The Everything Cover Letter Book

Winning Cover Letters For Everybody From Student To Executive

Burton Jay Nadler

• Publisher: Everything
• Year: 2005
• ISBN:
  9781440523250
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Careers

Get the interview with professional correspondence! Completely updated for today's competitive job market, The Everything Cover Letter Book, 2nd Edition is what you need to get your foot in the door! With hundreds of resumes lined up for the job you want, it seems impossible to get yours to rise to the top of the pile. You need a superior cover letter to sell yourself when you're not there to do the talking.Make a memorable first impression and get the job you want with this authoritative reference as your guide. This new edition includes:

• 200 plus cover letters, revised for today's industries.
• Techniques to highlight the best qualities on your resume.
• Tips on industry trends.
• Savvy advice on how to grab your reader's attention.
• Detailed guidance on how to polish your letter to perfection.
• Formatting guidelines to follow for letters, emails, notes, and more.
• Dos and Don'ts based on specific job applications.

With sample letters for every job seeker - from stay-at-home moms to traveling CEOs - The Everything Cover Letter Book, 2nd Edition is the only guide you'll need to land the job of your dreams!

Chapter 1

Let the Job Search Begin

Thomas Edison, one of history's most inspired and productive inventors, is credited with saying “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” While a job search also involves inspiration and perspiration—and a bit of consternation—to be successful you need to have a plan and know what you're doing. This chapter reviews how the cover letter fits into the job-search process and what else is required to get the desired outcome.

It's About Communication

Who would have thought the phrase, “I'm applying for a job,” would reveal a flaw in the strategy of many job-seekers? They assume that the job search is an application process, so they look for ads and apply to them. But a better approach is to view job searching as a process of communication.

Even if it's your first time to write a cover letter, don't be nervous. A job search is nothing more than a series of steps toward a particular goal. Following the advice in this book, you too can complete these steps, one at a time, until you achieve your goal.

The Everything® Resume Book, 2nd Edition, introduced the concepts of heartfelt versus head-thought motivations and actions. Simply, the heart wishes things will come true and believes the more postings you answer, the more open and vague your cover letters, and the more passionate your feelings about a job, the more likely a potential employer will find you qualified and react favorably to your application efforts. The head, on the other hand, conducts field, function, and firm oriented pRe-search (research before job search), identifies and presents key qualifications via targeted resumes and cover letters, conducts follow-up efforts, and prepares for interviews. That is, the head thinks strategically about “What's next.”

Which is the right approach? In truth, you need to have a combination of both heart and head and to be inspired by emotions and logic, personifying the best of both doer and dreamer.

Similarly, the application part of the job-search process is important. But effectively communicating your sense of focus and qualifications through well-crafted letters and notes and appropriately enthusiastic discussions will yield success.

Simple Steps for Success

Searching for a job isn't easy, but the process itself is a simple one. It is best thought of as composed of eight clearly achievable steps:

1. Figure out your job-search goals—what kind of a job are you looking for?

2. Create or update your resume, and draft a general cover letter.

3. Develop a “target list” of potential employers and a “network” of advocates.

4. Respond to posted openings with a cover letter targeted and revised for each posting.

5. If there are options for how to submit your cover letter and resume, the best approach is faxing, followed by e-mail, and finally mail.

6. Follow up with each submission.

7. Use your resume and cover letter for guidance during the interview.

8. Receive offers, and accept one.

“I'm looking for anything” is not a goal. You should know what kind of a job you're looking for and concentrate in that field. A job search built upon unclear or unrealistic goals is likely to be frustrating, prolonged, or even unsuccessful. The inability to articulate goals can be overcome by doing adequate job market research before you begin answering job ads.

Targeting the Job You Want

Cover letters and resumes do not have to state lifelong dreams, but they must express your immediate job-search goals. Ideally, they will help the potential employer imagine your future performance with the new company. This can be done with two kinds of information: your past academic and employment achievements, and your skills and capabilities. Good cover letters and resumes demonstrate understanding of the job and its specific functions, as well as self-knowledge and confidence.

It is easy to be focused when responding to postings because you can target the requirements of the specific job described in the announcement. When conducting a broader proactive search, focus comes from “pRe-search” (research before job search). Research into careers and job functions teaches you to use the appropriate language needed to create great resumes and cover letters.

Front Resume to Cover Letter

Once you've developed and updated your resume to reflect your job goals, you'll feel more comfortable about writing a dynamic and focused cover letter. (Chapter 3 details the relationship between resumes and cover letters.) You can use this letter as your starting point for each targeted cover letter. All you need to do is fine-tune the letter, projecting your qualifications for a specific job.

What if I don't know what kind of job I want?
Try to focus on specific employment fields and functions, as well as the kinds of companies you'd like to work for. If you truly don't know what you want, you can try reviewing the postings and flagging the ones you're interested in. Eventually, your interest should reveal a pattern of strong focus on particular types of jobs.

The Power of Networking

To whom will you send your resume and cover letter? To those on your target list of potential employers and people who can support your efforts! Develop this list using professional directories, reference materials, and online resources. (Appendix B lists valuable printed and online materials.)

Networking is perhaps the most effective yet most often misunderstood and poorly implemented approach to finding a job. You can use networking to learn about fields of particular interest and to learn to articulate your goals in those fields. Talking to people in the professional industry without the pressure of a formal interview will make it easier for you once you start responding to job postings. Additionally, the more your name and qualifications become known in the industry the more likely you are to be granted an interview.

Professional colleagues, friends, family, faculty, and fellow graduates can be very helpful with networking and job-search undertakings. As you read on, you will learn how to create effective networking notes to accompany a targeted resume.

Once you compose your list, it's time to use the phone to confirm the information. You must make sure you have the right contact persons and, if possible, their fax number and e-mail address. Always update your list, and keep track of all interactions with those you contact. Know who you talked to, e-mailed, or faxed, and the nature of your communications. This information will be critical when it's time for following up with your contacts.

Networking can be initiated with a phone call or, more effectively, via e-mail. In a brief networking note, introduce yourself and state clearly and concisely your need for consideration, referrals, or information. End by stating that you will follow up with a call. Either in your note or during your follow-up call, ask the contact person for names of other contacts or to set up an informal “information conversation,” so you can learn more about your network member and identify those who can help you in your job search.

“Hit lists” of employers can be generated using printed or online directories. Membership directories, employee directories, top-twenty-five firm listings, and alumni listings are great sources of information. Identify and use these resources by using an Internet search engine or with the help of a reference librarian.

As you continue your networking efforts, remember that networking is about sharing your goals and asking for support. Vague requests or unstated hidden agendas are ineffective and inappropriate. Know what you want, don't be afraid to ask politely for help, and be straightforward and sincere.

Responding to Postings

It's a good idea t...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Top Ten Cover Letter Do's and Don'ts
• Introduction
• 1: Let the Job Search Begin
• 2: The Letter-Writing Process
• 3: Resume Review
• 4: Off to the Interview
• 5: Before-and-After Versions
• 6: Cover Letters for Special Situations
• 7: In Response to Employer-Identified Postings
• 8: In Response to Confidential Postings
• 9: “Cold” Contact Letters to Employers
• 10: Broadcast Letters to Employers
• 11: Contacting Employment Agencies
• 12: Contacting Headhunters and Search Firms
• 13: Networking Letters
• 14: Networking Notes
• 15: Other Letters
• Appendix A: Critiquing Checklist
• Appendix B: Printed and Web Resources
• Appendix C: Special Strategies for Special Groups