Adams Cover Letter Almanac

Richard J Wallace

• Publisher: Adams Media
• Year: 2006
• ISBN:
  9781440518089
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Careers

A sure cure to job-seeker's writer's block! The Adams Cover Letter Almanac, Second Edition is the most comprehensive guide available for creating an attention-getting cover letter. This easy-to-use volume is packed with sample cover letters that can be easily customized to match the needs of any job seeker, whether you're new to the job market, an experienced professional, changing careers, or reentering the workforce.BEAT THE COMPETITION
A good cover letter can be even more important than a resume. If a prospective employer isn't impressed by your cover letter, you won't get that interview no matter how polished your resume is. Yet, many job seekers put little time or thought into their cover letters, often sending the same tired form letter to hundreds of companies. The Adams Cover Letter Almanac, Second Edition gives you an edge on the competition by helping you create powerful, compelling letters that get you noticed.600 COVER LETTERS Based on professionally written cover letters that have landed real jobs, sample letters are included for every occasion:
-Response to an Online Advertisement
-Response to a Classified Advertisement
-Response to a "Blind" Advertisement
-"Cold" Letter to a Potential Employer
-Letter to an Employment Agency
-Broadcast Letter
-Cover Letters for Special Occasions
-Follow-Up LetterLETTERS FOR ALL CAREERS AND ALL LEVELS
Whether you've recently graduated or are a seasoned executive, you'll find letters for numerous positions including:
-Accounting and Finance
-Marketing and Sales
-Communications
-Management
-Computers and Engineering
-Science
-Education
-Social and Human Services
-Health and Medical
-Technical
-Legal and Protective Services
-And more!Other Adams Almanacs for Job Hunters Include:
Adams Resume Almanac, Second Edition
Adams Job Interview Almanac, Second Edition
Adams Internet Job Search Almanac, Sixth Edition

PART I
All about Cover Letters

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO COVER LETTERS

Purpose of the Cover Letter

Your cover letter is more than likely the first contact you will have with a potential employer. If it is well written, your letter will lead the reader to the other part of your application—your resume. If your letter is poorly written, however, the employer may not even take the time to review your resume, and your application has a good chance of ending up in the trash.

Put yourself in the boss's shoes. If you were doing the hiring, what attributes would the ideal candidate for employment possess? You probably would prefer that the person have work experience similar to, or at least applicable to, the position for which he or she is applying. You would want the candidate to be ambitious and anxious to contribute his or her energy and skills to the success of your company. The perfect candidate would demonstrate interest in, and knowledge about, your industry and your specific organization. (An applicant's prior knowledge of an industry or a particular company suggests that he or she has a compelling interest in the firm, and is not looking at the current opening as “just another job.”) In short, if you were doing the hiring, you probably would want to hear from an energetic, dedicated, and skilled candidate.

Your cover letter affords you the opportunity to present yourself as the perfect candidate. You can begin by learning how to create an effective sales pitch.

The Sales Pitch

Imagine your cover letter as a marketing tool, much like a television or radio commercial. Effective commercials catch your attention by highlighting only the most attractive features of a product.

Your cover letter should be your commercial, the place where you highlight your most attractive features as a potential employee. Remember, employers typically receive hundreds of applications for each job opening. No one is going to waste time reading through a long letter crammed with text. Be brief and succinct. You should avoid detailing your entire work history in your cover letter—save that information for your resume. The best way to distinguish yourself is to highlight one or two of your accomplishments or abilities that show you are an above-average candidate for the position. Stressing only one or two unique attributes increases your chances of being remembered by the recruiter and getting to the interview stage, where you can elaborate on the rest of your accomplishments.

In addition, the cover letter allows you to carefully select one or two accomplishments or special skills that reflect your suitability for the desired position. If you are applying for a job that doesn't fit directly into your experience, make sure you explain how your background and qualifications match the position's requirements. For example, imagine you are a bank accountant seeking an applications programmer position in a computer software development company. A well-crafted cover letter would emphasize your relevant computer experience, and de-emphasize your accounting background.

Personalize Each Letter

The success of your job-hunting campaign relies on the quality of your contacts and how well you maintain them, not on the quantity of applications you send out. Taking time to research each employer promises to be much more effective than sending out hundreds of form letters and resumes. In effect, you are saying to an employer, “This is where I want to work. I have done my research and I am confident about my decision.” Also, the employer will view your interest as an indication that you are likely to stay with the company for a substantial period of time if hired. (For more information on researching a potential employer, see Chapter 7.)

First, try to determine the appropriate person to whom you should address your cover letter. In general, the more influential your contact is, the better. Try to contact the head of the department in which you are interested. If you are applying to a larger corporation, it is likely that your application will be screened by a human resources or personnel department. If you are instructed to direct your inquiry to this division, attempt to find out the name of the senior manager. This way, you may be able to cut down on the number of people your resume passes through on its way to the final decision-maker. In any event, be sure to include your contact's name and title on both your letter and envelope. This will ensure that your letter will get through to the proper person, even if there's been a recent change in staffing and a new person occupies this position.

When to Send a Cover Letter

Every time you make contact with a potential employer, send a cover letter. Whether your resume is sent as an initial inquiry, or whether you are following up on a phone conversation, job interview, or position offering, write a carefully composed, polished letter. If you have recently contacted a hiring manager, sending another copy of your resume may not be necessary. In general, a resume does not have to accompany every cover letter you send, but a cover letter must be enclosed every time you send a resume. Even if you are following up on an advertisement that reads simply “send resume,” be sure to include a cover letter. It is considered unprofessional to send out a resume without one.

CHAPTER 2
THE ANATOMY OF A COVER LETTER

Even before a potential employer reads a word of your cover letter, he or she has probably already made an assessment of your organizational skills and attention to detail simply by observing its appearance. How your hard copy correspondence looks to a reader—its format, length, even the size, color, and quality of the paper on which your letter is printed—can mean the difference between serious consideration and automatic rejection. The same goes for electronic submissions, which have their own set of unique rules and standards. Whether you are making your bid for consideration by “snail mail” or online, you simply cannot afford to offer a less than perfect presentation of your credentials. This chapter not only outlines the basic formats you should follow when writing hard copy and electronic cover letters, it shows you how to put the finishing touches on a top-notch product that will improve your chances of getting to the next step—the interview.

Hard Copy Cover Letters

Length

Rule number 1: Keep it brief! Four short paragraphs on one page is the ideal length for a hard copy cover letter. Anything longer is unlikely to be read.

Paper Size

Use standard 8½-by-ll-inch paper for your cover letter. If you use a smaller size, the correspondence will appear more personal than professional; a larger size simply looks awkward. Keep in mind, too, that paper other than the standard size can easily get lost in an employer's files if too small or, if too large, discarded altogether because it doesn't fit neatly with other documents inside a standard manila file folder.

Paper Color

White and ivory are the only acceptable paper colors for a cover letter. The same goes for resumes. If you think neon pink or lime green paper will make a prospective employer more likely to notice your letter, you're right. In all likelihood, he or she will pay attention just long enough to toss it into the circular file.

Paper Quality

As with resumes, standard, inexpensive office paper (20# bond) is generally acceptable for most positions. If you are applying for an executive or top-level position, however, you may want to invest in heavier, more expensive stationery, such as ivory laid.

Preprinted Stationery

Unless you're a top-level executive with years of experience, you should avoid using preprinted stationery. And never, never print your cover letter on the stationery of your current employer!

Typing and Printing

Even if you have perfect penmanship, a cover letter is no place to show it off. Your letter should never be handwritten; it should always be typed. And this is no time to experiment with odd typefaces, either. Conventional wisdom says that serif fonts are easier to read than sans serif (serifs are those little “feet” on the edges of the letters). Times New Roman is the most popular serif choice, but you might also consider Bookman, Century, Garamond, or Palatino. Use a letter-quality printer and make sure that your toner cartridge has plenty of ink. Paragraphs should be aligned flush left with a ragged right margin for greater readability. Double space between paragraphs; do not indent the first line. And be sure to proofread your letter before sending it out. Nothing screams “poor prospect” like a spelling error.

The Envelope

Your cover letter and resume should always be mailed in a standard, business-size (#10) envelope. The only exception to this rule is when you are enclosing an attachment, such as a writing or graphic arts sample or photographs, that cannot be folded to fit inside a #10 envelope. The address on the outside of your envelope should match the address on your cover letter; include the recipient's full name and title preceded by Mr. or Ms. Always type your envelopes using the same font as your cover letter; handwritten addresses are unprofessional.

Ten Key Ingredients of Successful Hard Copy Cover Letters

Looks do count, but only up to a point. Even if your cover letter is printed on the highest quality paper and typed on a state-of-the-art computer, if it isn't arranged according to the proper format or does not contain the necessary information, you may not come across as the best candidate for the position you are seeking. Certain basic guidelines should be followed when composing the actual contents of your letter.

1. The return address. Type your return address and phone number in the top right-hand corner of your letter; do not include your name. As a general rule, avoid using abbreviations (St., Ave., Blvd., etc.) in the addresses of your cover letters. You may, however, abbreviate the state, using U.S. Postal Service guidelines—i.e., FL, not Fla., for Florida; MI, not Mich., for Michigan, etc.

2. The date. The date should appear two lines beneath your return address on the right-hand side of the page. Write out the date in full; do not use abbreviations.

Example:

January 12, 20—

3. The addressee. Always try to find out the name and correct title of the addressee before you send out a cover letter. Flush left and two lines beneath the date, state the full name of the addressee. On the next line, state the individual's formal business title; then on the subsequent line, give the name of the company. This is followed by the company's address, which generally takes two lines. Occasionally, the individual's full title or the company name and address will be very long, and can appear awkward if you try to stick to the usual number of lines allocated. In such cases, feel free to use an extra line or two as needed.

4. The salutation. Your salutation should be typed two lines beneath the address. It should begin with “Dear Mr.” or “Dear Ms.,” followed by the individual's last name and a colon. Even if you have previously spoken with an addressee who has asked to be called by his or her first name, you should never be so informal in the salutation.
In cases where you do not know the name of your addressee, such as when you are responding to “blind” advertisements, it may be necessary to use a general salutation. In these circumstances, salutations such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Good Morning” may be stronger choices than “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To whom it may concern.” In any case, avoid gender-specific salutations like “Dear Gentlemen,” or “Dear Sirs.”

5. First paragraph. State immediately and concisely the position for which you wish to be considered and what makes you the best candidate to fill this particular job opening. If you are responding to a ...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• How to Use This Book
• PART I: All about Cover Letters
• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO COVER LETTERS
• CHAPTER 2: THE ANATOMY OF A COVER LETTER
• CHAPTER 3: A QUESTION OF STYLE
• CHAPTER 4: TWENTY COVER LETTER BLUNDERS TO AVOID
• PART II: All about Job Hunting
• CHAPTER 5: PLANNING YOUR JOB-SEARCH CAMPAIGN
• CHAPTER 6: THE BEST AND WORST WAYS TO FIND JOBS
• CHAPTER 7: CONTACTING COMPANIES DIRECTLY
• CHAPTER 8: NETWORKING YOUR WAY TO A JOB
• CHAPTER 9: RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE
• PART III: Sample Cover Letters
• CHAPTER 10: RESPONSE TO A CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT (PRINT)
• CHAPTER 11: RESPONSE TO A CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT (WEB POSTING)
• CHAPTER 12: RESPONSE TO A "BLIND" ADVERTISEMENT
• CHAPTER 13: “COLD” LETTER TO A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER
• CHAPTER 14: LETTER TO AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY
• CHAPTER 15: LETTER TO AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM
• CHAPTER 16: NETWORKING LETTER
• CHAPTER 17: BROADCAST LETTER
• CHAPTER 18: RESUME LETTER
• CHAPTER 19: COVER LETTERS FOR SPECIAL SITUATIONS
• CHAPTER 20: ELECTRONIC COVER LETTERS (E-MAIL FORMAT)
• CHAPTER 21: FOLLOW-UP LETTER (AFTER TELEPHONE CONVERSATION)
• CHAPTER 22: FOLLOW-UP LETTER (AFTER JOB INTERVIEW)
• CHAPTER 23: INFORMATION REQUEST
• CHAPTER 24: ADDRESS/PHONE NUMBER CHANGE
• CHAPTER 25: THANK-YOU LETTER (FOR GOOD REFERENCE)
• CHAPTER 26: THANK-YOU LETTER (FOR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION)
• CHAPTER 27: THANK-YOU LETTER (FOR REFERRAL)
• CHAPTER 28: THANK-YOU LETTER (AFTER INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW)
• CHAPTER 29: RESURRECTION LETTER
• CHAPTER 30: RESPONSE TO REJECTION
• CHAPTER 31: WITHDRAWAL FROM CONSIDERATION
• CHAPTER 32: REJECTION OF OFFER
• CHAPTER 33: RESIGNATION LETTER
• CHAPTER 34: ACCEPTANCE LETTER