Tips for writing a successful cover letter
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Nashville
Originally Posted by gosixers215,Jan 17 2007, 02:21 PM
Cover letters are a necessary evil and a lot of the jobs I want to apply for require them as part of the process.
It is funny you mention that they are "required"..... I attempted to hire a girl who simply sent in her resume.... she seemed like the best candidate so i didn't hold it against her....... we didn't pay enough in the end (and she was FAT (you knew that was coming)).... but the cover letter really meant nothing to me. 36-24-36
Joined: May 2002
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For myself, I have always tried to make my qualifications and experience exactly match what they've asked for.
If they want someone with certain software experience (and I have it), I tell them. If they want certain analysis skills, I put that in.
You want to hit them quick and fast that you have what they require.
Do not address what you do not have. Do not address what qualifications you do not meet. Do not address qualifications you have that they do not need. Show them you match (at most levels, if not all) and you have a strong possibility of a personal interview.
They don't want to know everything about you, just what is pertinent to the job. Saying you delivered papers for three years as a teenager does not matter if you're applying for a job as an accountant. Knowing how to design a car does not matter if you're being asked to be a proofreader for a cookbook.
Do not misspell words or use poor grammar. Try and keep your sentences to a moderate length without being choppy (too short) or windy (too long). Using the word "I" constantly will also keep your letter from flowing well.
If they want someone with certain software experience (and I have it), I tell them. If they want certain analysis skills, I put that in.
You want to hit them quick and fast that you have what they require.
Do not address what you do not have. Do not address what qualifications you do not meet. Do not address qualifications you have that they do not need. Show them you match (at most levels, if not all) and you have a strong possibility of a personal interview.
They don't want to know everything about you, just what is pertinent to the job. Saying you delivered papers for three years as a teenager does not matter if you're applying for a job as an accountant. Knowing how to design a car does not matter if you're being asked to be a proofreader for a cookbook.
Do not misspell words or use poor grammar. Try and keep your sentences to a moderate length without being choppy (too short) or windy (too long). Using the word "I" constantly will also keep your letter from flowing well.
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"To Whom It May Concern,
You shall hire me for the xxx(position) or I will come in and kill you all.
Sincerely,
Gosixer.
P.S. I really mean it too."
J/K! You can find resume/c.l. formats online, if you do a search.
You shall hire me for the xxx(position) or I will come in and kill you all.
Sincerely,
Gosixer.
P.S. I really mean it too."
J/K! You can find resume/c.l. formats online, if you do a search.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,321
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From: Burlington, NC
One thing I always tried to do when writing a cover letter is to look at the job description and try to put the same/similar phrases into your letter. For example (I do web development)
Job Description: Must have experience with PHP and MySQL
Cover Letter: I have been using PHP 4.x and MySQL for eleventy-billion years. . .
Not the greatest example, but if you make your cover letter up to include some of the key points of the job description (using the same phrasing as in the job description) it not only lets them know your experience but also shows them you either took the time to fully read description or you just think like they do.
Job Description: Must have experience with PHP and MySQL
Cover Letter: I have been using PHP 4.x and MySQL for eleventy-billion years. . .
Not the greatest example, but if you make your cover letter up to include some of the key points of the job description (using the same phrasing as in the job description) it not only lets them know your experience but also shows them you either took the time to fully read description or you just think like they do.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: WecantevergobacktoArizona
Originally Posted by Scot,Jan 17 2007, 11:26 AM
It is funny you mention that they are "required"..... I attempted to hire a girl who simply sent in her resume.... she seemed like the best candidate so i didn't hold it against her....... we didn't pay enough in the end (and she was FAT (you knew that was coming)).... but the cover letter really meant nothing to me. 36-24-36
pretty hot and tempting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,288
Likes: 39
From: Nashville
Originally Posted by DarkSigma,Jan 18 2007, 04:01 PM
36-24-36 we call that thick where I'm from, or brickhouse back in the day, did you mean "PHAT"
pretty hot and tempting
pretty hot and tempting
around here we mostly have 44-40-44.... sweeet.
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From: Oh kwa tan zen wan
Originally Posted by vader1,Jan 17 2007, 12:08 PM
...The HR people were all laughing and making jokes about the criterea they used at forwarding resumes. They were being very honest when they said they would toss some in the discard pile if they did not like the color of paper used or did not like the freaking font choice. I hate HR people.
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