Now that you've written the heading and body of your cover letter, you need a strong close to seal the deal.
What should be included in the close of the letter?
The most important thing is your contact information. Even though your resume will have this information, you still want to have it in the close of your letter. Include this along with the statement that you're looking forward to talking to the reader in person.
This is NOT where you tell you them you'll call them to set up a time. You need to leave the ball in their court for now. Simply state that you're available during a set amount of times and the best way to get a hold of you.
Always end the letter with "Sincerely" and nothing too informal. If you are sending a physical letter, always leave room for your signature and sign it. You can also sign the letter if you are sending a scanned copy via email.
Tomorrow we'll discuss following up with your application and when it's appropriate.
If you have any questions regarding your cover letter or resume, please let us know in the comments section below.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Cover Letter Series: Part Two - Body
Think of the body of your cover letter as a summary of your resume. This is where you will grab the attention of the reader and make them want to not only read your cover letter but your resume as well.
First, tell the reader how you learned about the position. This can happen through referring to the publication the job listing appeared in or the person who told you about the position. Be as specific as possible.
You also want to address why the employer should hire you. Give them exact reasons why you're the best person for the job. You can do this by placing bullet points in your letter that focus on your strengths. For example, your strengths may be your experience, background, and education. Put three bullet points in your letter explaining exactly why those make you a good candidate.
Make sure you're specific in listing your strengths so that you gather enough interest to make an employer want to review your resume and invite you to come in for an interview.
Tomorrow we'll talk about the close of your letter and how to show you're ready to get started in the interview process.
Have questions on how to structure your cover letter? We welcome your questions in the comment sections below.
First, tell the reader how you learned about the position. This can happen through referring to the publication the job listing appeared in or the person who told you about the position. Be as specific as possible.
You also want to address why the employer should hire you. Give them exact reasons why you're the best person for the job. You can do this by placing bullet points in your letter that focus on your strengths. For example, your strengths may be your experience, background, and education. Put three bullet points in your letter explaining exactly why those make you a good candidate.
Make sure you're specific in listing your strengths so that you gather enough interest to make an employer want to review your resume and invite you to come in for an interview.
Tomorrow we'll talk about the close of your letter and how to show you're ready to get started in the interview process.
Have questions on how to structure your cover letter? We welcome your questions in the comment sections below.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Cover Letter Series: Part One - Heading
The key element to remember before you write your cover letter is that this is a business document. This is a formal document where you will provide a brief overview of your skills and qualifications to a potential employer and it should be treated as such.
You will want to start with the date, your address, and the company address. Sometimes you won't have the company name or address, especially if you are applying online, so it's ok to leave it blank if that's the case. The job listing may give the company name so you may be able to get the address from viewing their website. Always try to get as much information as you can so the document looks as professional as possible.
Another part of your cover letter that you want to pay special attention to is the salutation. This is where you will want to address the specific person at the company that the letter is going to. Again, with online job postings you may not have a specific name to use. You can use the standard "To Whom It May Concern" but a name is always best.
Also, never assume that someone is a Miss/Mrs./Mr. They could have a first name like Terry or Pat. These names are used for both genders so never assume they are male or female unless you know for sure.
Tomorrow we will talk about the body of your cover letter and what should and shouldn't be included there.
Questions on how you should format your cover letter? Feel free to ask us in the comments below.
You will want to start with the date, your address, and the company address. Sometimes you won't have the company name or address, especially if you are applying online, so it's ok to leave it blank if that's the case. The job listing may give the company name so you may be able to get the address from viewing their website. Always try to get as much information as you can so the document looks as professional as possible.
Another part of your cover letter that you want to pay special attention to is the salutation. This is where you will want to address the specific person at the company that the letter is going to. Again, with online job postings you may not have a specific name to use. You can use the standard "To Whom It May Concern" but a name is always best.
Also, never assume that someone is a Miss/Mrs./Mr. They could have a first name like Terry or Pat. These names are used for both genders so never assume they are male or female unless you know for sure.
Tomorrow we will talk about the body of your cover letter and what should and shouldn't be included there.
Questions on how you should format your cover letter? Feel free to ask us in the comments below.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Do You Need a Cover Letter?
Before we get into the cover letter writing part of our series, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about whether or not you should include a cover letter with your resume when submitting a job application.
Unless the job application specifically states to NOT include a cover letter, you should always include one. We once had a client that complained that he wasn't getting any attention from the job applications he was submitting. We reviewed his resume and everything seemed good. So we asked to see his cover letter. His reply - I don't have one. Ugh!
We prepared a cover letter for him and guess what? The first application he submitted with it gained him an interview. You must include this with your resume. It is the perfect way for a recruiter to have a brief overview of your skills and qualifications without them having to read your resume word for word.
Remember, recruiters receive about 100 resumes per job opening so they need a way to "weed" you out from all the others. It also shows them that you took the time to prepare a cover letter and that you're serious about the job you are applying for.
Has submitting a cover letter with your job applications made a difference for you? Have you been asked for an interview without submitting one? Let us know in the comments below.
The rest of this week we will be going over the key elements of a cover letter. If you would like us to discuss another topic in the future, please post it in the comments section.
Unless the job application specifically states to NOT include a cover letter, you should always include one. We once had a client that complained that he wasn't getting any attention from the job applications he was submitting. We reviewed his resume and everything seemed good. So we asked to see his cover letter. His reply - I don't have one. Ugh!
We prepared a cover letter for him and guess what? The first application he submitted with it gained him an interview. You must include this with your resume. It is the perfect way for a recruiter to have a brief overview of your skills and qualifications without them having to read your resume word for word.
Remember, recruiters receive about 100 resumes per job opening so they need a way to "weed" you out from all the others. It also shows them that you took the time to prepare a cover letter and that you're serious about the job you are applying for.
Has submitting a cover letter with your job applications made a difference for you? Have you been asked for an interview without submitting one? Let us know in the comments below.
The rest of this week we will be going over the key elements of a cover letter. If you would like us to discuss another topic in the future, please post it in the comments section.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
3 Things You Shouldn't Include on Your Resume
When you send out a resume, you must realize that this is the first impression you create with potential employers. Any mistake at this point could jeopardize your chances of getting in for an interview.
In spite of this, a lot of recruiters complain that people still make too many mistakes on their resume.
There are quite a few things that people mistakenly put on their resume. Today we are going to discuss the main three that get people into trouble.
What do you think shouldn't be on a resume? If you have the right qualifications, does it matter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
P.S. Be sure to look at this past week's posts for tips on creating your resume. Next week we'll be covering how to structure your cover letter.
In spite of this, a lot of recruiters complain that people still make too many mistakes on their resume.
There are quite a few things that people mistakenly put on their resume. Today we are going to discuss the main three that get people into trouble.
- Information not related to the job - this could be anything from details about the job candidate's life such as kids, marital status, or associations that could cause you to look unprofessional.
- Salary information - never include what your salary was at your previous positions. Also, don't include salary expectations either. If a potential employer asks for salary history or what range you're looking for, create a separate document listing out all the necessary details.
- False information - never, ever, ever lie on anything related to your job application. Whether it be the job application itself, your resume, cover letter, or in the interview, always be honest and tell the truth. Some companies have become very sophisticated in their background checks, and if you're caught lying, you could not only risk you're chances of getting the job, you damage your reputation as well.
What do you think shouldn't be on a resume? If you have the right qualifications, does it matter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
P.S. Be sure to look at this past week's posts for tips on creating your resume. Next week we'll be covering how to structure your cover letter.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Resume Series: Part Five - Skills and Competencies
For the last part of our resume series, we are going to talk about the Skills & Competencies section of your resume.
This should be the last section listed on your resume. This is where you get to show your overall accomplishments and talents as they relate to the job that you seek.
You will mostly list things here that pertain to all of your career and education. For example, this will be where you list software and computer skills. You can also list awards and special honors here.
Overall, your skills and competencies should be placed throughout your resume but this is where you can highlight them.
An example of entries in your Skills & Competencies section would look like the following:
Have questions on what you should include in the Skills section of your resume? Please let us know in the comments below.
**Special note: Make sure to follow us next week as we discuss how to structure a cover letter.
This should be the last section listed on your resume. This is where you get to show your overall accomplishments and talents as they relate to the job that you seek.
You will mostly list things here that pertain to all of your career and education. For example, this will be where you list software and computer skills. You can also list awards and special honors here.
Overall, your skills and competencies should be placed throughout your resume but this is where you can highlight them.
An example of entries in your Skills & Competencies section would look like the following:
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, WordPress, Blogger, 10-key by touch, and types 40 WPM.
- Dependable, self-motivated, quick learner, team player, personable, and committed to doing a good job.
Have questions on what you should include in the Skills section of your resume? Please let us know in the comments below.
**Special note: Make sure to follow us next week as we discuss how to structure a cover letter.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Resume Series: Part Four - Education
In part four of our series, we're going to discuss the Education portion of your resume.
This section will usually come after the Experience section. One reason to list it first would be if your educaton background is stronger than your experience or if you haven't worked in the field before.
List your education history in the order of the highest degree received. So if you have a Bachelor's and a Masters Degree, you will want to list the Masters degree first.
Include with your degree information, your major, the college name, and dates you attended. Some companies will like to see your GPA but you shouldn't need to place it on your resume unless requested.
Another thing to include with this section would be any other courses related to the job you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a grant writing job and you took a correspondence course on grant writing, include it on your resume.
You don't need to include your high school information unless you are new to the workforce or if you don't have any other educational background.
Have questions about the Education portion of your resume? Please let us know in the comments below.
This section will usually come after the Experience section. One reason to list it first would be if your educaton background is stronger than your experience or if you haven't worked in the field before.
List your education history in the order of the highest degree received. So if you have a Bachelor's and a Masters Degree, you will want to list the Masters degree first.
Include with your degree information, your major, the college name, and dates you attended. Some companies will like to see your GPA but you shouldn't need to place it on your resume unless requested.
Another thing to include with this section would be any other courses related to the job you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a grant writing job and you took a correspondence course on grant writing, include it on your resume.
You don't need to include your high school information unless you are new to the workforce or if you don't have any other educational background.
Have questions about the Education portion of your resume? Please let us know in the comments below.
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