US Jobs Vacancies has posted a new item, 'Eight Ways to Maximize Your Cover
Letter's Power'
Like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs, rsums and cover letters go
hand-in-hand. Although both pieces are valuable on their own, they pack the most
punch when served together. But while all job seekers know the importance of a
well-organized rsum, many don't understand the power of a strong cover letter.
In addition to reinforcing key skills and experience, a cover letter
demonstrates your desire to work for the employer and the specific ways in which
your expertise can benefit the firm. More importantly, it helps differentiate
you from other job seekers and provides incentive to contact you for an
interview. Even if composition isn't your forte, you can still create a killer
cover letter.
Here's how:1. Know your stuff.|Before you begin writing, learn as much as you
can about the potential employer. Visit the firm's Web site and scan industry
publications to familiarize yourself with recent news about the company, such as
quarterly earnings, and to learn about future plans, like expansion into new
markets. The more you know about an organization, the better you can tailor your
cover letter to the firm's needs.2. Personalize it.Never begin a cover letter
with "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom it May Concern." Correspondence with
generic salutations often signal to potential employers that you lack the
initiative to locate the appropriate contact. If a job listing does not include
the name of the hiring manager, call the company's receptionist and explain the
position you are applying for to see if he or she can help you fill in the
blank.3. Start strong.A good cover letter begins with a powerful opening
paragraph. Your goal is to briefly describe how you heard about the position and
why you're interested in it. Skip cute introductions: "Teamwork is my middle
name" or "I am smart as a whip," for example. A "catchy" opening can appear
stilted and insincere and offers little, if any, value to the piece.4. Offer an
enticement.The body of the letter should expand upon -- not simply repeat -- the
key points in your rsum. Highlight those skills and experiences most relevant to
the job opening and provide concrete examples of how you can benefit the
company. For example, if you are applying for a management position, share how
turnover within your department decreased by 20 percent during your tenure. Or
communicate how your attention to detail and ability to adapt quickly to new
environments allow you to deliver first-rate client service.5. Be bold.In
addition to expressing gratitude for the hiring manager's time and interest,
close your letter by outlining your next steps. Be proactive by stating when you
will contact him or her to follow up. Doing so is a great way to reinforce your
enthusiasm for the job. However, don't forget to include a phone number or
e-mail address where you can be reached in case the firm wants to get in touch
with you first. In addition to following best practices, you'll want to avoid
common pitfalls when composing your cover letter:6. Getting ahead of
yourself.Focusing on matters such as expected salary and title can come across
as presumptuous and untimely. Wait until you have secured a meeting and become
better acquainted with the hiring manager to mention these topics.7. Goofing the
proof.Our company's research consistently shows that one or two typographical
errors are enough to discourage a hiring manager from calling you back. Utilize
your computer's spell-check function, but also ask friends and family to
double-check your work. You don't want a small mistake to call your
professionalism or attention to detail into question.8. Forgetting the format.If
you submit your application via e-mail, make sure to prepare the file as a plain
text document so it is universally compatible. Remove all formatting
enhancements, such as underline or boldface, and replace bullets with asterisks
or dashes. If you fail to do so, your recipient may receive a bowl of alphabet
soup. Also, paste the cover letter into the body of an e-mail to save hiring
managers the worry of corrupt or unreadable attachments. Some job seekers spend
hours assembling a rsum and only a short amount of time on the accompanying
note. Submitting a thoughtful and well-written cover letter, however, can help
you outshine your competition and get you one step closer to an interview.
You may view the latest post at
http://jobsvacancies.us/eight-ways-to-maximize-your-cover-letters-power/
Best regards,
US Jobs Vacancies
http://jobsvacancies.us
