Cover Letter Styles for 4 Job Search Strategies
The cover letter is essential for creating a positive first impression. Additionally it answers questions such as:
Why should I bother reading one more resume?
What’s this applicant’s interest level?
How is this prospective candidate unique?
Unlike a resume, which usually remains unchanged, cover letters should be customized according to each of the four basic job search strategies:
1. Cover letters responding to job postings.
When ever possible, address the letter to a specific person rather than Dear sir or madam or To whom it may concern. Don’t be afraid to call the company for the name of the recipient. The worst they will do is not give you the name.
Match your letter to the job description by using the key words and phrases found in the ad. Where applicable, list point by point how you match the requirements of the position.
Provide accomplishments that illustrate the level of your qualifications, but do not state word for word from your resume. Avoid redundancy.
Avoid over use of the word “I”. Translate “I” sentences into “You” or ”Your” sentences. For example, turn “I am interested in the position...” into “Your company will benefit from my experiences as...”
2. Cover letters proactively sent to your target market of employers.
This strategy involves first defining a group of companies or organizations most likely interested in your background and expertise then contacting hiring managers to let them know of your availability. The Reference Librarian at your local library is a valuable source of information on how to research your target companies.
When ever possible, address your letter to the hiring manager rather than HR. Again, this may require a phone call to sleuth out the information, but could yield great results.
Start the letter off indicating your knowledge and interest of the company. Give the reader reason to believe that you haven’t just pulled their name out of a hat.
List briefly your qualifications and accomplishments and the position you’re offering to fill. * Again, use “I” sparingly.
End your letter with a promise to call by a certain day. Since this is a proactive contact, it is up to the job seeker to initiate phone contact.
While the target market strategy is time consuming it often yields surprising results. A job lead discovered through proactive methods means little or no competition from other job seekers.
3. Cover letters sent to recruiters and headhunters.
Most recruiters and headhunters specialize by industry or job type. For maximum effectiveness, target only headhunters who specialize in your field. Since the best way to contact them is through email, your letter will take the form of an email note accompanying your attached Word formatted resume. A brief cover letter (or note) is essential to make sure the recruiter opens and reads your resume before storing in an electronic resume storage database. For best results:
Keep the note short. One or two paragraphs should suffice. Most recruiters are paid on commission and work under heavy production quotas; they don’t have the time or patience for lengthy letters of introduction.
Your note should read somewhat like a resume summary statement full of key-word qualifications. An example might sound something like, “My background includes 15 years of VP-level management in the telecom industry specializing in start-up of new divisions and building consensus across departments.”
Don’t end your note with a promise to call. The recruiter will call you when he / she has an available position. As a former headhunter, I can testify that nothing annoys a recruiter more than unsolicited phone calls from job seekers. To get your relationship with recruiters off to the right start, let them contact you. Working through headhunters is a numbers game. The more qualified recruiters you contact the better your chances are of finding great job leads. Don’t minimize your efforts by contacting only those in your geographic area. Recruiters and headhunters who specialize in a given industry usually work nationally and sometimes internationally.
Investing in a resume distribution service that allows you to target recruiters by specialty increases your efforts exponentially.
4. Contacting your professional network.
The term resu-letter may or may not have originated with Jeffrey Fox, author of “Don’t Send a Resume”, but it’s where I first read of the concept. A resu-letter combines the elements of both a cover letter and a resume. A resu-letter allows a job seeker to get the word to his or her professional network without sounding desperate to find a new job. This letter is especially nice for those conducting a confidential search while still employed. Usually this letter is send as an email. A hard-copy resu-letter may seem to stiff and formal for networking purposes.
A few pointers on writing a great resu-letter are:
Keep the tone casual, after all, this letter is sent to people with whom you have a first name relationship, but be careful not to relax your grammar and spelling.
This letter should contain all the selling points of your resume without sounding like a commercial.
Ideally, the recipient will pass your letter on to others who may be interested in your qualifications, so write the letter with other readers in mind. With competition for good jobs at an all-time high, job seekers can’t afford to cut corners in their written communication. The extra time and effort taken to customize your cover letters goes a long way toward placing you at the top of the candidate pile.
