1,001 Phrases You Need to Get a Job

The 'Hire Me' Words that Set Your Cover Letter, Resume, and Job Interview Apart

Nancy Schuman, Burton Jay Nadler

• Publisher: Adams Media
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781440539503
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Careers

Find the right words for the best job! It's not enough to have the talent and experience to land the right job—you have to be able to put that talent and experience into words. With just the right phrase, you can highlight your achievements in your resume, make the cover letter pitch that sets you apart from the crowd, and underscore your unique skill set in the interview that lands you the job.In 1, 001 Phrases You Need to Get a Job, employment gurus Nancy Schuman and Burton Jay Nadler show you how to walk the walk and talk the talk you need to win the job you want.

PART I

Cover Letters
That Get Noticed

Chapter 1

CRAFTING YOUR
COVER LETTER
Dos and Don’ts

The cover letter is the most critical step in the pursuit of a job. It is the first impression you make, and you only get one chance to make a stellar one. Introducing yourself to a stranger whose job it is to critique you can, for some, be paralyzing. Most of us spend way too much time staring at a blank page trying to conjure up the perfect words for the situation. However, writing a cover letter that lands you an interview can be achieved more easily than you think. Following the RIGHT formula, discussed in the next paragraph, can get you started. This formula will guide you through the process of finding those perfect words. Sometimes they are provided in the job posting itself, and other times you can pluck them from the industry samples you owe it to yourself to review. In this chapter, you will also learn about various kinds of cover letters as well as the basic components of a cover letter—each paragraph in the document seeks to communicate specific strategically targeted and job-function-focused information that you don’t want to accidentally leave out.

Write Your Cover Letter the RIGHT Way

Writing your cover letter is as simple as following a five-step process. Just think of the acronym R-I-G-H-T. It stands for Review, Identify, Generate, Hone, Transmit. When following this process, you will:

1. Review Samples, Postings, or Descriptions

To inspire initial efforts and motivate actions, review sample cover letters and postings as well as job descriptions. Think about the phrases or special language used in these items. Key phrases in job postings must be transformed into the best paragraphs in your cover letters. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, it can be the best cover letter–writing strategy.

RED FLAG!
DON’T DISPLAY A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE about your industry. Know the buzzwords that get your cover letter noticed.

2. Identify Resume Key Points

Look at your resume and think about how it relates to the job for which you’re applying. Identify key points that you wish to highlight in your cover letter. These should be field-focused qualities as well as directly related academic, employment, or co-curricular achievements. What is it about your resume that you think is most strategically linked to targeted career fields and the specific job or particular functional areas of an employer? What two resume entries do you want the cover letter reader to examine in detail?

3. Generate a Draft

Keep your first draft to one page if possible, but don’t worry too much about length. Later, you’ll edit to the desired word count. Use the examples in the sample cover letters for inspiration, but don’t copy word for word any of the samples that inspire you. Just get some ideas down on paper or on screen. Don’t feel pressured to generate your final draft first.

4. Hone a Finished Version

This is when you’ll edit the content to achieve maximum effectiveness and impact. The finished version should not contain typos or any major grammatical or style errors. Remember, this is your first writing assignment for your prospective employer.

5. Transmit via E-mail or Fax, Then Mail

Once done, don’t delay communication. There truly is no reason to wait. Never procrastinate. Proceed to the next section to learn details regarding cover letter format, content, and specifics to completing the five steps to cover letter success.

Which Letter to Send

The lists within this section define different types of cover letters, the circumstances for which they are appropriate, and to whom they are sent. Later, you will review samples phrases to include in each type of letter.

Letters of Application Used When Responding to Postings

These letters target:

Confidential Postings (when employers are not identified). These letters must focus on the job descriptions and the skills you possess to succeed in the position.

Employer Identified Postings (with the employer clearly noted, yet a contact name may not be given). These letters should reveal research on the company. If you don’t have someone to address letters to, use memo format.

Employment Agencies (when employers are not identified). When your letter is sent to a search professional, use the phrase “judge my candidacy worthy of an interview for this position with your client’s firm.”

Executive Search Firms (when employers are not identified). As with positions posted by employment agencies, focus your letter on motivating the reader to support your candidacy and forward documentation to the client who is the hiring organization, with a recommendation to interview. These firms deal with more senior positions.

RED FLAG!
DON’T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF. Be realistic when you detail your existing career goals to your network contact. Don’t say that you want to be CEO someday when your current goal is to snag an entry-level position.

Letters of Introduction Addressed to People and Places

These letters are transmitted:

As Broadcast Letters. These letters are very popular yet least effective if done as opened and unfocussed letters sent to hundreds of employers. They can be effective if they identify specific career fields, functional areas of interest, and particular firms. Be sure to cite the employer’s name in these letters.

As Cold Communiqués. These letters target individuals or companies with whom the writer has no true connection. These might be addressed to lists of senior executives on websites, names in professional association membership directories, or those in specialized, field-focused directories.

In Advance of On-Campus Interviews. These letters request an interview or set the scene, impressing employers that you communicated after being selected to meet.

In Advance of Career Fairs. In these cases, the letters set the scene and increase your chances for being granted an interview for post-baccalaureate jobs or internships.

To Targeted Employers. These letters are best sent to a particular person, although they can be effective if sent generally to Human Resources when uploaded or e-mailed through a company’s website. It’s recommended to direct such letters to the attention of a particular person or a connection of some kind.

Networking Notes

These are brief e-mail or faxed messages sent to advocates and network members. In these notes, you ask for consideration, referrals, or support. Resumes are attached, and reference is made to a cover letter that will be sent later. While some people still believe these should be handwritten, e-mail and faxing is faster and, now, most appropriate.

Structure of the Cover Letter

The cover letter should, in most cases, be one page. It should always include the following three elements:

1. Introductory focus paragraph. Remember what you once learned about the five-paragraph essay? Begin with a clear thesis statement supported by two paragraphs and end with a conclusion. Cover letters should include the same. The initial paragraph cites job title or functional area of interest, and requests an interview. This first section can identify the foundations upon which you will rest your candidacy. Is it education? Is it work experience in general, or one or two particular accomplishments? Is it a specific project that matches the position’s stated requirements?

2. Qualification and motivation paragraphs. These two paragraphs (sometimes presented in bullet-point lists) detail qualification and motivation connections. They identify examples from your past that project abilities to perform in the future. This is where you apply the first two of the five steps. What key resume points will you present here? How can you connect achievements to job requirements? Be specific! The more you use the language of the field you wish to enter, special phrases and keywords, the better. Talk the talk to walk the...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction: The Winning Words
• Part I: Cover Letters That Get Noticed
• PART II: Resumes That Make a Mark
• PART III: Interviewing Phrases That Close the Deal
• Appendix: Job Search Resources
• Copyright