What makes for a successful cover letter?

• shoelessj
  
  Posts: 513
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:15 PM GMT

  First, how important is a cover letter when you're sending a resume? Any tips on how to make it effective? Can it be more than one page long? Any phrases to avoid? I have a job in mind that i really want, that I think i'd be a great fit for, but which dozens of others will apply for and i want to convey that to the person reading my cover letter. Good news though is that the person in charge of the office - but not the HR person - invited me to apply for the position.
  
  Thanks.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:25 PM GMT

  A good cover letter is important.
  
  Do not do a canned cover letter that you just print with your resume. Customize it for each job you apply for.
  
  And then - everything that Clay said. Remember to be positive and if you have some specific skill or reason that you believe makes you the best qualified for the job, use this letter to briefly re-emphasize it.
  
  Best of luck.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:29 PM GMT

  It's your introductory sales pitch. Do it any way you feel if you were cold calling the company.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:29 PM GMT

  I didn't know that cover letters were necessary. I would think that companies are already over burdened with resumes, and a cover letter would just take too much time to read. Some day I'm going to retire and look for a new job. I guess I'd better catch up on what's expected.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:30 PM GMT

  Give one paragraph stating the positive things about their specific company and what attracted you to them.
  Then in the next paragraph outline how you would be a good fit for them AND bring something extra to the table.
  
  Basically you want to blow smoke up their ass and yours in equal measures.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:32 PM GMT

  Buddyboy938 saidI didn't know that cover letters were necessary. I would think that companies are already over burdened with resumes, and a cover letter would just take too much time to read. Some day I'm going to retire and look for a new job. I guess I'd better catch up on what's expected.

  
  
  The rules keep changing. If you are serious, start building a network with Linked-In.
  
  By the way, I'm a college business instructor - so I teach these classes and work closely with our job placement coordinator who is always in touch with employers - so I am just going by the latest stats and info she gave. I always have her come and do a presentation in my classes.
  
  There are things I used to think were unnecessary, but it turns out in today's world are expected. For instance, I never thought it was necessary to have an Objective on my resume. Apparently, now it is the norm.
  
  

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• LJay
  
  Posts: 11634
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:41 PM GMT

  I'm of the school that a cover letter should be brief, but VERY well organized. Among other things, it should show an employer that you are capable of well written business correspondence...absolutely to the point, clean and formally correct.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 9:59 PM GMT

  I would definitely include a cover letter. It should convey that you've done a little homework about the company and position offered, and why you think you fit there.
  
  Write in the active voice and make sure someone (or some people) proof it for you.
  
  Keep it short! If written well, the letter will be less than a page anyway.
  
  Good luck!

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 10:04 PM GMT

  onaquest said

  Buddyboy938 saidI didn't know that cover letters were necessary. I would think that companies are already over burdened with resumes, and a cover letter would just take too much time to read. Some day I'm going to retire and look for a new job. I guess I'd better catch up on what's expected.

  
  
  The rules keep changing. If you are serious, start building a network with Linked-In.
  
  By the way, I'm a college business instructor - so I teach these classes and work closely with our job placement coordinator who is always in touch with employers - so I am just going by the latest stats and info she gave. I always have her come and do a presentation in my classes.
  
  There are things I used to think were unnecessary, but it turns out in today's world are expected. For instance, I never thought it was necessary to have an Objective on my resume. Apparently, now it is the norm.
  
  

  
  
  It depends on the industry as well. Being a hiring/manager and I dealt with a lot of recruiters, agencies...if the candidate is fresh of 'school' 'graduate' then yes I would definitely want to see a cover letter and how they would translate their skills into the job function. They need to sale themselves if they do not have the experience. However, if the candidate has been in the same job industry and is applying within that industry and job function, I would seldom look at the cover letter it would go in the trash can. I looked more closely at the resume and how it can fit the job requirement.
  
  Please remember that hiring managers have limited time and a plethora of resumes. Also, I can tell you how many times when I spoke with the candidate about his resume and asked in detail all past experiences, job functions, process etc. prior to being invited for an in house face to face, most candidates fail because of:
  
  (1) They could not recollect about a specific project, product that they worked on all though is listed on their resume..even if it was 2 years ago.. Anything you place on your resume is fair game - so be prepared.
  
  (2) They had no clue of the company, product or service which they applied for . When asked why they wanted to work for XYZ company, most did not even have an enthusiast response or knew the process or product.
  
  (3) When having the phone screen interview which is first impression - try using a landline or ensure that your cell phone reception is more than adequate. I can tell you how many time the response was choppy, the line got disconnected, and it was frustrating to say the least.
  
  Just some pointers-

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 10:07 PM GMT

  Resumes & Cover Letters
  http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resources/CareerResources.aspx?sc_cmp2=JS_Nav_AdvRes
  
  
  • Qualifications versus duties: Why knowing the difference matters
  
  
  
  • Grammar lessons all job seekers should know
  
  
  
  • Résumé-writing tips for managers and executives
  
  
  
  • Résumés in 2012: What's old, what's new?
  
  
  
  • Simple guidelines for writing a stellar résumé
  
  
  
  • The elements of résumé style
  
  
  
  • 10 Things to Leave Off Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • Anatomy of a memorable résumé
  
  
  
  • Turning a lot of experience into an effective résumé
  
  
  
  • Do I really need a cover letter? New thoughts on an old standard
  
  
  
  • Is shaving experience off your résumé a good idea?
  
  
  
  • 10 useless résumé words (and 10 eye-catching ones)
  
  
  
  • 4 tips for an attention-getting résumé
  
  
  
  • Remember Me? Four Tips for Résumé Follow-Up
  
  
  
  • "Overqualified": Should you leave things off your résumé to avoid the label?
  
  
  
  • Your work history: How far back should you go on a résumé?
  
  
  
  • A top career coach reveals her favorite résumé strategies
  
  
  
  • Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts
  
  
  
  • Five Ways to Transform Your Resume From Ho-hum to Wow
  
  
  
  • Your Résumé: The Key to Getting an Interview
  
  
  
  • Hook 'Em With Your Application
  
  
  
  • Deciphering Resume Types
  
  
  
  • The Resume-Interview Connection
  
  
  
  • Resume Distribution Secrets
  
  
  
  • Covering Your Bases: Make Your Cover Letter Count
  
  
  
  • 25 Words That Can Hurt Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • Making Your Résumé E-Friendly: 10 Steps
  
  
  
  • Résumé 101
  
  
  
  • Eight Ways to Maximize Your Cover Letter's Power
  
  
  
  • Keeping Your Résumé Out of the "No" Pile
  
  
  
  • Simple Steps to Shape Up Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • What Employers Think When They Read Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • What are Resume Keywords?
  
  
  
  • When Your Skills Aren't a Perfect Match
  
  
  
  • Avoid These Résumé Blunders
  
  
  
  • The One Thing That Will Improve Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • Perfecting Your Digital Résumé
  
  
  
  • 10 Ways to Get Your Résumé Tossed
  
  
  
  • Are You a "Red Flag" Candidate?
  
  
  
  • Seven Cover Letter Don'ts
  
  
  
  • 10 Ways to Stand Out From Your Competition
  
  
  
  • Military-to-Corporate Resume
  
  
  
  • Hybrid Resume
  
  
  
  • Accomplishments Resume
  
  
  
  • Recent Graduate Resume
  
  
  
  • Basic Skills Resume
  
  
  
  • Simple Chronological Resume
  
  
  
  • Yes, You Really Need a Cover Letter!
  
  
  
  • What's Wrecking Your Résumé?
  
  
  
  • 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • Résumés: Does One Size Fit All?
  
  
  
  • Successfully Sell Yourself With Your Cover Letter
  
  
  
  • 10 Most Overused Résumé Phrases
  
  
  
  • Don’t Apply Without a Cover Letter
  
  
  
  • Tailor Your Résumé Without Starting From Scratch
  
  
  
  • Six Serious Résumé Blunders
  
  
  
  • How to Identify Your Transferrable Skills
  
  
  
  • Keeping It Real On Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • Resumes That Get Interviews
  
  
  
  • 10 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid
  
  
  
  • What Are Hiring Managers Thinking?
  
  
  
  • Outrageous Résumé Lies
  
  
  
  • Résumé Rules: Dos and Don'ts for Success
  
  
  
  • Résumés Redefined
  
  
  
  • Are You Using the Wrong Résumé?
  
  
  
  • Does Your Résumé Answer These Key Questions?
  
  
  
  • You've Written Your Résumé, Now Maximize Its Results
  
  
  
  • When You Need a Cover Letter (And When You Don't)
  
  
  
  • How to Write a Winning Résumé
  
  
  
  • 10 Vital Résumé Fixes
  
  
  
  • Do You Still Need a Cover Letter?
  
  
  
  • 6 Tricks for a Recession-Proof Résumé
  
  
  
  • Honesty is the Best Policy in Résumés and Interviews
  
  
  
  • Are Employers Looking at Your Résumé?
  
  
  
  • Worried About the Gaps on Your Résumé?
  
  
  
  • Breaking the Résumé Rules
  
  
  
  • 7 Ways to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out
  
  
  
  • 7 Sticky Résumé Situations -- and How to Overcome Them
  
  
  
  • Rock Your Résumé in Any Situation
  
  
  
  • Is My Résumé Being Read?
  
  
  
  • HD Résumé: Making Things Crystal Clear
  
  
  
  • The Résumé Black Hole
  
  
  
  • 10 Ways Your Resume Irks Hiring Managers
  
  
  
  • What Employers Think When They Read Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • Crafting an Eye-Catching Cover Letter
  
  
  
  • Buzzwords That Can Damage Your Résumé
  
  
  
  • 10 Ways to Get Your Résumé Noticed
  
  
  
  • Q&A: Your Cover Letter Questions Answered
  
  
  
  • 10 Ways to Write a Stronger Résumé
  
  
  
  • Your Résumé: How to Resurrect Outdated Experience
  
  
  
  • Weird and Wacky Things Actually Written on Résumés
  
  
  
  • 5 Ways You Could Be Ruining Your Résumé Without Realizing It
  
  
  
  • Target Your Résumé to Prospective Employers' Needs
  
  
  
  • 4 Essential Functions of a Résumé
  
  
  
  • 7 Ways to Improve Your Cover Letter and Get Your Application Noticed
  
  
  
  • How Long Should Your Résumé Be?
  
  
  
  • Transforming Your Résumé From Military to Civilian
  
  
  
  • Solving the Keyword Conundrum
  
  
  
  • Should You Ever Leave Your Education Off Your Résumé?
  
  
  
  • 5 Ways to Rehab Your Résumé
  

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  May 07, 2012 10:16 PM GMT

  As others have said - it is a great way to introduce yourself to your prospective employer and shows that you have committed some time to the application (rather than just submitting a resume). Having been on numerous interview panels and assessing applications,There is nothing worse than seeing an application which hasnt had much effort put into it. I would definitely restrict it to one page however. Working in government the bulk of the work is done in addressing selection criteria but I won't digress any further.
  Good luck

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• shoelessj
  
  Posts: 513
  
  
  May 08, 2012 8:26 PM GMT

  Thanks guys! These all have helped. I appreciation your help here. I've been whittling down the best parts of my letter to make it under one page.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• shoelessj
  
  Posts: 513
  
  
  Jun 01, 2012 12:23 AM GMT

  an update to anyone interested: 3 weeks later, i got an interview for the job i posted about. was interviewed by 4 people, 2 were younger women who seemed charmed by me, another was taking notes and checking her blackberry and didn't much look up from the table. interview lasted less than a half hour though. they said 280 sent in resumes and about 12-14 were called in for interviews. well, we'll see. thanks for the advice again, fellas.
  

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Jun 01, 2012 12:25 AM GMT

  A successful applicant.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM