Applying for a Job | Resume Cover Letter
Applying for a job not only entails preparing a quality CV or Curriculum Vitae but also a resume cover letter that helps to get you to stand out from the crowd. Make no mistake; you will not be the only applicant for advertised jobs whether that is a job advertised online, in a newspaper or journal.
No doubt when you put together your CV you looked for c v examples and finding a sample resume online is a good way to start. Why not search for resume cover letters as you will probably find cv covering letters to suit the industry and job and free letter sample.
JOB SEARCH TIPS Resume, CV, Cover Letter, and Job Letter Samples ... - Review sample resumes and letters to get ideas for both the formatting and the content of your job search materials. Then, use a template to create your own.
Remember that a letter for a job is what it implies, a letter for a job and not just a cv covering letter. Change the content of the letter so that it is clear that you have given some thought to the job requirements and emphasises your relevant skills, experience and enthusiasm for the position.
Let us look at reasons why you should send a CV cover letter:
6 Good Reasons to Send a CV Cover Letter
When you realize there are at least 6 good reasons to send a CV cover letter, it is surprising that some people still don't write and send one with their CV when applying for a new job. Perhaps it's because they don't understand the importance of this cover letter, or may be they are just too lazy to send one.
That's never good enough; when you are trying to make an impression with your job application, you cannot afford not to send a CV cover letter.
Here is why:
- Some hiring managers only read the covering letter, so if there isn't one you're out;
- The CV covering letter allows you to express your interest in a precise and targeted way;
- Recruitment advertisers often ask for some specific information which belongs in the covering letter;
- You will be seen as (a) lazy or (b) disinterested if you don't send a covering letter;
- The main advantage of the cover letter is that you can match yourself to the employer's needs;
- You can demonstrate why you are the strongest candidate as well as gently flattering the receiver.
When you do send a CV cover letter that is well written and demonstrates your interest and suitability, you are giving your self the best possible start to an eventual relationship with the prospective employer.
You should not underestimate the importance of this cover letter in your approach to the new organization; they expect you to make an effort and help them to select you for interview.
So when you realize there are at least 6 good reasons to send a CV cover letter, there is no excuse for some people not to write and send one with their CV when applying for a new job. If you did not previously understand the importance of this cover letter, you should think differently now so don't let yourself down by being too lazy to send one.
Peter Fisher is an expert Author and Publisher. He coaches and writes for people undergoing career change with everything you need to make a success of your career. Download CV Cover Letter information.
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Having established that there are important and legitimate reasons why you should send a resume cover letter to accompany your CV, following is very good advice about how to construct your letter.
The Secrets of the Best Covering Letters - Tips, Advice and Suggestions
When reading travel industry job applications, I find the covering letter is often treated as an afterthought... a formality only included because convention dictates it should be so. That's actually the wrong way to think about things, and here's why: The CV cover letter is the first thing your contact at the organization will see, and you don't want it to be the last!
With potentially hundreds of applications to wade through, every minute counts for these people, and if your covering letter is poorly written, long winded, dull or generic, there's every chance that the CV you spent all night crafting will never actually be read.
Here's some advice on how to write a covering letter that's sure to make them read your CV - which is the very purpose it is supposed to serve!
Make it unique
A common mistake in the cover letter is to use a generic template - either with minor details like the name of the company and industry changed or, worse, a covering letter suited to anyone but tailored to no one. To stand out, you have to make the effort of targeting your CV cover letter to the job you're interested in. With that in mind, there are some aspects you should make sure you know before you put pen to paper on your covering letter:
There are three things you should know before you begin:
All about the company
If you can drop some details about the company into the CV cover letter, you're making it clear that you're serious about the job and have made an effort in your application. It'll also prove invaluable when you get to interview to be feel comfortable talking about the company's values and history - you may not need it, but if the chance comes up to discuss your homework without feeling forced, then it can't hurt.
All about the job
Make sure you know that job description inside out! It'll list the kind of qualities, experience and qualifications you will need, and it is important to ensure all the points are covered in your covering letter.
The name of your contact
Make an effort to find the name of the contact you need. Personally addressed cover letters tend to have a far better chance of being paid attention to than those generic unspecific missives. If you don't know the name of the manager in charge of the department you're looking to work in, then find out - either through industry contacts, or simply a call to their HR department.
How to write a covering letter
There are two important things to bear in mind when it comes to actually writing up your cover letter - if you stick to these two rules you should be fine:
1) Avoid clichéd positive statements ("I feel that my qualifications and experience suit the demands of the role"), and be specific and unique, and
2) the more succinct you can be, the better. Your covering letter should be as brief as possible, while still acting as an enticing bridge between the job and your CV - if you can't fit everything in, don't be afraid to leave them wanting more (but tell them enough to still be interested!)
Bearing those two covering letter tips in mind, the rest is largely up to you. However, as formats go to ensure you can remember every pertinent detail, this is a rather nice layout, and should take you no more than a page:
Dear (Name - remember the CV cover letter should be as personalized as possible)
Paragraph 1 - This should be a very brief introduction informing them of what job you are looking to apply to. It's tempting here to write where you heard about the position, but as this is a) something everybody does and b) not important, it's just the kind of detail that can be sacrificed in aid of brevity!
Paragraph 2 - This is the point in your cover letter that you launch into your sales pitch. Match your qualities and qualifications to the specifics of the position as advertised, in an enthusiastic manner. Explain what qualities you can offer the company, and not what the company can do for you! This is the ideal opportunity to drop in any relevant details you've found while researching the company, but don't force it if it doesn't seem natural.
Paragraph 3 - This is where you should be sealing the deal! 2-4 sentences, tops and with something - a statement or question - which will make the reader want to get in contact with you. You should also include contact details, your availability and an invitation to find out more about you. You should also draw attention to your attached CV, which will give a lot more detail than the covering letter you have just concluded.
One final covering letter tip for when you close: sign it appropriately. A quick refresher course: It's "Yours sincerely" if you know the name of the person involved, and "Yours faithfully" if you do not. If you are mailing a copy, sign it by hand in blue ink, to make it obvious you have taken the time to sign it personally and have not used a photocopy.
There are no hard and fast rules of how to write a covering letter, but it should be the connecting point between your CV and the job you want - it needs to fill in the gaps that your CV cannot reveal on its own. Although my experience is mainly in travel industry jobs, the advice should be universal: keep it brief and make them want to learn more and you should be onto a winner - provided your CV doesn't let you down.
Gail Kenny is the managing director of Gail Kenny Executive Search, an executive travel recruitment agency specialising in travel industry jobs. The site caters exclusively to talented individuals with skills and experience to succeed in the travel management, and businesses looking for such candidates.
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Also see:
5 Great Reason To Send A CV Cover Letter - Recent Posts. Special gift · Secrets Of Writing A Cover Letter Guaranteed To Get You An Interview! 5 Great Reason To Send A CV Cover Letter ... 5 Great Reason To Send A CV Cover Letter ...
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