...The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received Harvard Business Review – David Silverman - 1:18 PM Monday June 15, 2009 In my last post I talked about how to make your résumé more likely to catch the attention of a hiring manager. As a follow up, I'd like to discuss cover letters. Here's my basic philosophy on them: don't bother. That's because the cover letters I see usually fall into one of three categories: The recap: The résumé in prose form. It's redundant, harder to read than the résumé, and provides no additional insight. The form letter: This says, essentially, "Dear Sir or Madam: I saw your ad in the paper and thought you might like me." And it's clearly a form letter where maybe they got my name and company right. If they're lucky, I will still take the time to read their résumé after being insulted with a form letter. The "I'm crazy": This one's rare, and it expands on the résumé of experience with some personal insights. Examples range from the merely batty ("I find batik as an art form has taught me to become both a better person and project manager.") to the truly terrifying ("I cast a pentagram hex and the central line pointed towards your job listing. I know you will find this as comforting as I do.") There are really only a few times to use a cover letter: 1. When you know the name of the person hiring 2. When you know something about the job requirement 3. When you've been personally referred (which might include 1 and 2) Under those conditions...
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...1. Understand the Coachee’s Current KSAs. To better assist my coachee in this process, I will need to understand her level of knowledge regarding what a cover letter entails. I initially will ask Nevada to explain all of her knowledge, abilities, skills and accomplishments in her interior design field. Questions to help her develop these answers could be through creating a SWOT analysis. 2. Build Trust, Show Empathy, Active Listening and Influence During the coaching session, I plan on being patient with my coachee, and engaging in active listening. I will do so by making a conscious effort and while listening suspend judgment, resist distractions, waiting before responding and paraphrasing what I hear. 3. Mutually Agree on Behavioral and Results Objectives I intend to teach Nevada the proper purpose and use of a cover letter and why knowing how to compose a proper cover letter is so essential. By creating this understanding I will be able to better assist Nevada in creating her cover letter and reach the objectives that have been mutually agreed upon which include: o The coachee will be able to compose a well written cover letter that showcases her creativity o The coachee will be able to show employers why she would be the best candidate to hire for the particular position o The...
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...Cover Letters While your resume is a summary of your credentials, your cover letter should essentially be a sales pitch. Your aim is to demonstrate why your skills and your background make a perfect match for the position you're applying for. The cover letter is not the place to summarize your background--you have already done this in your resume. Remember, employers typically receive hundreds of resumes for each job opening. You must stand out from other job seekers in a positive way. The best way to distinguish yourself is to highlight one or two of your accomplishments or abilities that show you are an above-average candidate for this position. Stressing only one or two unique attributes will increase your chances of being remembered by the recruiter and getting to the interview stage, where you can elaborate on the rest of your accomplishments. You can also gain an extra edge by showing that you have some specific knowledge about the company and industry. This shows that your are genuinely interested in the job you are applying for--and that you are not blindly sending out hundreds of resumes. More importantly, the employer will view your interest as an indication that you are likely to stay with the company for a substantial period of time if you are hired. 10 Key Details to Remember When to send a cover letter: always mail a cover letter with your resume. Even if you are following up an advertisement that reads simply "send resume," be sure to include...
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...Graduate School Application Cover Letters: Paper applications and supporting material sent via the post to graduate schools require cover letters. Cover letters should be approximately 1-2 paragraphs and contain: 1) What is enclosed in the envelope and why. Do not make the reader guess why you are sending the following materials. State what program you are applying for and for what year/semester. 2) Tell specifically how you heard about their program. Write if their website impressed you, if it was a family member, friend, advisor, faculty, recruiter or mentor. It is appropriate to mention the name of that person in the cover letter, especially if it is a recruiter or someone who works in that program. 3) Convince them to really take a look at your application. Make sure the cover letter is well written and targeted for that program. The department website is a great way to incorporate the main points and goals of that program, 4) Take the opportunity to really show them your attitude. Success in the application process is 80 % attitude. The cover letter should state how excited you are about the prospect of becoming a student in the graduate program. 5) Provide or refer to any information that you would like to highlight about your application or anything you feel you were not able to mention in your application. Work and on-hand experience are great points to focus on. Sample Cover Letter: Hunter Thomas 14 Breakers Way Pacifica, CA 97854 hunterthomas@email...
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...Before writing a cover letter, its important to understand how it can help or hurt you. In the internship application process a cover letter is your first impression. It's an opportunity to tell a perspective employer why you’re the perfect fit for their internship and their office and just as importantly, a cover letter is an opportunity to tell an employer you don't care about their position, by writing a sloppy or template cover letter. Some valuable cover letter topics include, explaining why a position interests you, what you bring to the table, how you would be a great fit, or something unique about you that makes you different from the hundreds of other candidates. The ultimate goal of your cover letter is to get the reader excited to meet you for an interview to learn more. To summarize the points above, ingredients needed to make a successful cover letter are: Header with contact information: Including a header with your contact information on the cover letter makes you look professional and ensures your information will be easy to find. You should also consider including this header on all documents you’re submitting when applying, it demonstrates your professionalism and acts as an opportunity to brand yourself to the perspective employer. Who is your audience? Try to find the person who is in charge of intern hiring and address your cover letter and resume to them. Statistics show you have a better chance of being hired if you know who’s doing the hiring and...
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...“The granddaddy of worker sites.” – US News and World Report “A killer app.” – New York Times One of Forbes' 33 “Favorite Sites” – Forbes “To get the unvarnished scoop, check out Vault.” – Smart Money Magazine “Vault has a wealth of information about major employers and jobsearching strategies as well as comments from workers about their experiences at specific companies.” – The Washington Post “A key reference for those who want to know what it takes to get hired by a law firm and what to expect once they get there.” – New York Law Journal “Vault [provides] the skinny on working conditions at all kinds of companies from current and former employees.” – USA Today VAULT GUIDE TO RESUMES, COVER LETTERS & INTERVIEWS © 2003 Vault Inc. VAULT GUIDE TO RESUMES, COVER LETTERS & INTERVIEWS HOWARD LEIFMAN, PhD, MARCY LERNER AND THE STAFF OF VAULT © 2003 Vault Inc. Copyright © 2003 by Vault Inc. All rights reserved. All information in this book is subject to change without notice. Vault makes no claims as to the accuracy and reliability of the information contained within and disclaims all warranties. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Vault Inc. Vault.com, and the Vault logo are trademarks of Vault Inc. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, contact Vault Inc.150...
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...What should I know before writing a cover letter for Federal government? Your cover letter is your opportunity to make a good first impression with the Federal hiring manager. It provides you with the chance to convince the hiring manager to read your résumé and it lets you explain how your experiences tie into the job to which you are applying to. Make sure that you have carefully read the description of duties outlined I the job announcement - Highlight qualifications and duties that your résumé speaks to and make sure that, if there are any gaps in your résumé, you can fill them in via your cover letter. Research the agency which you are applying to- Your cover letter is your first chance to express how your mindset matches up with that of the organization and make a personal connection with the hiring manager. Formatted clearly and professionally- Use a simple, clean font. Ensure that your cover letter is professional and matches your Federal government résumés format (font, size, header etc.) Specific rather than vague- Tell exactly what experiences you have had that make you a great candidate for the position, not merely that you have experience. Length- Your cover letter should be less than a page in length. Be concise and clear Once your letter is ready- Be sure to proofread it. Grammatical and spelling errors should be avoided at all costs. Delete colloquialisms and contractions. What should the content include? The first paragraph should identify the position you are...
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... | |[pic] | |How to make a cover letter | | | | | |[pic] | |How should a presentation letter be written? | |It is very important, before applying to any job, to remember that as you, there are many people with the same pretentions. This| |is why you have to find the way of making yourself interesting and become one of the favorite candidates in the eyes of the one | |in charge of selecting the staff. The presentation letter is a document that makes this task easier, as long as it has been | |written efficiently and with a strategy. | |...
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...Employment Communications – preparing for employment June 7, 2012 Employment Communications – preparing for employment June 7, 2012 | Assignment Unit 1 | | The Job Search Process | Introduction This document contains requirements employment communications which consist of a Job Ad, the skills set, resume, reasons for choose the resume type, cover letter, thank you letter, conclusion and works cited. This report demonstrates my understanding and ability to complete the tools for a successful job search using a persuasive resume. Job Ad | | | | | Company: Quantum Location: Toronto, ON Job Category: Human Resources | | Email: Apply by Email | | | The Quantum Group of Companies was founded in 1968 in Montreal. It has earned its reputation as the full-service human resources partner of choice by providing unique and effective recruitment solutions that meet clients' complex staffing needs. Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, Quantum has been building relationships with private and public sector clients through a network of branch offices across North America, with primary hubs centred in major labour markets. Branch office locations are situated in key areas, each with a distinct market focus.Quantum is a true success story, with a portfolio that includes a full range of permanent and temporary recruiting services in all disciplines and at all levels. These services are available to our clients and candidates in...
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...Killer Cover Letters & Resumes! WetFeet Insider Guide by Rosanne Lurie The WetFeet Research Methodology You hold in your hands a copy of the best-quality research available for job seekers. We have designed this Insider Guide to save you time doing your job research and to provide highly accurate information written precisely for the needs of the job-seeking public. (We also hope that you’ll enjoy reading it, because, believe it or not, the job search doesn’t have to be a pain in the neck.) Each WetFeet Insider Guide represents hundreds of hours of careful research and writing. We start with a review of the public information available. (Our writers are also experts in reading between the lines.) We augment this information with dozens of in-depth interviews of people who actually work for each company or industry we cover. And, although we keep the identity of the rank-and-file employees anonymous to encourage candor, we also interview the company’s recruiting staff extensively, to make sure that we give you, the reader, accurate information about recruiting, process, compensation, hiring targets, and so on. (WetFeet retains all editorial control of the product.) We also regularly survey our members and customers to learn about their experiences in the recruiting process. Finally, each Insider Guide goes through an editorial review and fact-checking process to make sure that the information and writing live up to our exacting standards before it goes out the door. Are...
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...Cover Letter Advice When writing a Cover Letter to send to a potential employer, try to include the following elements: 1. State what are you applying for eg. "I am writing to apply for the position of Marketing Assistant..." 2. Say why are you applying for this specific position. eg. "I am passionate about marketing and feel that this position would enable me to develop my skills further..." 3. Elaborate on why you want to work for this specific company. eg. "... in your company, to become part of such an iconic brand..." 4. Give some basic pesonal information. eg. "I am a third year ESPEME student at EDHEC Business School, Nice,.." 5. List a few of your best qualities and motivations. eg. "I am highly motivated, hard-working, with great attention to detail..." 6. Let them know that relocation isn't a problem, if the position involves moving to another country or city.eg. "London is an interesting city, and I would enjoy working in such a vibrant environment..." 7. Specify that you are enclosing (post) or attaching (email) your CV eg; "Please see my attached CV for your consideration..." 8. End the letter hopeful and confident of a response.and ususally signed "Yours sincerely" eg "I look forward to hearing from you." 9. Re-read your Cover Letter and ensure that it is concise, polite and formal. 10. Remember, you need to try to "stand out from the crowd"! The person receiving your application may receive hundreds of applications...
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...have been reflecting about my writing intensiveEnglish class. This semester I have accomplished a variety of projects and assignments and have learneda lot about professional writing. I learned how to write a great resume and how to use its differentformats. I have practiced writing many emails, business letters, transmittal letters, and cover letters.My three largest projects that I completed were a job recommendation report, instructions on how tomake pumpkin cheesecake, and a brochure for my future cupcake business. All these projects havehelped me to master my communication skills which I will further reflect upon below. I have created aportfolio in a blog format to post this reflection...
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...Cover Letters and other career correspondence Your letter is your introduction —it continues or starts a conversation about work or education Just as you start a conversation by introducing yourself, a résumé should always be sent with an accompanying letter. Picture yourself sitting face-to-face with a person doing work that is interesting. What would you say? What do you want to ensure they know about you before you leave the room? Your letter is a chance to make a great first impression or continue a conversation that has already been started. Your letter is something employers expect —it shows your professionalism and helps them get to know you Every time you submit a résumé, you should attach an accompanying letter. Even if they don’t specifically request it, employers expect documentation from you that shows your professionalism and potential contributions. What better way to start than by using a cover letter? Your letter should clearly show the match —it illustrates the connections between you and the work Some employers scan your résumé first, while others start with the cover letter. To increase your chances of being invited to an interview, ensure that both documents clearly show the match between what the employer needs and what you can contribute. Once you have made the match, remember that the letter is your chance to stand out as an individual from the many other qualified applicants. Include information that supports and points to your résumé, without...
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...Public Interest/Government Resume and Cover Letter Tips All of the general rules that apply to resumes and cover letters to prospective employers apply equally to public interest and government employers. Your materials should be error-free, clearly organized, easy to read, and concise. However, there are some additional qualities that public interest and government employers are specifically looking for. You need to demonstrate your commitment to the mission and work of the organization and that you have the skills for the position. Your resume and cover letter must convey your interest, enthusiasm and knowledge of the specific employer you are applying to. It is imperative that you customize your materials to show that your education, experience, and volunteer work have provided you with the skills that relate to the duties of the position. You can convey this commitment by carefully tailoring your materials to the job description. If there is no job posting, use the website to learn all that you can about the organization’s work and the clients they serve. Talk to other students who have worked or volunteered with the organization. (You can find this information by looking at the lists of where students worked in previous summers). Use this information to highlight your relevant experience and illustrate that you can “hit the ground running.” In your resume, you may want to highlight relevant coursework from law school or undergraduate...
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...Business Communications Exam Two (Chapters 5-11) Name__Paula Brooks____________________________________ Date_11-28-2012__________________ Chapter Five Directions: In the space preceding each sentence, write T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false. ____T__ 1. Good news and neutral news messages follow the same strategy. ____F__ 2. Emphasize I or we when planning a neutral or good news message. _____F_ 3. The indirect message pattern is appropriate for good news messages. ___T___ 4. A claim message should end with a courteous suggestion for prompt action. Directions: In the spaces proceeding the statement list the sequence. 5. List the sequence for the good news strategy. (1)_Open with the good or neutral news __________________________________________________________________________ (2)__Follow with adequate details or descriptions _________________________________________________________________________ (3)___End pleasantly ________________________________________________________________________ Chapter Six/Seven Directions: In the space preceding each sentence, write T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false. ___T__ 6. The objective of a refusal message is to say no and still maintain goodwill. __T___ 7. State or imply the bad news in the opening statement of a bad news message. __F___ 8. When you prepare a bad news message, use the direct message pattern. __T___ 9. Buffers do not contain...
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