|
|||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||
|
Home » Articles » Getting Started » Winning Cover Letters Winning Cover Letters
|
|||||||||||
| |
Winning Cover Letters
by Peter Newfield
Your cover letter presents your
intentions, qualifications, and availability to a prospective employer in a
succinct, appealing format. It's your first chance to make a good impression. A
personalised letter indicates you are serious about your job search. Your CV
can give the details of dates, places of employment and education, but your
cover letter must entice the reader to take the extra few minutes to consider
you when faced with hundreds and thousands of candidates for any one job
vacancy.
1. Do you really need a cover letter?
Definitely!
Just as you would never show up unannounced at a prospective employer's door,
your CV should never just appear alone on a decision- maker's desk. Your cover
letter is your first opportunity to introduce yourself, present your
qualifications, and show the employer you are a potential candidate for the
advertised position.
2. Personalise it to the company.
Anyone can reproduce a standard cover letter and hope for the best.
Instead, take a few minutes to personalise your letters by showing that you are
really serious about working for the companies you are contacting. State the
reason you are interested in working for that particular company. Mention a
department, a new project the company is involved in, an acquisition the
company has made. Show that you have done your homework. Address the cover
letter to a specific individual whenever possible.
3. Why are you
sending your CV and cover letter?
Cover letters should be clear and to
the point. Include the specific job title, two to three reasons why your
experience makes you suitable, and a brief outline of your career to date.
4. Highlight your strengths!
You may be a great person and
never call in sick, but prospective employers really want to know why they
should consider you for this position. Boast a little! Give a few facts, list
relevant skills, and state achievements on your present or most recent jobs
that will be impressive. Increased overseas sales by 93%? Negotiated new
financial loans? Implemented new training schemes which reduced staff turnover
by 15%?
5. State your intentions and qualifications from the
outset.
If you expect a senior personnel manager or recruiter to wade
through a mish-mash of information on your cover letter before understanding
why you are sending your CV, the chances are, it will never happen.
6. What makes you different?
Emphasise your skills, talents, and
experiences to show how you would be a valuable addition to the team. If you
have relevant volunteer or professional experience include it briefly in your
cover letter. Example: An accountant who serves as volunteer treasurer for a
local charity organisation; an international sales rep who has lived in Europe
and Asia and speaks several languages.
7. No negative information!
Never include personality conflicts with previous employers, pending
tribunals, or sarcastic remarks in your cover letter. If you are bad-mouthing
your present place of employment, interviewers may fear a repeat performance if
they hire you.
8. When should you include salary/relocation
information?
The general rule of thumb is to always include salary
requirements and/or salary history in the cover letter if a prospective
employer requests it. For example: My salary requirements are
£30,000-£40,000 (negotiable). Or: My current salary is
£33,000 at XYZ Ltd. To eliminate this information from your cover letter
may result in your CV getting thrown out. Never include salary and relocation
information on your CV, this information should only ever appear in your cover
letter.
9. Action Steps to Take Take a proactive approach in your
cover letter.
State the fact that you are available for a personal
interview; give your home, work, e-mail, and/or mobile phone numbers where you
can be reached; say that you will follow up by phone (where possible) to
provide any additional information required.
10. Be direct!
A professionally written cover letter and CV can give you a leg-up to
the next rung on the career ladder, as well as opening the doors to a new
career in a different field. A clean, error-free presentation combined with
strong phrasing and solid facts will encourage the reader to review the
attached CV and call you in for an interview.
Peter Newfield is
President of CV writing service Career CVs.
Visit CV Masterclass - There is nowhere else on earth where you
can see exactly what turns a bad CV into a good one.
Disclaimer
Net Media Marketing excludes any
warranty, express or implied, as to the quality, accuracy, timeliness,
completeness or fitness for a particular purpose of this briefing. Net Media
Marketing will not be liable for any claims, penalties, losses, damages, costs,
or expenses arising from the use of or inability to use this briefing or from
any unauthorised access to or alteration of the Briefing. Net Media Marketing
makes no warranty that the contents of this briefing are compatible with all
computer systems and browsers.
All jobs &
Vacancies, Pharmaceutical
sales jobs, Healthcare sales
jobs, Laboratory sales jobs,
Veterinary sales jobs,
Dental sales jobs,
Trainee
medical sales jobs, Nurse Advisor
jobs, Sales Management
jobs, Marketing
jobs, Senior Management
jobs, Regulatory &
Clinical jobs, Scientific Sales
Jobs, Pharmaceutical jobs,
Pharmaceutical
Company
|
|
