...Before writing a cover letter, its important to understand how it can help or hurt you. In the internship application process a cover letter is your first impression. It's an opportunity to tell a perspective employer why you’re the perfect fit for their internship and their office and just as importantly, a cover letter is an opportunity to tell an employer you don't care about their position, by writing a sloppy or template cover letter. Some valuable cover letter topics include, explaining why a position interests you, what you bring to the table, how you would be a great fit, or something unique about you that makes you different from the hundreds of other candidates. The ultimate goal of your cover letter is to get the reader excited to meet you for an interview to learn more. To summarize the points above, ingredients needed to make a successful cover letter are: Header with contact information: Including a header with your contact information on the cover letter makes you look professional and ensures your information will be easy to find. You should also consider including this header on all documents you’re submitting when applying, it demonstrates your professionalism and acts as an opportunity to brand yourself to the perspective employer. Who is your audience? Try to find the person who is in charge of intern hiring and address your cover letter and resume to them. Statistics show you have a better chance of being hired if you know who’s doing the hiring and...
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...Introduction to Cover Letters The cover letter is a document meant to accompany one’s resume when applying for or inquiring about a job. It provides you with an opportunity to really introduce yourself to your employer by explaining your interest in the company and position, why you are qualified, and what sets you above other potential applicants. Cover letters are very important because prospective employers use them to get a sense of each applicant beyond what their resume conveys. In fact, cover letters are often the first document read by employers, and may determine whether they bother with the resume at all. It is very important to know how to write a proper cover letter so that you can distinguish yourself as a worker and as a person. * Cover letters are typically around one page in length and consist of fourparagraphs, each of which performs a specific job to quickly inform the employer of why they should consider you for the position. In the following section, each standard component of a cover letter why it is essential to think carefully about how it is written. The Ingredients of a Cover Letter NEED an introduction here. There should always be something written after every heading. The Headings At the top of your cover letter, you must include two headings and a date. The first heading details your contact information. Your contact information can be left-justified, or it can match the same style of heading contact information as your resume for consistency...
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...bea1_c01.qxd 12/12/01 10:20 AM Page 1 1 Importance of Cover Letters The cover letter you choose for transmitting your resume to an employer or important networking contact can be one of the most significant factors in the success (or failure) of your job-hunting campaign. In fact, a survey of nearly 600 employment professionals, conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), suggests some 76% of employers may automatically eliminate an employment candidate from any further hiring consideration, based solely on the quality of his or her cover letter alone. Further, 43% of survey respondents also reported they view the cover letter as equal to the resume in importance. When it comes to running an effective employment campaign, therefore, this data should cause you to sit up and take notice! (Note: A copy of the full survey, which covers both cover letters and resumes can be obtained by contacting SHRM by phone, (703) 548-3440, or by e-mail at SHRM.org.) If well written and informative, the cover letter can grab the reader’s attention, raise his curiosity, and stimulate immediate interest in your employment candidacy. In fact, if particularly well written, it can sometimes raise sufficient interest to compel the reader to extend an interview invitation without reading the resume document to which it is attached. By contrast, a poorly written cover letter can be disastrous to an otherwise successful job-hunting campaign, serving as an immediate roadblock...
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...1. Understand the Coachee’s Current KSAs. To better assist my coachee in this process, I will need to understand her level of knowledge regarding what a cover letter entails. I initially will ask Nevada to explain all of her knowledge, abilities, skills and accomplishments in her interior design field. Questions to help her develop these answers could be through creating a SWOT analysis. 2. Build Trust, Show Empathy, Active Listening and Influence During the coaching session, I plan on being patient with my coachee, and engaging in active listening. I will do so by making a conscious effort and while listening suspend judgment, resist distractions, waiting before responding and paraphrasing what I hear. 3. Mutually Agree on Behavioral and Results Objectives I intend to teach Nevada the proper purpose and use of a cover letter and why knowing how to compose a proper cover letter is so essential. By creating this understanding I will be able to better assist Nevada in creating her cover letter and reach the objectives that have been mutually agreed upon which include: o The coachee will be able to compose a well written cover letter that showcases her creativity o The coachee will be able to show employers why she would be the best candidate to hire for the particular position o The...
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...WRITING A COVERING LETTER FOR SENDING A C.V. OR RESUME OR BIODATA Author: Prof. Pallavi Deshmukh Dear Readers! Till now you would have read many articles on How to write Resume and related material but today I am focusing on Cover Letter which as much important as your Resume is. Cover letters go hand-in-hand with resumes. While a resume presents a candidate’s general skills and qualifications, cover letters go into more detail regarding qualifications for a particular vacancy. Therefore, in most cases a cover letter should accompany a resume mailing, and should be tailored for each job opening whenever possible. ➢ How to address Address the cover letter to a specific individual whenever possible. Sometimes the name of the person is contained in the ad or posting. Blind ads with box number addresses are usually addressed as ‘Dear Recruiter’. For unsolicited cover letters, write to the Human Resources Director, or Head of the Department in which you are seeking employment (such as the Sales Manager or Director of Communications). A quick call to the organization will usually get you the information that you need. ➢ Content of letter It is a good idea to use the name of the individual whenever possible to make the letter more personal. Make sure that you have correct spelling of names and appropriate titles for your cover letter. a) Use the first paragraph to indicate why you are writing and to outline your qualifications. A typical first paragraph...
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...Cover Letters While your resume is a summary of your credentials, your cover letter should essentially be a sales pitch. Your aim is to demonstrate why your skills and your background make a perfect match for the position you're applying for. The cover letter is not the place to summarize your background--you have already done this in your resume. Remember, employers typically receive hundreds of resumes for each job opening. You must stand out from other job seekers in a positive way. The best way to distinguish yourself is to highlight one or two of your accomplishments or abilities that show you are an above-average candidate for this position. Stressing only one or two unique attributes will increase your chances of being remembered by the recruiter and getting to the interview stage, where you can elaborate on the rest of your accomplishments. You can also gain an extra edge by showing that you have some specific knowledge about the company and industry. This shows that your are genuinely interested in the job you are applying for--and that you are not blindly sending out hundreds of resumes. More importantly, the employer will view your interest as an indication that you are likely to stay with the company for a substantial period of time if you are hired. 10 Key Details to Remember When to send a cover letter: always mail a cover letter with your resume. Even if you are following up an advertisement that reads simply "send resume," be sure to include...
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...ladder of success, [Vault's] insights are priceless.” – Money magazine “The best place on the web to prepare for a job search.” – Fortune “[Vault guides] make for excellent starting points for job hunters and should be purchased by academic libraries for their career sections [and] university career centers.” – Library Journal “The granddaddy of worker sites.” – US News and World Report “A killer app.” – New York Times One of Forbes' 33 “Favorite Sites” – Forbes “To get the unvarnished scoop, check out Vault.” – Smart Money Magazine “Vault has a wealth of information about major employers and jobsearching strategies as well as comments from workers about their experiences at specific companies.” – The Washington Post “A key reference for those who want to know what it takes to get hired by a law firm and what to expect once they get there.” – New York Law Journal “Vault [provides] the skinny on working conditions at all kinds of companies from current and former employees.” – USA Today VAULT GUIDE TO RESUMES, COVER LETTERS & INTERVIEWS © 2003 Vault Inc. VAULT GUIDE TO RESUMES, COVER LETTERS & INTERVIEWS HOWARD LEIFMAN, PhD, MARCY LERNER AND THE STAFF OF VAULT © 2003 Vault Inc. Copyright © 2003 by Vault Inc. All rights reserved. All information in this book is subject to change without notice. Vault makes no claims as to the accuracy and reliability of the information contained within and disclaims all warranties. No part of this book may be reproduced...
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...What should I know before writing a cover letter for Federal government? Your cover letter is your opportunity to make a good first impression with the Federal hiring manager. It provides you with the chance to convince the hiring manager to read your résumé and it lets you explain how your experiences tie into the job to which you are applying to. Make sure that you have carefully read the description of duties outlined I the job announcement - Highlight qualifications and duties that your résumé speaks to and make sure that, if there are any gaps in your résumé, you can fill them in via your cover letter. Research the agency which you are applying to- Your cover letter is your first chance to express how your mindset matches up with that of the organization and make a personal connection with the hiring manager. Formatted clearly and professionally- Use a simple, clean font. Ensure that your cover letter is professional and matches your Federal government résumés format (font, size, header etc.) Specific rather than vague- Tell exactly what experiences you have had that make you a great candidate for the position, not merely that you have experience. Length- Your cover letter should be less than a page in length. Be concise and clear Once your letter is ready- Be sure to proofread it. Grammatical and spelling errors should be avoided at all costs. Delete colloquialisms and contractions. What should the content include? The first paragraph should identify the position you are...
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...Start Your Cover Letter With a Bang © Written By Jimmy Sweeney President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator If you're still reading, then I've caught your attention with the title. You can do the same with your job-search cover letters. Whether you call it a title or a headline, this little 'weapon' will hit the mark, pulling your reader right through your written communication from the first word to the last. Here's how to strike gold each time. Open your cover letter with a 'big bang'––a powerful headline––and yours may be the only one that makes it past the 'scan and trash' syndrome. Hiring managers are inundated with cover letters each day. If you want yours to stand out, grab their attention from the start. Sizzling titles are like a magnet––attracting the reader to the point where he cannot get away from it. He wants to read on because the headline is so compelling. A clever title that 'jumps' off the page scores every time! Titles and headlines do the hard work for you. Imagine the fabulous results YOU could enjoy if your cover letter opens with an exciting, can't-put-it-down headline that is so irresistible and unique, the hiring manager is actually eager to keep reading? The big bang headline is your passport to more quality job interviews in a hurry. You may be thinking it's difficult or that you're not clever enough to come up with a great headline. Not true. It's actually quite simple. I've provided some great examples to get...
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...recruitment documentation used in ASDA. I will be talking about the employability, personal and communication skills required when applying for a specific role. Every organisation has different recruitment documentations and I will outline which documentations will be cost effective for a business. And I will also explain the different skills needed for different jobs. Job Description I have searched online for a job suitable for my demographic in a well-known supermarket; ASDA. I have chosen the job role of being a checkout operator. The first recruitment documentation I will be explaining would be the job description. The purpose of this section is to allow the candidates to be aware of what they need to do for the role. The description covers the job title and explains what duties the candidates are responsible for. It is also a document stating the initial role of the job that is being advertised and allows candidates to know what they are applying for and allows them to be prepared for the interview. Job descriptions are used through all stages of the recruitment process and is often used in the advertisement, be reminded of this again in the interview stage and being a successful employee by revisiting this document that the job requires and the hours that they are expected to work. Person Specification Each job role will have a different person specification because each one will need different skills in order to fulfil the title. This recruitment documentation allows the...
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...The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received Harvard Business Review – David Silverman - 1:18 PM Monday June 15, 2009 In my last post I talked about how to make your résumé more likely to catch the attention of a hiring manager. As a follow up, I'd like to discuss cover letters. Here's my basic philosophy on them: don't bother. That's because the cover letters I see usually fall into one of three categories: The recap: The résumé in prose form. It's redundant, harder to read than the résumé, and provides no additional insight. The form letter: This says, essentially, "Dear Sir or Madam: I saw your ad in the paper and thought you might like me." And it's clearly a form letter where maybe they got my name and company right. If they're lucky, I will still take the time to read their résumé after being insulted with a form letter. The "I'm crazy": This one's rare, and it expands on the résumé of experience with some personal insights. Examples range from the merely batty ("I find batik as an art form has taught me to become both a better person and project manager.") to the truly terrifying ("I cast a pentagram hex and the central line pointed towards your job listing. I know you will find this as comforting as I do.") There are really only a few times to use a cover letter: 1. When you know the name of the person hiring 2. When you know something about the job requirement 3. When you've been personally referred (which might include 1 and 2) Under those conditions...
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...Graduate School Application Cover Letters: Paper applications and supporting material sent via the post to graduate schools require cover letters. Cover letters should be approximately 1-2 paragraphs and contain: 1) What is enclosed in the envelope and why. Do not make the reader guess why you are sending the following materials. State what program you are applying for and for what year/semester. 2) Tell specifically how you heard about their program. Write if their website impressed you, if it was a family member, friend, advisor, faculty, recruiter or mentor. It is appropriate to mention the name of that person in the cover letter, especially if it is a recruiter or someone who works in that program. 3) Convince them to really take a look at your application. Make sure the cover letter is well written and targeted for that program. The department website is a great way to incorporate the main points and goals of that program, 4) Take the opportunity to really show them your attitude. Success in the application process is 80 % attitude. The cover letter should state how excited you are about the prospect of becoming a student in the graduate program. 5) Provide or refer to any information that you would like to highlight about your application or anything you feel you were not able to mention in your application. Work and on-hand experience are great points to focus on. Sample Cover Letter: Hunter Thomas 14 Breakers Way Pacifica, CA 97854 hunterthomas@email...
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...Cover Letter Template - Applying with Cover Letter Only (A Youth Central Cover Letter Template) Use this cover letter template if: You're applying for a job that has been advertised You've been asked to apply using only a cover letter Some organisations will ask you to respond to their job requirements in a one-page cover letter. When this happens it's important to make sure you use your cover letter to link your experience and skills to the requirements of the job. When writing a letter like this you should include: Your name, email address and phone number at the top of the page on the right The name of the business and the contact person's full name on the left The date you wrote the letter on the right A reference line (e.g., "Re: Application for Administrative Assistant position") An address to the reviewer directly (e.g., "Dear Mr. Moyle" - don't use "To whom it may concern") An opening statement that briefly introduces you to the reader A paragraph that summarises your experience and skills A list of bullet points that uses one bullet per job requirement, clearly outlining the requirement and explaining how you meet it in no more than two lines A closing paragraph asking to arrange an interview If you don't have any formal work experience, other things you can mention in your cover letter include: General skills that help you work in a team and as part of an organisation Personal attributes that will help you learn...
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...don’t make margins too narrow (an inch all the way around is good), keep the font simple and 12 pt minimum (the last resume sample in the bulleted list you can get away with a smaller font to fit in the details). If you feel you don’t have enough information to include in your resume add other sports you play or list community service. The information on the resume must be factual, but this is the place where if your academics are not stellar and your soccer playing is, try to emphasize the great soccer player you are and make that jump off of the page. The academics will need to be on the resume too, but consider your strengths when you design your resume. Cover letters Every resume submitted to a college coach should be accompanied by a cover letter. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce yourself to the coach in a more personalized fashion. Here is a good format for cover letters: Paragraph 1 – Introduce yourself and let the college coach know that you are interested in his/her program. It is always wise to mention that you have done research and be sure to include the name of the specific college in this paragraph. Paragraph 2 – Let the coach know that you have enclosed your resume that details your academic standing and soccer experience. Highlight your GPA and indicate what you would like to study in college if you know. Write about your H.S. soccer career and any titles or awards that you won. Paragraph 3 – Let the coach know how well...
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...Heather Hefty Assignment 6 Worksheet (Resume and Cover Letter Analysis) Please write DETAILED paragraphs that summarize each document’s strengths and weaknesses, and then offer suggestions for revision (consider both content and design/organization). Please consider all of the discussion questions from the previous page, but do not just list out your answers to them. Don’t forget to COMPARE each candidate’s resume and cover letter, analyzing how they work together (or don’t). Resume 1 (Page 164, Anthony H. Jones) Strengths: Creative design that’s easy to read, Listed courses related to degree Weaknesses: Internship listed under education section, unclear of what he’s describing under references/webfolio section Revision Suggestions: Move internship description to Experience section, Bullet point and describe references/webfolio section Anthony’s design for his resume is creative and unique while still being easily readable which is a strength. I also like that under the Education section, he listed courses that relate to his degree so that an employer knows what he has experience with. A weakness with this resume is that he listed his internship under his Education section when it would be more appropriate to list it under his Experience section. Lastly, his References/Webfolio section lacks detail and organization. He should bullet point the different categories and explain what they are. Cover Letter 1 (Page 182, Anthony H. Jones) Strengths: Writes to...
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