of the right mental aptitude. Most of the top organizations believe strongly in a motto - "People are their greatest assets". Your cover letter goes a long way in capturing and retaining the attention of these people whose main job is to recruit people and coordinate with the workforce. A well-written cover letter engages the recruiter and pushes him to spend more time reading your detailed resume. Before you start off writing your cover letter, write down what you want to convey on a paper. Read it once, twice, thrice and then set off for a good start. Pack in as much power as you can, because it is these 400 or 500 words that can make the difference. Have these things on your mind before you start off writing: Keep your sentences short and avoid using really long sentences because you don't want the recruiter to read it twice to understand what you're trying to convey. Got the point.? Keep your sentences s-h-o-r-t. Keep your language simple. "I take immense pleasure in applying for this esteemed position in this esteemed organization." Hell.! Your employer knows more about his organization than you do. So you can as well cut the "false" praise. Maybe a subtle mention can do wonders. "I look forward to work with JK Industries". Organize the content of your cover letter into small paragraphs or bulleted points, not exceeding three paragraphs. Typically each paragraph can contain 3 or 4 sentences. Do NOT use slang or spoken words like "Lookin' fo a kewl break into yo IT world". Make sure your cover letter (and resume) is free from spelling or grammatical errors. And most important: Deliver what the employer is looking for. So, what should you put in your cover letter? Ask yourself two questions. One, why should the employer choose you over others? And two, what can you give to the company that others cant? Skills, yes. Proven experience, better. A good way to start writing is with the correct greeting phrase. If you know the name of the person you are addressing then you can start with 'Dear Ms. Stevenson' or 'Dear Mr. Washington'. Do not use their first names. A bad greeting would be 'Hi Jane' or 'Hello George'. The first paragraph is to contain a reference. If this is a response to an advertisement or a vacancy listing, this is where you refer to get their attention. Alternatively you can put in a separate line mentioning your reference. (Ref: Your advertisement on Jobsite.com - Ref # 12345). If you're mentioning your reference in the first paragraph, you can continue on to include why you applied for that position. A good way of connecting the reference to your application is "my skills and your requirement are a good match." Put that in your own words. In the next paragraph, you justify your statement about why you think that your skills and the skills required for the position are a good match. Make a single line reference to a particular achievement in your current (or previous) job that is along similar lines so that the employer will know exactly what he's looking for. A good example would be "Set up a fully operational network of franchisees in Southern France for retailing ABC Coffee". Avoid mentioning skills you don't have or projects you have never worked on. Because sooner or later, you're going to face it; when the interviewer looks into your cover letter (or resume) and says "OK, Mr. Stephens, can you give me an instance of how you can use XML to port data from a backend system into a Middleware application"? And that's when you mind starts racing, "XML?? Middleware?? Port..?? Is that my resume he's got..???". God bless you if it's not your resume. If there are more achievements you want to include, write them down in bulleted points. It's easier for the employer to read, comprehend and get a good picture of your capabilities. Do not reproduce your entire resume here. 2 or 3 such points will do perfectly fine. Of course, do not include irrelevant achievements like "Won a Silver Medal in 200 x 4 Men's Relay Race conducted by Louisville Young Adults Club in 1991". Not unless you're applying for the post of a Physical Trainer or Coach. You have made your point here. You know why you're applying. And recruiters like that. You know your responsibilities, the risks involved and the tasks you'll be handling. You're just the person they're looking for. At least, you're one of the persons they'd like to talk to before handing over the employment contract. An ending note can make quite an impression. Tell them your resume is attached and that you're "looking forward to explore this opportunity further". Include an address and telephone number for them to contact you. Sign off with a "Yours Truly" or "Best Regards" and put your complete name under it. Get into form and write out your winning cover letter. About The Author Amit Pujar is a copywriter/technical writer currently heading the content department of an online publication. Amit writes on a variety of subjects and is currently working on his first non-fiction. He can be reached at pujar@yahoo.com
MORE RESOURCES: Careers University of Northern Colorado February US job openings slip to 7.6M, consistent with a healthy but decelerating job market AP News Supply Chain Lowe's INTERNSHIP - SIMULIA EMAG User Success Dassault Systèmes Careers City of Phoenix (.gov) Working for ICE ice.gov How to use AI to get a job interview and nail it – along with the salary you deserve | Job hunting The Guardian Careers City of Ontario, California (.gov) Careers at Prairie View A&M University PVAMU Home Careers | Home USDA (.gov) Careers at FEMA FEMA.gov Careers and Jobs at CRS Catholic Relief Services Meet a millennial who quit her tech job, temporarily moved to Paris, and started a baking business in NYC Business Insider Careers - MDOT Maryland.gov Careers Baxter Current Job Opportunities City of Keene (.gov) Work at Fairfield Fairfield University Jobs City of Rochester, New York (.gov) Corporate Career Job Areas Target Employment Opportunities | Game Commission Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov) Store Hourly Job Areas Target Careers at USCIS USCIS (.gov) Careers at TWU Texas Woman's University Jobs and Training at FDA fda.gov Work at Butler Butler University Employment | Department of Corrections Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov) Job Search Results UnitedHealth Group Careers Work With Us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov) Careers at University of Missouri Health Care | University of Missouri Health Care jobs University of Missouri Health Care Careers at Willamette Willamette University Career Opportunities UMHB Careers Johnson & Johnson Career Opportunities Gilead Sciences Finding Your New Career at the City of Phoenix City of Phoenix (.gov) IOM career gateways International Organization for Migration Careers Washington State University Jobs at Liberty University Liberty University Federal Workers: We Want You ny.gov Careers BASF Healthcare Jobs at Novant Health | Novant Health Novant Health Jobs and careers | Veterans Affairs VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs I landed job offers at Meta, Microsoft, and Google, thanks to this LinkedIn hack anyone can use Fortune Student internships at J&J Johnson & Johnson Careers Career Comeback UBS Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP) Wisconsin Department of Health Services (.gov) Future of Jobs Report 2025: The jobs of the future – and the skills you need to get them The World Economic Forum Work for the City of St. Louis City of St. Louis, MO (.gov) Careers WVDE Careers The Ocean Cleanup Ready for your next great job? ADP Careers Our Hiring Process Target UF Health Careers UF Health Careers Job Seekers Illinois Human Resources Careers CrowdStrike.com Careers KPMG Careers at Union Union College March 2025 Preview: What to Expect in the Jobs Report Center for Economic and Policy Research EPA employees rally in Denver against President Trump’s job and funding cuts Colorado Public Radio Careers at Balfour Beatty Balfour Beatty Jobs for Veterans and transitioning military VA Careers (.gov) Job Opportunities Bellevue School District Examples of Jobs You Can Pursue With a Degree in Health Science Southern New Hampshire University Talent Solutions CBIZ The Job Market Is Frozen The Atlantic Careers Euromonitor Interview Guide and Tips Target Provincial Government Job Opportunities Government of Prince Edward Island Current opportunities Turner & Townsend Recorded Video Interviews Target Jobs & Internships EdTrust Why hasn’t AI taken your job yet? Financial Times RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO POLICY-INFLUENCING POSITIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE The White House (.gov) How many jobs are available in technology in the US? Computerworld Surging job market could prove costly for households, businesses as odds of quick rate cuts fade AP News WORK AT LVMH LVMH Careers at Jacobs Jacobs Work with us JPMorganChase Tariffs are 'lose-lose' for U.S. jobs and industry, economist says: 'There are no winners here' CNBC Careers at Sinai Health Sinai Health Internship Opportunities | Careers Boston Consulting Group |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Job or Career At this present time I have a job. It pays some of my bills, and again I have a job. How To Get A Job Writing Speeches Jobs in speech writing are amongst the most difficult to find, but are much sought after. In many cases, the subjects that will deliver them will want to find expert advice on what to say, how to say it, and how to make themselves look good through it. Get Paid to Shop And Keep Everything You Buy - Without Having to Pay! Can You Tell Good Service From Bad; Recognise Value For Money; Compare Prices, Staff Efficiency, Product Range, Customer Service Between Rival Firms?If so you might easily find work as a 'Mystery Shopper' and be paid to comment on service in shops, banks and building societies, hotels, cinemas, veterinary surgeries, restaurants, even on long distance flights and holidays.Poor service is the number one reason customers turn their back on a business and start shopping elsewhere. Resume 101 Whether you've been downsized, are looking for a career change or are just starting out, your resume speaks volumes about you. If your resume doesn't make it past the first cut, you're doomed; no matter how qualified you are. Top Career Advice ... More Choices and A Better Way of Life Why Career Advice Is So ImportantChoosing a career presents a nerve-racking decision, as it can have a life-long impact on you. Do not fret, as you can gain a clearer outlook into your future by thorough career planning. Learn Some Useful Feng Shui Career Tips As it does with every main life aspect, feng shui also provides tips and guidelines to help you improving your career. If your career is not moving on in the way you wish, that is due to a lack of balance and harmony within your environment and the elements that affect it. How to Make Money as a Reflexologist Being a reflexologist is one of the top five career choices in the field of holistic health. The trend shows that more and more people are turning toward holistic practices to enhance traditional medical therapies. Is a Career Change on Your Horizon? Making a career change is nothing new in today's job market.I've heard it said that the average American changescareers at least once in his or her life. Discover What You Really Want To Do Are you doing what you really want to do or did you just fall or wander into the job you now have. As a friend of ours once said,' I am one of twenty two doctors in our family. Learn How To Network for HIDDEN Jobs I'll quickly cover the following:A) Why Network With People?B) Five Networking Tips To Get Started.C) Quick Networking Hints. Nine Career Zappers Today, everyone is looking for the secret to business success. Professionals read books, take training classes, ask questions, study others that are successful and strive to outperform themselves. Resumes OR CV : Get That Job Your resume is your sales document. It tells the world of your achievements, capabilities and roles you have enjoyed. The 5 Essential Telecommute Résumé Components 1. An attractive layout that is easy to read and follow. Be Prepared for the Unexpected How long has it been since you last had to search for a new job? These days it's not at all unusual to change careers or jobs several times in a lifetime. The idea of retiring from the same company after a lifetime of service is much less a reality in today's world than it was a couple of decades ago. 7 Steps to Interviews that Win the Job These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The Call, make the most of your time -- and go for it!1. Are Your Intentions Clear in Your Job Search? 1. Do you REALLY know what you want?2. Top 5 Tips for College Grads Entering the Working World 1) Build a Relationship With Your Boss:Like it or not, no single individual has a greater impact on your career future than your direct supervisor. So, how do you get on their good side from the start? Managers want to feel that you truly care, and that you are "in it with them" as a team. Writing A Great Resume, Part 1 Need a great resume to land that great job coming up? We are going to learn to create an eye-catching resume, using Microsoft Word.First, you need to collect all the information you will need to complete your Resume (dates of employment, education dates. Job Interviews: Use the Personal Touch to Get a Job A study conducted by the Journal of Consumer Research in 1995 showed that sales people who used their prospects' names generated a 239% increase in sales. In today's fast-paced world, that personal touch is even more important. Who Should Write Your Resume? This is a question we get a lot. It seems rather easy to do it yourself if you have access to a word processing program and printer and feel comfortable writing your job history.
|
|
|
| © Career Consulting Limited.com 2011
|