Luke Holden asked:


The two most significant types of cover letter are called the ‘application cover letter’ and the ‘prospecting cover letter’. The ‘application cover letter’ is exactly that, an application to an already advertised position, whilst the prospecting cover letter refers to a letter written on your own initiative to a series of companies enquiring about available positions. The former is subsequently a lot more specific than the latter, but both should include high levels of relevant detail.

A successful cover letter of any type should always ensure that it contains specific information relating to both the career and the employer. Non-specific letters will often be ignored by the company because they come across as mass-produced and show little effort on the part of the applicant. It’s worth remembering that a cover letter works alongside a resume or CV, with its primary focus being an extension of information directly related to the position or company applied for.

A well-written cover letter should also display your key interests and any knowledge you have about the career and employer. Prior research about the company shows the prospective employer that you are genuinely interested in their corporation, and additionally expands on particular abilities and traits which are suitable for the job. Ultimately, the cover letter should intend to set you clearly above the competition.

Certain ideas should be kept in the mind when writing your cover letter and they are as follows;

Why you are writing; it’s important that the first paragraph explains the reason why you are writing this cover letter. Obviously this depends mainly on what type of cover letter it is, so you should explain whether this is a reply to an advertisement or if it is on your own initiative. In order to be specific, include accurate details about the location and date of the advert and your reasons for applying to them directly. Display keenness for the position and a sincere interest in the company.

What you can offer; the second paragraph allows for the opportunity to elaborate on areas of your resume or CV with relevant detail. Selling yourself should be high on your mind, and use positive language to detail your skills and traits. Attempt to show that you are not only a great team player, but someone also capable of leadership. It is also your chance to demonstrate that you have researched the company and job type, which sells your positive attitude.

How you can be contacted; the final paragraph’s intention is to make it very clear how you can be reached, and must provide key information. Phone numbers are included with the statement that this is how you can be reached for a telephone interview, and both email and postal addresses are necessities. You can either be passive and supply the information politely, or play a more active role and state that you will contact them to arrange a telephone interview. Although clearly more pushy, the initiative aspect can charm potential employers. The choice of approach would naturally depend on the company and you personal judgement.

Cover letters, although largely overlooked, constitute a vital part of the initial stage of the application process. It’s best to remember that a CV or resume without a cover letter can never succeed in selling all your skills to the employer, which should always be your primary motivation.

Mario Churchill asked:


If there is anything that can be the kiss of death to the job search it can be the use of free resume cover letters. You’ve worked so hard on that resume and sending a cover letter that you didn’t write is only going to show the employer that you are unoriginal, uninventive and probably lazy. Why on earth would they call you in for an interview when no one wants a lazy person working for them?

One of the biggest resume cover letter example mistakes to avoid is simply using one. The whole point of a cover letter is to get you in for an interview while advertising you and your resume. What good is it going to do you if you have a stellar resume accompanied by a mediocre cover letter sample you didn’t write? It’s amazing how many people believe that an employer will never know that the cover letter is not their own. They believe that they found a letter that will impress employers. The harsh reality is that these employers and hiring managers are trained to spot good cover letters. They know firsthand what their company needs. They know better than anyone else what skills and qualifications are needed to get the job done. Also keep in mind that they sometimes receive hundreds of applications. Do you really think they are going to spend their time reading a dry, bland cover letter you got online? It doesn’t matter how good your resume is, using one of those sample cover letters will probably ruin any chance you had of getting in that door.

Let’s break the online letter down paragraph by paragraph to show how using a free example is a big mistake. The first paragraph alone should raise a red flag. It’s important that you grab the employer’s attention in this first paragraph. This is where you make your first impression and show that you have done some research on this company. Essentially you are telling the employer that you are not just applying to them to make money. You are showing that you have a real interest in the company and what you can do for them. That’s really all the employer wants to know is what you can do for them. There are no online examples that can do that for you. Only you know what you can do for them.

The second paragraph is your resume paragraph. You recap the highlights of your resume that will pertain to the position you are applying for. Now while some of those examples online can sound really fancy and professional, take a minute to reread them. Ask yourself this important question, “does this pertain to you?” Unless you wrote the example yourself, the answer is probably no. Here is where you prove why you are such a perfect match for the company. You have your resume to back it up. Using a cover letter that has nothing to do with your resume is a huge mistake and will almost guarantee your resume and letter a trip to the shredder.

Another resume cover letter example mistake to avoid is not asking for that interview and not telling them you will follow up. The whole point of the letter is to get the interview and you are making it even easier for the employer by telling them your availability and even promising to call them to set it up. Not many examples follow this point. You’ll find that a lot of these free examples will state when the applicant is available to start work, but that means nothing to the employers. Make sure you own cover letter states when you are available to interview. Another mistake is not mentioning when you will follow up with them. Even worse, you do say you’re going to follow up and you never do.

The completion for jobs can be very stiff. With so many applicants competing against each other, it’s essential to have a cover letter that stands out amongst the rest. A cover letter with personality, flair and obvious knowledge of the company and what they expect is going to grab their attention. The biggest mistake you could make in your job search is taking a cover letter example and just adding your name to it. The best thing you can do for your job search is to avoid cover letter examples all together.

freddy ngiam asked:


One factor that baffles us is how people continue to send out the same cover letter or resume even though it has failed to get a result in the past. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get a different result is repeating old ways hoping to get new results.

Research based on past job seeking experience has shown that it’s NOT your skills, talent or experience an employer rejects but simply your application that gets you written off as an unsuitable employee.

Many people remained unemployed due to the fact that their cover letters and resumes were styled in the same way throughout the time when they produced no results. By making simple changes in the resume and cover letter, many were able to secure a few interviews to say the least.

Reverse engineer your resume…

. Creating a good resume is like following a recipe in a cook book… you have to have the RIGHT ingredients but here’s the key, you have to TASTE it… there’s no point serving up food that tastes bad even though you think you followed the recipe. Here is a simple strategy to TASTE your resume before you send it.

Lets do a simple role-play and self assessment.

Before you send your application, pretend that you have already sent it and you just received your rejection letter. What let you down?

Could your skills have been better described or put into better context? Did you show enough research? Does your work history not follow one another in an advantageous manner to your application? Are you missing some of the key factors they’re looking for?

More often than not you will find some areas that could do with improving, so improvise them. When you feel your application is up to your expectations, send it.

One of the main problems in critiquing your own resume is you being too close to the subject. You would be too close for your own scrutiny. Sometimes, you might to consider hiring writers to fine tune and hone your resumes and cover letter to a fine precision.

Remember, every day that you spend applying for jobs and waiting for responses costs you money. In the business and job market, every day spent is money spent. Spend your time in writing wisely and aim well to bag the position you want.

Mario Churchill asked:


Perhaps the greatest piece of advice that can be given when it comes to creating a professional cover letter is that you should avoid taking yourself too seriously when writing one. Hiring managers want to hire people that will not only do a great job but will also be a good fit with the other personalities on staff and involved in the many projects that will be assigned throughout the years. No one wants to work with Mr. or Mrs. all boring, all the time. In other words, let a little bit of your own personality shine through without being overly informal.

Do not use your cover letter as an opportunity to impress the hiring manager with your impressive vocabulary or make them head for the dictionary in order to translate. Make your cover letter personable and natural sounding. Write your cover letter as though you were actually meeting the hiring manager for the first time and remember that there are rarely opportunities for second chances to make that first impression when you botch your cover letter.

You should also make a point of adding a little bit of “Wow” factor to your cover letter whenever possible. If you are passionate about your line of work let that show through in your cover letter. Chances are that your passion for the work will be contagious at best and at the very least show through in your words and invite further consideration on the part of those sifting through the cover letters seeking the perfect candidate for those oh so few positions that are available.

Do not limit your cover letter to being a dry run for your resume. Allow your resume to speak for itself and list your skills and accomplishments. Use your cover letter to allow the hiring managers to get to know you as a person. In other words, don’t rehash your resume in your cover letter. Tell the hiring manager about yourself, show him how you could benefit his company and that you would be an asset to their organization because of your passion for the product, your sense of humor, or your quick whit to get through those long hours working into the night or endless take out sandwiches instead of a lunch hour. Make him want to read your resume through the personality possessed within the cover letter.

By allowing a little bit of your personality to shine through when writing your cover letter you are not only inviting the hiring manager to read your resume but also giving her the opportunity to gauge how well your personality will fit with the other members of the team or organization you will be joining. For this reason it is important to be as natural as possible when creating your cover letter. You do not want to come across as false, nor do you want to come across as one who is far too serious to lighten the mood when the need arises. You should make sure to keep bawdy humor or references that are in poor taste from coming through as those will definitely have opposite of the desired effect. You do want to maintain a professional level of communication but avoid being too dry.

One other very important thing to remember when creating a professional cover letter is that you want it to be free of mistakes and misspellings. This is your first impression for the hiring manager and you want it to be a shining example of who you are professionally as well as personally. If you turn in a resume that is filled with typos and grammatical mistakes you will come across as sloppy and unprofessional. No one wants to hire someone that isn’t going to go the extra mile to make themselves-and by extension the company they work for-look good on paper.

The keys to a professional strength professional cover letter are: conveying the strength of your personality through the language used, make the hiring manager want to read your resume, and proving that you are going to go the extra mile in order to present yourself and the company you work for in the best possible light. Pay attention to the small details, let your personality shine through, and invite further contact (in the form of an interview) in your cover letter and you should be well on your way.

Mario Churchill asked:


If you are looking for a job, chances are, you are probably looking out also for ways to amplify your cover letter and resume. One of the popular ways of doing this is by looking for a resume and cover letter sample to guide you with it. There are many types of resume and cover letter samples in the Internet, but there are certain characteristics that make it a real winner. You will have to be the only judge to determine which resume and cover letter sample is the best for you.

The resume and cover letter sample you should obtain should be free of grammar errors, sophisticated in its layout, formal and at the same time, engaging to the eye. The sample must be catchy, unique and tailored to suit your specific needs. It would also be preferable if you are able to land yourself a cover letter and resume sample that will really help you.

Certain resume and cover letter samples are targeted to fit your needs. If for example, you are applying for a writing job, you will need a sample of a writer’s resume and not a spin off from an unrelated field. Different jobs have different needs. If at all possible, you can also do research on the company you are applying for and detect what type of resume and cover letters clicks with them. This may be some information that is difficult to obtain but well worth all the sacrifice and hassles.

Your chosen resume and cover letter sample must be flexible and something that you can easily customize to suit your needs. This is one of the best ways to ensure that your final submission will not just be the usual resume that do not get past the screening and shortlisting of applicants. You have to make sure that you will not copy that resume and cover letter sample word for word. You cannot expect your application details to stand out if you are just a chip off the familiar block. You still have to mull it over, strive and make use of the resume and cover letter sample as a guide and not an ultimate means to your end.

Ultimately, the resume and cover letter samples should be synchronized and not appear as if it were disjointed from each other. Coherence in the cover letter and resume sample is very vital since the cover letter somewhat acts like an usher to your resume. Your cover letter should not be too flashy or it will overshadow the details of your resume. On the other hand, you must not deprive your cover letter of vital information that will give you the good attention that you deserve.

If at all possible, you must try your best not to rely on resume and cover letter samples no matter how good they are. You will have to express yourself individually when it comes to these things. Even if a cover letter and resume sample claims to be competent enough in itself, a little bit of brain work to make sure you maximize the opportunity to express and introduce yourself in the most creative ways is also something that can spell the difference between getting a job and not getting past the screening processes.