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Peanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots, Ben and Jerry… some things are just meant to be together. Just like these great pairs, your cover letter and resume should be a match made in heaven. When written the right way, these two documents complement each other in a way that engages the employer of your dreams. Check out these four nifty ways to make your cover letter the perfect introduction to your resume.
If you’re looking for some awesome cover letter advice on how *NOT* to start your cover letter (and some great examples of how you should be starting it) then read on!
Next time you’re preparing to fire off a resume and your standard cover letter, take 15 minutes to find out who’s on the receiving end of your inquiry. Then find out about his or her career and background before you write your sales letter – or request for a 15-minute informational interview. This way, you will personalize your pitch.
When it comes to writing a résumé and cover letter, regardless of the different advice you will get from well-meaning friends, colleagues, and even professional résumé writers, the one truth that never varies is the importance of the hook.
A cover letter or introductory email is often the first thing a potential employer sees when reviewing a job applicant. It’s the first opportunity to impress recruiters and hiring managers and, therefore, the first opportunity to disappoint them. Everything from copy mistakes to inappropriate jokes in a cover letter could derail an application.
Meet the perfect interview door-opener. It’s a brief document to entice the reader to turn to your resume and then call you for an interview for the job you really want.
It’s the cover letter, a sometimes misunderstood document that can mean the difference between meeting the garbage can and meeting your next employer.
Sending a résumé without a cover letter is like driving at night without your lights on. (You know, you will get a ticket for that!) So what are the dynamics of an effective cover letter? How can you determine the major points and entice recruiters and hiring managers to take a closer look?
Many advertised job openings still receive hundreds of applications. Although you’re qualified for the job, your skills and resume may not be enough to get the hiring manager’s attention. To come out ahead of the competition, spend some time perfecting your cover letter.
Your cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell the company the benefits you bring with your skills and qualifications – instead of the hiring manager needing to figure it out. Although they should be compelling, they should also remain concise.
Not sure if your cover letter is going to convey the right message? Here are some tips to help:
When you spot a job that looks interesting on Monster or CareerBuilder or anywhere, it’s logical and tempting to apply for it. The job ad says “Apply Now!” and you think: I’ll do it!
It’s not a good idea to apply for the jobs we spot online – at least, not in the moment. It’s better to stop, reflect, and draw up an action plan to make your resume send-off count.
For one thing, the black hole is the last place we want our resume to be. When we spot a job that looks great for us, we’ve gained some valuable information – e.g., the knowledge that Vandalay Industries is hiring a Market Research Analyst. We may decide to apply for the job. If we do, we can almost always find a way to avoid pitching our resume into the black hole (i.e. the Receptacle Most Likely to Chew it Up and Spit it Out).
If we think the Vandalay Industries job is a good fit for us, it’s worth our time to do some research and learn more about the company than the skimpy bit of intelligence the job ad itself provides. If we think we’re a fit, we owe it to ...
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