Best Cover Letters Get Job Interviews

First things first.

It doesn't matter if you're looking to land your first job or take a well-deserved step-up the career ladder, the person you need to impress is the one that controls the job interviews - the HR Director.

And how do you do that? There are many ways, but one of the most basic - and often over-looked - ways to catch your future employer's eye is to LEARN ABOUT THE COMPANY!

The Internet is an amazing tool. Type in the company name and see what comes up. At the very least, read through their website. If it's a small to medium sized company, read every page! Find out who are their customers and learn about their #1 product or service. Do they have a new product they're trying to promote? Have there been major changes in the company?

Use that information to personalize your cover letter. At least one sentence or paragraph must reference the company...note something they have achieved, a challenge they're working to overcome...whatever. Let them know you care enough about the job search process - and their time - to have done your research.

Afterall, job applicants who take the time to write well-organized, thoughtful cover letters will probably be employees who take the time to do their job right...and employees who do their job right are the ones who make the HR Director look good.

Be the person who always does 10% more than expected - the results will pleasantly surprise you!

More later...

Read the article.

I can't stress this one enough.

Please take the time to find out who is in charge of hiring for the position for which you're applying.

If the name isn't listed in the job posting, just pick up the phone. It is not out of line to call the company and ask. Simply say, "I'm writing a cover letter to apply for the xxxx position posted on your company's website (or wherever.) I'd like to address it to the person who will be reviewing the applications. Will you tell me who that is?"

It's all about the extra effort. Wouldn't you pay more attention to a letter that was written by someone who took the time to find out your name? Wouldn't you pay more attention to a letter that was personally addressed to you?

Again, employers like employees who go the extra mile...be that person and reap the rewards!

Yep, that's the secret. You wouldn't believe how many job applicants talk and talk and talk about all they're going to do for the company and yet, NEVER ask for the interview.

It's simple...if you don't ask, you probably won't receive.

At the end of EVERY cover letter, there should be a short paragraph like the following:

"I'm excited to learn more about the xxxx job opportunity at xxxx. Could we set up an appointment to discuss the matter further? I can be reached at xxxxx or xxxxx. Thank you for your time and consideration."

If you have questions about cover letters or resumes, please feel free to email me at dede@afewgoodwords.com.

Good luck with your job search!

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We've all heard it before: "You only get one chance to make a first impression." When it comes to resumes and cover letters, this is so true.

Resumes that make a good first impression are easy-to-read and written in style that emphasizes specific accomplishments.

Did you increase sales by 40%? Manage a team that introduced a profitable new product? Increase backroom efficiency? Create and implement a money or time-saving process? Use specific examples to highlight your accomplishments.

If you don't have direct experience to highlight, work with what you have. Answer the questions the hiring manager is bound to ask:

"What makes you a viable candidate?"

"Why should I hire you?"

(If you can't answer these questions, consider if the position is right for you at this point in your life.)

Once you determine the skills and accomplishments you want to emphasize in your resume and have formatted the information in a clear and readable format, it's time to proof and fine-tune. If you're confident your resume says what you want it to say, is clear and error-free, put it aside and write your cover letter.

Your cover letter's job is simple; capture the hiring manager's attention so he or she feels compelled to look at your resume. It's your "elevator pitch," your 30 seconds to highlight the strengths and accomplishments that will work for the company and make the hiring manager a hero for hiring you.

We know the best cover letters are direct and engaging. They have a bit of personality, but not too much. And always, the best cover letters entice the hiring manager to read the attached resume.

If you hire A Few Good Words to proof or write your cover letter, you'll get a cover letter that will get your resume read. We're so sure of our letters, if the hiring manager doesn't read your resume, we'll rewrite your letter or refund your money - your choice - no questions asked.

Pricing

Resume Fix-It - $48

Email or upload your current resume in .doc or.pdf format. We'll check for spelling, grammar and typos, make formatting or content suggestions, as needed. When we return your resume, rest assured it'll be easy-to-read, professional and error-free.

Cover Letter Fix-It - $48

Email or upload your current cover letter if you have one - or notes if you don't - and a link to one job posting per cover letter. We'll check for spelling, grammar and typos or write the letter from scratch. Rest assured that when your cover letter is returned to you, it will be direct, engaging and definitely, error-free.

Resume and Cover Letter Fix-It Package - $88

Yes, I need help. I have a resume and cover letter that I'd like checked for content, spelling, grammar and format.

A Few Good Words Resume and Cover Letter Fix-It

Cover letters need to fit on one page - just one page, with lots of white space.

Start with something catchy. If you've had a past success - increased sales by 28%, started an innovative program, won a grant - talk about it in your first paragraph.

Use the second paragraph to communicate your excitement for the company. This is where you let them know you've researched the company and still want to work there. Imagine yourself working in the organization. How will you help the company/department attain its #1 goal? That's the message you want to communicate in the second paragraph.

Use the third paragraph to expand on the second or to offer additional information. If you need to explain something, do it here, but remember, be concise.

The fourth paragraph asks for the job interview, plain and simple. Communicate your desire to learn more about the position, to discuss how your skills will work for their company. If you're daring, say you'll call in a week to set up an appointment - and then do it!

Close your letter by thanking the hiring manager for his/her time and attention. After you proof and proof again, in the case of an online submission, attach your resume, take a deep breath, and click "send."

Good luck. I'll post "More About Cover Letter Tips 4 & 5" in a bit.

Thanks for reading.

Learning to write an effective resume is a life skill most people cannot afford to ignore.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure for most professionals is about 4 years. For employees between the ages of 25 and 34, the median tenure is only 2.9 years.

Since most of us will change jobs a number of times in our career, we need to become proficient at selling ourselves and writing an effective resume.

Consider this: According to Career Builders' Resume 2007 survey, on average, hiring managers receive 50 resumes for each and every job opening. Due to the sheer number of applicants, many managers skim and sort the resumes into "no go," "maybe," and "looks promising" piles.

Only resumes that are well-organized, easy-to-read, and specifically targeted to the position survive the cut.

Assuming a candidate has the relevant job experience, professional resume writers know what it takes to keep resumes in the "maybe" or "looks promising" piles. Here are the ten strategies resume professionals use - and you can too.

Read the rest of this article

There's no doubt about it. People who write the best cover letters get the best job interviews. Research shows that the most effective, cover letters have a number of common characteristics. They follow a 3-part format that consistently garners positive results and earns the job applicants who wrote them highly sought after job interviews.

Read the article.

Your online cover letter's job is simple; capture the hiring manager's attention so he or she feels compelled to look at your resume. It's your "elevator pitch," your 30 seconds to highlight your strengths and accomplishments that will work for the company and will make the hiring manager a hero for hiring you.

Online cover letters are not that different from traditional cover letters. Instead of submitting your cover letter and resume through traditional channels like the USPS or email, online cover letters are pasted onto online forms and submitted electronically.

Write an Online Cover Letter!