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Cover Letter: Should or Shouldn’t you?
Everything is relative and everything is dependent upon the situation, so there is no clear answer to this question. So what inspired this question? Well, some of my clients have asked, and I have also been wondering myself. This article on the NY Times website provides some good insight to cover letters, but I’m still not convinced if they are needed. I will say this though; it doesn’t hurt to include a cover letter if done correctly.
Much like an effective resume, your cover letters must make a powerful statement. They must be free of grammatical error, spelling mistakes, and keep the attention of the reader. One sure way to lose the attention of the hiring manger is to talk about yourself throughout the letter! Yes, you are selling yourself to this company, but you are selling the fact that you can be an asset to them. Talk about how you care about making a positive impact for the company, not just your pocket book.
Here are a few times that you would definitely want to use a cover letter:
1. You are changing careers and you have no work experience in the new career. In this scenario, you should include a cover letter to explain your position. You may have volunteer or other practical experiences that would warrant you getting the job.
2. You want to fax or mail your resume to stand out. This is a perfect scenario for using a cover letter! It provides a perfect introduction and rationale.
3. You have a break in your work history that needs an explanation. A cover letter would be great to explain the value you provide, why you have been away from the work place for some time, or to explain the gaps between jobs.
Again, I’m not sure that you should send a cover letter for every job position. My opinion is that it is a waste of time, especially in this job market. Hiring managers don’t have the time go through all of the resumes that they have now, much less resumes with cover letters. If you want to stand out and far above the crowd, there are other, more effective ways to do so.
Much like an effective resume, your cover letters must make a powerful statement. They must be free of grammatical error, spelling mistakes, and keep the attention of the reader. One sure way to lose the attention of the hiring manger is to talk about yourself throughout the letter! Yes, you are selling yourself to this company, but you are selling the fact that you can be an asset to them. Talk about how you care about making a positive impact for the company, not just your pocket book.
Here are a few times that you would definitely want to use a cover letter:
1. You are changing careers and you have no work experience in the new career. In this scenario, you should include a cover letter to explain your position. You may have volunteer or other practical experiences that would warrant you getting the job.
2. You want to fax or mail your resume to stand out. This is a perfect scenario for using a cover letter! It provides a perfect introduction and rationale.
3. You have a break in your work history that needs an explanation. A cover letter would be great to explain the value you provide, why you have been away from the work place for some time, or to explain the gaps between jobs.
Again, I’m not sure that you should send a cover letter for every job position. My opinion is that it is a waste of time, especially in this job market. Hiring managers don’t have the time go through all of the resumes that they have now, much less resumes with cover letters. If you want to stand out and far above the crowd, there are other, more effective ways to do so.
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Comment by Cutter Mitchell on March 28, 2009 at 7:59pm -
I think this is a great article. But I want to add my own two cents. Anyone out there, submitting their resume should included a cover letter. That said, there is no minimum length to a cover letter. It could be as simple as "I am interested in seeing what opportunities I might have at a company such as yours. I am drawn to the strong reputation and notoriety of your company and would be interested in furthering my career with a company such as yours."
I can never hurt you. One last thing to consider, when there are 100 resumes piling up for the same job your cover letter is a way to make your self standout before you get the interview. Think of it as the voluntary interview before the interview.
Be cleaver and make sure to say something about yourself that will make you stand out. For instance, in the example above adding something like, "Actually I have been interested in a position at your company for some time now, ever since I spent some time in Asia and saw your operation there." Or something like that. The Idea here is more than just complimenting the company/employer you are telling them I am well traveled, know my way around international business, and have a better understanding of the company than most outsiders.
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Comment by cover letter on April 9, 2009 at 6:23am
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These are some important paragraphs or points to make a cover letter:
* In your first paragraph, explain why you are writing.
* In the second paragraph highlight why you are a good candidate for the position, convey a clear story about your career, and detail what you can do to help the company reach its goals.
* Your closing paragraph should indicate how you will follow up on your submission.
Thanks
Cover Letter
http://www.internzoo.com/Article/internship-advice/cover-letter.aspx
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