3 Tips to Cover Letter Writing

What Is The Cover Letter?

Most people hate writing a cover letter even more than they hate preparing a resume! I recently worked with a job seeker who said that he refused to apply for any graduate roles that required a cover letter to accompany the application. This is was what I liked to call a “resume bomber” – someone whose aim is to apply to as many jobs as possible and just “hope for the best”. Unfortunately, he quickly realised that most companies not only require a cover letter, but demand a cover letter. If a hiring manager sees that a cover letter is missing from the job application, it is more than likely that the resume will be deleted immediately. From the viewpoint of a hiring manager – if the candidate cannot follow basic instructions in applying for a job, how can they be trusted to perform the job?

Before we begin to go through the importance of the cover letter, it is important to define exactly what the cover letter is and what purpose it serves.

The cover letter is an introductory letter to accompany the resume or curriculum vitae. The cover letter is not a job application, nor should it be a part of the resume or follow the conclusion of the resume.

In the competitive job environment where first impressions count and the time we have to impress the potential reader is becoming shorter and shorter, the most effective way to ensure that your application stands out from the competition is through a professionally written cover letter. There is, however, a fine line between a cover letter that enhances your application and a cover letter that can actually do you a disservice.

Top 3 Tips to Cover Letter Writing:

First impressions:

You may have the greatest personality and the exact skills required for a particular job, but without a compelling cover letter that attracts the reader’s attention immediately you will never get the opportunity to prove that you are the perfect candidate. Establish your reason for applying to the role within the first couple of sentences. As a job seeker you need to establish your “brand” and make it clear to the reader that you have unique attributes that make you the perfect person for the job.

Target your cover letter:

A “one size fits all” approach to job seeking does not work. There is no quick fix to getting a new job and a generic cover letter will be spotted from a mile away! The key to cover letter writing is to individualise the cover letter to the reader and make sure that they know that your letter has been written for their specific job. A targeted cover letter can help open doors and portray that professional image.

Forget the Clichés!

I can’t stand clichés! It’s my number one pet hate. When I read through a cover letter, I want the person’s personality to shine. The last thing I want to read is a cliché. As the hiring manager, I want to feel that what I am reading is a truthful assessment as opposed to statements that do not add any value to the person’s application.

The final point to remember…

If you are serious about your job search, you need to get serious about preparing a targeted cover letter to compliment your resume. As mentioned above, first impressions rule and to ensure that your resume is given a chance, you need your cover letter to shine. In the ultra competitive job environment, hiring managers are looking for any excuse to delete a candidate’s application. Do not let yourself down by failing at the very first step.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com

RedStarResume is the number one source for expert Resume Writing and Cover Letter Services

During the last decade, RedStarResume has successfully written hundreds of professional resumes for candidates across the globe. From the student or entry level position to the CEO, our unique, custom-made resumes are written specifically to match the goals and desires of our clients and to help them land jobs.

What Does Your Email Address Say About You

First impressions are important when it comes to job seeking, and an email address can make quite a first impression. Often times, the email address is the first thing a hiring manager sees – before even seeing your name! Before you send out your next resume, consider what your email address alone might say about you. Do you “appear” professional?

As most job applications are sent via email these days, your email address alone can play a huge role into whether or not your re

sume is opened. I have heard numerous stories from hiring managers about applications getting tossed simply because of someone’s email address. Often times, email addresses at face value appear to be spam and are never even opened. Email addresses like “sexykitten0007” or “bigmuscles”, for example, might be automatically filtered into a spam folder by an email server because of word content.

The good news is that hiring managers are quite straightforward in what they believe makes up an “unprofessional” or

Wrong Name: John_smith@….com (when your real name is David Jones)unappealing email address. While it may sound harsh that most hiring managers critique email addresses, it does happen because they do create a first impression. Below are 7 deadly email sins to make sure to stay away from so you don’t end up in the “unprofessional” pile.

Don’t confuse the reader from the start! Is your name John Smith or David Jones? There is no reason to have the h

iring manager ask this type of question at the start of your resume.

Fantasy Name: Invisibleman@….com

Are you applying for a job or are you auditioning for a video game?

Creepy Name: collegestrangler@….com

Sportsperson: tigerwoods50@….comGiven the fact that over 80% of companies now run background checks on potential employees, there is no reason to give an employer the impression that you may have a criminal record.

This might have been ok when you were in high school, but not in the workplace.

The numbers: 998877665544@….com

Confusing! You are just asking for someone to send an email to the wrong place.

The Crude Name: hairychest@….com

Not a good first impression. Also, many of these email addresses contain words that will usually get filtered into the spam folder

Confess love email address: bonjovilover@….com
So…what should you do? Stick to the basics. The best email addresses will contain your full or partial name, followed by either characters or numbers. Think about how most workplace email addresses are set up – most of them contain a combination of an employee’s first and last name. Try to mimic this – a professional email address represents a professional job candidate. Don’t give your reader the wrong impression!Again, you are applying for a job, not a role as a groupie.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com

RedStarResume is the number one source for expert Resume Writing and Cover Letter Services

During the last decade, RedStarResume has successfully written hundreds of professional resumes for candidates across the globe. From the student or entry level position to the CEO, our unique, custom-made resumes are written specifically to match the goals and desires of our clients and to help them land jobs.

Top 10 Secrets to a Great International Resume

As if it isn’t hard enough to design a resume, when it comes to looking for work in another country, you also have to know the acceptable formats and guidelines for writing a resume that gets noticed by foreign recruiters.

Join us for an info-packed session designed to show you some of the top secrets to making sure your resume gets noticed AND accepted by hiring managers in the country where you are applying for jobs.

Co-Founder of RedStarResumes.com, Gavin Redelman will share some of the little-know tricks of the trade to developing a resume that works for a foreign audience.

Come learn how differences in spelling, pictures and even design format could send your resume to the “no” pile!

If you are looking for work in another country, you can’t afford to miss this session!

Click Here to Sign Up

Webinar Information

Date: February 21, 2012

Time: 7.00pm ET

Duration: 60 minutes

Host: Gavin Redelman

Cost: FREE

SIGN UP HERE

Host Information:

Gavin Redelman is the founder of RedStarResume and known as a career strategist and master of “Achievement Based” resume writing. Recognised as an expert in the field of resume writing, job search strategies, job interviewing and also as a prolific blogger and author, Gavin has had articles published around the world in newspapers, journals, student and graduate publications, career websites and magazines.