7
Secrets of a Highly-Effective Resume Cover Letter
Job-hunters
spend so much time and energy on writing the perfect CV that they've
often got nothing left to offer their poor, neglected cover letters.
Big, BIG mistake!
It
is the well-written cover letter not the CV that can single-handedly
land you more job interviews. The cover letter is your one chance
to really "market" yourself to an employer using proven
marketing strategies rarely found in the typical cover letter.
Conversely,
there's only so much you can do with the traditional CV or resume.
A carefully crafted cover letter can be more important to your job
search success than any other written document, including the CV.
7 tips for
writing a highly-effective CV cover letter:
1. ADDRESS
your cover letter to a specific person whenever possible. Do your
best to find out "To Whom" you should address your cover
letter. "Dear Manager" is lifeless.
2. OPEN with an attention-grabbing
first sentence to really grip the reader. This will almost guarantee
your cover letter and resume get a closer look.
3. REMEMBER less is
more. The best cover letters have plenty of white space. Cover letters
that are clear, focused, short and sweet land more job interviews
period.
4. FOCUS on what you
can do for the employer. How can you benefit the company specifically?
Do a little research and relate this simply and clearly in your
letter.
5. CHOOSE WORDS
that show enthusiasm and passion for the position you seek. Then,
carry this passion into the interview with you.
6. REQUEST ONE ACTION
you want the employer to take: "I would really like the opportunity
for a personal interview this week." (You never know until
you ASK.)
7. END your
cover letter with something enthusiastic and telling like, "I
look forward to being interviewed at your earliest convenience.
Thank you so much for this opportunity." Sincerely, John Jobseeker.
(Notice how John assumes she'll land the interview? This is clever,
smart, and it can work like a charm).
Think of your
cover letter as a sales letter. The only purpose of your CV cover
letter is to land you more job interviews. That's the bottom line.
By using the marketing strategies outlined above you will land more
quality job interviews than your competition.
You must find
a way to get your "foot in the company door" to have any
chance of landing the job. With the right cover letter you can blow
the doors of opportunity wide open. And remember, more job interviews
can translate to more job offers.
Finally, probably
the most important advice is this:
FOLLOW-UP every
job lead, contact, and communication. Following up is the "golden
key" to getting hired for the job of your dreams. Use follow-up
cover letters, thank you letters, even follow-up phone calls. Following-up
can literally double your chance for success. It is also the one
secret ingredient missing from 99% of every job-seeker's playbook.
This article
was adapted from an article by Jimmy Sweeney |