Posts Tagged ‘letter’
Cover Letter Etiquette
Whether you?ve written one or one hundred cover letters in your lifetime, they can present enough challenges to make you dread the process each time. It?s for this reason that many people resort to the ?carbon copy? cover letter as opposed to creating an original one for each job application.
The ?carbon copy? cover letter is not recommended because it lacks authenticity. Even worse, it forces you to turn your back on cover letter etiquette. If you want to make sure that your cover letter is unique and appropriate, let?s take a look at some cover letter etiquette tips to consider.
Tip #1: Keep the Cover Letter Personal
The first tip to keep in mind when writing a cover letter is that you want to make sure that it?s personal. You may have read in a business writing book at some point that it?s common to address the reader as ?Dear Sir or Madam? or ?To Whom It May Concern.? While these terms can be appropriate when absolutely necessary, it?s better to track down the hiring manager at a company so that you may address him or her directly (ex. Dear Mr. Smith) in your salutation.
Tip #2: Focus on the Employer?s Needs
Another etiquette tip to keep in mind when creating your cover letter is focusing on the employer?s needs. This concept goes back to the ?carbon copy? cover letter that looks just like the last 15 you?ve written. It?s always important to keep in mind that no two jobs are exactly the same, which is why your cover letters shouldn?t be the same either. To honor these differences, it?s good to focus on the specific needs of the employer and afterward addressing your own strengths and how they can help the company achieve their desired success. This way, you can help the hiring manager more easily align the company?s goals with your qualifications, which in turn can increase your chances of being hired.
Tip #3: Dot Your I?s and Cross Your T?s
Another aspect of cover letter etiquette is making sure that you proofread every word, ensure all grammar is correct, and most importantly, make sure that every bit of information you offer is 100% honest. You don?t want the employer to run a background check only to find out you?ve lied on any of your documentation. So before submitting your cover letter, it?s important to ensure every I is dotted and every T is crossed.
Tip #4: Keep it Short and Sweet
The fourth tip to consider when writing your cover letter is length. If you become passionate about what you?re writing, you can easily say too much, which can frustrate the hiring manager who has many more to read. So in the writing process, your job is to explain why you?re qualified and why you want the job as concisely as possible. This way, the hiring manager won?t trash your cover letter before getting to all of those great qualifications that would have otherwise gotten you hired for the job. Now that you?ve learned a little about cover letter etiquette, it?s time to get started on your own. What are you waiting for? Your next job is just a great cover letter away.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Need a resume writing service? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://resumelines.com.
Creating A Good Reference List
One of the greatest mysteries associated with applying for a job is how to create a good reference list. Because not every employer even requests this list as a part of the application process, it can often be difficult to know exactly who should be listed and when.
One key to remember is even if you don?t know whether references are necessary, it?s good to think of some people you might want to consider just in case. But that?s just one consideration to make regarding reference lists. Here are a few others that you might want to keep in mind ?
Make Your List Employer-Specific
While it?s great to have your list of ?reliables? to work with for every job that you apply for, some references are better for some jobs than others. For instance, suppose you?ve held jobs at both a non-profit organization and Fortune 500 company as a mid-level sales rep. Now you?re applying for a job at another non-profit organization in a slightly higher position and would like to use your boss from the Fortune 500 company as your reference because you had a better rapport with him.
While a reference from a manager at a Fortune 500 company is incredibly impressive, it may be better to use a reference from a member of the non-profit organization you worked for. A reference from the organization would be more employer-specific because he or she can attest to your knowledge of the non-profit world. Of course, when making this choice, it?s good to consider how long you worked for the organization and how much of a contribution you made. If you didn?t make a huge contribution to the organization, or can?t find a good reference, then the Fortune 500 company may work better for you.
Help References Turn Your Negative Points into Positives
On almost any job you?ve held, there is the possibility of you having made a minor ? or even major ? screw-up. Either that or you may have had a weak trait that seemed to be the underlying theme of your stay at an employer. No matter what your negative point may have been, it?s a good idea to help your reference turn that negative into a positive.
For instance, if you had a problem with being organized at your last employer ? and you have listed a reliable reference from this company ? it?s good to let that person know that you are now much more organized than when you were employed there. Also, it?s good to remind your reference of any great or memorable accomplishments that they can mention when the hiring manager calls.
Don?t Forget to Obtain Permission
If you?re going to use a person as a reference on your list, it?s important that you obtain permission to use his or her name. This not only makes sure that the person is prepared to make comments about you if asked, but also, it ensures that you don?t request a recommendation from a person who doesn?t think very highly of your work ethic or capabilities.
Once you?ve taken the necessary steps to create a good list, your next step is to begin sending off applications. With any luck, this will help you obtain the job you truly want and deserve.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Need a resume writer? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://resumelines.com.
4 Resume Dos
The process of creating a resume can definitely be a daunting one. There are so many aspects to consider throughout the creation process, including spelling, grammar, and of course, making sure to incorporate the right jobs, duties fulfilled, and anything else that ensures the hiring manager understands your worth.
With so much to consider, it?s no wonder people have a difficult time sorting out all of the details. To help you sort out your own resume-writing venture, let?s take a look at a few ?dos? of resume writing that can make the process flow smoother.
Make Your Resume Action-Based
One mistake that job seekers make when creating their resume is writing out the responsibilities they were given when employed at a company, rather than noting the goals they accomplished. For example, if you created a system for sorting and organizing paper and electronic files as a secretary, instead of stating that your ?responsibilities included sorting and organizing paper and electronic files,? you can make the process action-based.
In other words, try stating that you ?designed and developed a filing system that maintained both paper and electronic files for the entire office.? The more specific you are about what you accomplished, the easier the prospective employer can create a vivid image of your capabilities.
Use the Right Keywords
When creating your resume, ?do? try to incorporate keywords that define the industry you?re working in. What are keywords exactly? They are words or phrases that are deemed popular in the industry you?re working in. For instance, in the pharmaceuticals industry, you may use the word ?pharma? because it is easily identifiable by an industry professional. Or in marketing, you might want to utilize the phrase ?trade show? because this is something marketers very often participate in.
By incorporating keywords into your resume, you can make sure that any scanning software can catch the words to help sort your resume accordingly. This increases your chances of having your resume noticed ? especially if you apply online ? and gives employers an idea of just how much you know about your industry.
Know the Purpose of Your Resume
Another ?do? that?s important to keep in mind when writing your resume is knowing its purpose, which is to land an interview. Very often, job seekers become accustomed to creating carbon-copy resumes that look good, read well, but present the same information over and over again with no real purpose in mind. So instead of jotting down carbon-copy information that sounded good for the last resume, why not think of what you can put in this resume that will impress this prospective employer ? and hopefully help you get your foot in the door for an interview?
Use Bullet Points
If you want to make sure that the hiring manager can easily flow through your resume, it?s a good idea to use bullet points. While it may be tempting to write paragraphs as your great ideas flow through your fingers, it?s usually better to separate the ideas on paper to help the manager clearly identify the main points of your resume.
Knowing what to add to your resume can help improve its quality ten-fold. So keep these ?dos? in mind as you write what may be the masterpiece of all resumes.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://resumelines.com.