Job Resume Cover Letter Samples : Cover Letter Mistakes - Common Pitfalls to Avoid by Mike Woods
A cover letter should be made for every resume you submit. While a few may think that a cover letter is unnecessary considering that a resume already details all the required skills and experiences, it actually helps on complementing the submitted resume.
A good cover letter should focus on the key competencies and experiences relevant to the role and should clearly erase any doubt from the employer that you are the right candidate for the job. To achieve this, you need to avoid these common cover letter mistakes that can cost you the possible interview and the job.
Cover Letter Pitfalls
1. Misspelling the company name or the addressee. The address line of a cover letter is immediately noticeable. Any errors or misspellings are easily spotted and will send the message that you have not done your research and are not very attentive to detail. As much as possible, avoid using generic greetings in your cover letter. Take the time to know who the appropriate contact person should be.
2. Focusing on what you can get out from the role than what you can offer to the company. A good cover letter should clearly send the message that you have the right skills and competencies that will be valuable in performing the role and helping the company. It's not good telling them that the particular role can boost your career. The company is more interested in what you can offer, not the other way around. Point this out in your cover letter.
3. Repeating details stated in your resume. In structuring your cover letter, don't just enumerate the information already found in your resume. The cover letter is there to encourage the employer to read on and review your application more closely. Simply repeating resume details in the cover letter won't help them in deciding whether they need to invest time interviewing you. Highlight key competencies in your resume but align it with your career goals and how these can benefit the company.
4. Using "I" as the opening word for each sentence in your cover letter. Come on. Employers need to be impressed with your communication skills. Starting every sentence in your cover letter this way will obviously not make that impression.
5. Closing the cover letter with the generic "call me for an interview at your most convenient time". If you are genuinely interested in working for the company, show your interest by stating that you will call them up to follow up on your application. It is best to close the cover letter by informing the employer that you will contact them and how you intend to do so. This demonstrates that you are genuinely interested and knows how to take charge.
While your cover letter is only one part of your job application, doing it right by avoiding these common cover letter pitfalls can bring you one step closer to landing that dream role.
About the Author
Fact: Most of the resumes submitted will end up as trash. Don't let that happen to you. Learn how to write a resume that guarantees job success and how to make a winning cover letter.
Source: Job Resume Cover Letter Examples, Resume Cover Letter samples and templates information at goarticles.com
10 December 2008
Cover Letter Mistakes - Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Steps to writing a Cover Letter for Resume
Job Resume Cover Letter Samples : Steps to writing a Cover Letter for Resume by Aseriah Jordan
The cover letter is used to dress up a resume. Despite their importance, people still send their resumes without a cover letter. Not sending a cover letter makes hiring managers feel like the applicant is lazy, unprofessional and not very interested in the job.
A cover letter is much more than just an introduction to the resume. Actually, the name cover letter does little justice to this highly strategic piece of marketing. It really should be called an Interview Generating Letter because, like the resume, it's purpose is to impress an employer so he'll call you for the interview.
The cover letter must do one of two things:
1)Get the Employer to read the resume or
2)Get the Employer to call you for an interview.
Preferably Both.
A eye catching cover letter shouldnt be you rambling on, it is extremely focused (one page tops) and it completely supports the specific job objective of the resume. And, like the resume, it should have a secret structure that induces a prospective employer to take action on both a conscious and subconscious level.
Stellar Cover Letter 1, 2, 3!
1.First, you make a connection with the employer and grab their attention
2.You prove to him that you are the best person for the job.
3. Finally, you move them to take action-call you for an interview.
It is absolutely important to follow this sequence in order to write an effective cover letter. Just the Facts, man.
In Summary
The cover letter is the most important document seen by the employer because it tells them if your resume is even worth looking at. Read the article twice to get a real grasp of the information. If you need help in writing a professional looking resume head on over to shibaresumes.com Or if you already have a resume you can Post if for FREE at HotResumes.com
About the Author
Aseriah is a senior writer at Shiba Resume and has written over 300 professional, entry-level, and recent graduate resume. His clients have had an incredible successful interview landing rate of 100%. If you are in need of a professional resume writing service you can find his services at http://www.shibaresumes.com
Source: Resume Cover Letter Samples, Job Resume Cover Letter templates and examples information at goarticles.com
Inside Secrets on How To Write a Great Cover Letter
Resume Cover Letter Samples : Inside Secrets on How To Write a Great Cover Letter by Don Goodman
Imagine that your resume and cover letter is in a pile of over 500 resumes an employer has to weed through. They pick up the next letter and it says "I am writing in response to your advertisement #5052 regarding your Sales Manager position". Pretty boring... and you just missed your chance to grab their attention. Here are some tips on how to make your cover letter really stand out.
First of all, let's agree that the ONLY purpose of the cover letter is to get someone to want to read your resume. It is NOT a recap of your resume or a short story of how you moved from job to job. Since employers spend only a few seconds glancing at your letter, it should be short, easy to read and compelling.
Example: "I have over 15 years leading the highest level IT initiatives and was 1 of 3 Executives at Microsoft responsible for launching the Windows 95 operating system". This is an extreme case, but you really don't have to put much more than that in the cover letter as most people would immediately want to know more and pick up the resume. So let's look at how you can instantly grab attention.
Trick #1: A great trick is to start by thinking about how people in these positions are measured and what the best candidate in the world would deliver. For example, for sales people, employers want to hear about setting sales records (overachieving quota), expanding the customer base, and earning customer loyalty. For project managers, employers want to see a consistent track record of delivering projects on time and with a high level of quality. For manufacturing, the key metrics are productivity, safety, quality and cost improvements. Now tell them that you can deliver these things.
"I have over 15 years of experience leading manufacturing operations to new heights in productivity, profitability and safety".
"Setting new sales records, growing market share and turning mediocre performers into sales superstars briefly describes what I can do for your firm".
"I have over 10 years of experience leading highly visible, complex projects and have earned a solid reputation for meeting aggressive deadlines and bringing internal/external customer satisfaction to new heights".
Get the idea? You just told them that you have a track record of delivering the results they are looking for.
Trick #2: Most people send the same basic cover letter to all firms. You will really impress the employer when you demonstrate you know something about their organization. So demonstrate your knowledge and put in a line that shows you've done your homework.
Example: "I've followed your company for a number of years and I imagine that with your opening a new plant in Atlanta, you will need someone who is experienced in plant startups".
"With your recent acquisition of XYZ, I'm sure you can benefit from someone who has extensive HR experience managing the integration of new personnel and cultures".
Wow! At this point, you've indicated that you are a star performer who can deliver exactly what they want and that you are experienced in meeting some of the specific challenges that their organization faces. Now prove it.
Trick #3: Here is where you put in 2 to 5 bullets that prove you can deliver results. Bullets make it easy to read and easy for you to swap some bullets in for others depending on what they want. Here, you'll want to quantify your accomplishments as much as possible.
Example: "I have been assigned to numerous turnarounds and surpassed expectations in each instance. As Plant Manager at 1 of the largest component manufacturers in the United States, I reduced overtime 30%, increased productivity 18%, grew quality 11% and slashed accidents by 33%".
"I have 12+ years of solid sales experience at such firms as IBM, Oracle and Sun Microsystems, and achieved top ranked performance in every position. My achievements include delivering as much as 440% of sales targets and ranking in the Top 5 every year for the past 8 years".
Trick #4: You've proved you are a superstar (and even if you're not, you should think like 1), so now is the time to bring it home. Your closing paragraph should indicate that they should read your resume, that there is a lot more to know, and that you will be calling them in a few days to find out more about the position.
There are a lot of important concepts here - yes, you will call them and no, you will not just ask them if they got your resume, but instead will demonstrate you strengths and knowledge by asking insightful questions that indicate you are truly interested in this position. Employers notice people who call and this is your opportunity to build rapport with the decision makers who hold the key to your dream job.
Follow these simple tips and you will definitely make yourself stand out.
About the Author
Don Goodman, President of About Jobs (http://www.GotTheJob.com ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at http://www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.
Source: Resume Cover Letter Samples, Job Resume Cover Letter Templates and Examples information at goarticles.com
Tips For Writing An Effective Cover Letter
Resume Cover Letter Samples : Tips For Writing An Effective Cover Letter by Jason Kay
Your cover letter is the first thing a prospective employer sees, so it's crucial that it grab his or her attention and never let go.
There are two schools of thought on a cover letter's opening remark: one being that you should ask a rhetorical question or make a funny remark as an attention grabber. This isn't a good idea for most people, however, because it can come off wrong. Only consider this approach if you're applying for a very creative position. Otherwise, stick with the obvious. Describe what job you're applying for and where you saw it advertised, if applicable. That way, there's no guessing game for the person reading your letter.
In the next couple of paragraphs, highlight the points that make you perfect for this job. That could be your job history, your degrees or certifications, your skills, or a combination of those things. But if you're applying for a teaching position, for example, the cover letter isn't the place to note that you're a certified welder--unless you'll be teaching welding.
Your closing should make it clear that you are very interested in talking with the prospective employee further about how you can help his or her company. One mistake many job seekers make is forgetting the purpose of a cover letter and resume. It isn't to secure the job; rather, its purpose is to secure an interview. So be sure to ask for an interview!
Other tips that will rev up your cover letter:
Address it to a specific person. If possible, research who is reviewing the resumes and making the hiring decision for the job you want. Sometimes that information will be in the ad, but if not, don't be afraid to do a little detective work. It's often as easy as calling the company and simply asking!
Don't print off a one-size-fits-all cover letter. You must personalize your letter completely for the company and the job you're seeking.
Focus on them. It's tempting to describe in your cover letter what you want out of the job or the company: to advance your career, to enhance your skill set, or to secure a better title. But companies want to know what you can do for them. Structure your letter so that it lists the talents and experience that you bring to the table. There will be time later to talk about what you'll be getting out of the deal.
Let them know you've done your homework. Weave in at least one fact about the company somewhere in your letter. For example: "Though Company X had an impressive $5 million in sales during the last quarter, I believe my marketing skills could help Company X achieve even better results in the next quarter."
Limit your words. Very few cover letters should run more than one page. Prospective employers are just like everybody else: they're more likely to read a concise four-paragraph letter than a daunting eight-paragraph letter.
Don't rehash the contents of your resume. Assuming your cover letter is put together well, the potential employer or hiring manager will get to your resume. At most, highlight the two or three most impressive aspects of your resume to give the employer a taste of what's to come.
Aesthetics are important. Print off your cover letter on high-quality paper in white or off-white (make sure it matches your resume), and don't staple or fold it.
Proof and proof again. Nothing turns off a potential employer or hiring manager like a cover letter with spelling or grammatical errors. You might think you're in the clear if you use your computer's spell check, but that doesn't save you from mistakes such as confusing "affect" and "effect," for example. After you've proofed your letter twice, ask a grammar geek friend to look it over too.
Don't make them guess. At the bottom of your letter, include the number(s) where you can be reached if they need more information--or if they want to (hopefully!) schedule an interview. You'll undoubtedly include your phone number on your resume, but you want to make it as easy as possible for the company to reach you.
About the Author
Jason Kay is a professional resume writer who contributes to career related magazines and websites such as JobGoRound.com, which provides resume writing service reviews and cover letter writing tips.
Source: Resume Cover Letter, Job Resume Cover Letter Samples, Cover Letter Templates and Examples information at goarticles.com
