Resume Coverletters--How Important are They?

You've been working on your resume for what seems like days. You've tweaked and fine-tuned, now it's perfect! You've had it reviewed and proofread by a couple of other people, so you're sure it does not contain any misspellings or typo's. (You didn't forget that step, did you?)

Now you're ready to start the job search!

So you start stuffing copies into envelopes, or faxing and emailing them out in response to various ads. Then you sit and wait for the phone to start ringing. You're sure that there will be plenty of hiring managers anxious to schedule an interview after reading your brilliant resume and seeing your outstanding qualifications.

Unfortunately, the phone doesn't ring. Well, it rings, but it's your mom or your friends...maybe a bill collector or two...and some of those nice, friendly telemarketers.

No calls requesting a job interview.

In this present economy, with 10%plus unemployment rates, many employers are reporting dozens, even hundreds of applicants for every single job opening! It's often impossible for the HR staff or hiring managers to read every word of every resume. These days they rely on the resume coverletter, to give them a brief overview of each candidate. If you are skipping the cover letter altogether, or sending a generic, "blah, blah, blah...please find my resume attached" type letter, it's almost sure to end up in the round file.

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First, before discussing what your resume coverletter should contain, it's critical to understand how important the cover letter is. Not including a cover letter with a resume is the most common mistake made by applicants. The cover letter is more important than the actual resume.

If you're using regular mail make sure your cover letter is on top of the resume, so the hiring person sees it first when opening the envelope. If faxing, you want your cover letter to be on top when it's retrieved from the machine, so send the resume and letter in reverse order. (ie: resume pg 2, resume page1, cover letter). When emailing, use the email body for your cover letter, with resume as an attachment. Please Note: many employers ask that the resume itself be in the email body, rather than an attachment...if so, just make sure you start at the top with the covering letter.

Know the purpose of your cover letter and express it clearly. Promote yourself in the best possible light. Make sure you sound confident and professional. Concentrate on the positives, and emphasize those qualifications that make you the perfect candidate for the job. Even if you feel insecure in your qualifications, or believe you may be slightly under qualified for the position, put your best foot forward.

Your cover letter should answer these two questions:
"Why do you want this particular job?"
"What can you do for the company."
This lets the employer know that you are seriously interested in the position he/she's offering, that you have considered the opportunity and feel it fits in with your career objectives.

Do not end the letter with a statement that leaves it up to the employer to call you at their convenience, let the employer know that you want to follow up, and when and how you will do so. This will confirm your interest in the position, and is also professional etiquette. GREAT IDEA: Keep a log sheet or calendar of when and how you stated that you would follow up with the various employers, along with their contact info. Then make sure you follow-up!

With each cover letter you submit, the letter itself should be revised, to make it tailored for the specific position you are applying for. For example, if you send out a resume in response to an ad for "Customer Service Representative," the letter would be worded for that type of position, and highlighting your qualifications for that job. If you also were sending out a resume applying for a position as "Receptionist," you would rework the cover letter to emphasize your experience relating to that occupation.

Three Tips on "What Not to Do"

1. Not addressing the letter to a person. Generic greetings like "To whom it may concern," or "Dear Human Resources" or to a job title are NOT recommended. If no contact person is mentioned in the ad, do some research and see if you can find out the name of the hiring person. In some cases, it will not be possible. If you cannot find out a specific name, many experts advise that you leave out the greeting altogether, and just start your letter.

2. Misspelling the name of the Company. That may seem like one of those "Duh!" remarks, but it is a fairly common mistake applicants make. Double and triple check the company name. If the potential employer sees a mistake of that sort, your letter will probably go directly into "File 13."

3. Your first sentence does not explain why you are making contact with them. It's common to assume that it's not necessary to explain why you're writing. After all, your resume is attached! Let your prospective employer know exactly why you are writing to them. Mention the title of the job you are interested in, and state how your qualifications make you an ideal candidate for the position. Your opening statement needs to be energetic, positive and forthright. Bland and generic opening statements will generally result in lack of interest, and your application won't get past the first review.

Unless you've been living in a cave for the past few years, I'm sure you're aware that most of the world is enduring one of the toughest, most difficult economic times that have been seen since the Great Depression. The job sector has been particularly hard hit. With massive layoffs in many companies, and thousands upon thousands of businesses closing down completely, millions of jobs have been lost.

Those millions of people are competing for the same jobs you are trying to get.

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