Cover Letters and Internet Resumes (306-334)

“The Basics of a Cover Letter” (Steven Garber)
-Format: shouldn’t be just resume is enclosed

The Parts of a Letter
-highest quality paper
-typed on good computer
-business style or personal style can by used
-Business is just the parts of the letter beginning at the left margin
-Personal the return address and complimentary close begin at the centerline of the page and paragraphs are indented
-Parts are return address (avoid abbreviations and don’t put your name there), date (no abbreviations), inside address (person’s title, company name and address), salutation (Dear Mr. or Ms.)
-Length is three or four short paragraphs on one page
-An enclosure line is used primarily in formal or official correspondence. Not wrong to include in cover but unnecessary
-use standard paper size
-paper color /quality- match it with your resume
-don’t handwrite
-use standard business envelope

Content
-personalize each letter –determine the appropriate person to address
-mapping it out-shouldn’t repeat what it says in resume; give overview of your capabilities and show why you are good for the job; be sure to show INTEREST in the company
-first paragraph-state the position for which you are applying
-second paragraph- indicate what you would contribute to the company and show how qualifications would benefit them
-third paragraph-show how you EXCEED requirements (not just average but super candidate)
-fourth paragraph-close by saying you look forward to hearing form them
-complimentary close-should be two lines beneath the body and say Sincerely followed by name three lines under and SIGN IT!

Tips for Successful Cover Letters
-polite and formal style
-sound confident in a reserved way (don’t be melodramatic)
-emphasize concrete examples (specific accomplishments)
-use powerful language (hard hitting and easy to understand with fewest words possible) (ex. Use action verbs like implemented instead of did)
-avoid catchphrases (self-starter)
-mention personal preferences (say if willing to relocate there)
-proof with care (embarrassing)


Cover Letter Blunders to Avoid
-unrelated career goals
-comparisons and clichés (ex. I am a people person)
-wasted space (include only relevant information)
-form letters (mass mailings in which you send a form letter to a large number of employers are not recommended)
-inappropriate stationary (white and ivory with no graphics)
-amusing anecdotes (don’t)
-erroneous company information
-desperation (sound determined not desperate)
-personal photos
-confessed shortcomings (don’t emphasize flaws over strengths)
-misrepresentation (don’t exaggerate until the point of misrepresentation)
-demanding statements (demonstrate what you can do for them)
-missing resume (don’t forget to enclose all the materials that you refer to in your cover letter)
-personal information (don’t include age, health, physical characteristics, martial status, race, religion, political/moral beliefs, or any other personal information.
-choice of pronouns (use 1st person)
-Tone trouble (make sure can’t be interpreted in an unfavorable way)
-gimmicks (no home videos or singing telegrams)
-typographical errors
-messy corrections (retype if make mistakes don’t add notes or post-it)
-omitted signature (don’t forget to sign in blue or black ink)

Cover Letters for Special Situations
-lack of experience, raising kids, age/disability
-emphasize your strengths (ex. Age can be a selling point)
Response to Blind Advertisement
-don’t list employer info
-therefore define knowledge of industry
-target qualifications that meet information that is given
Cold Letters
-directly contact potential employers without a referral or previous correspondence
-used to advertise capabilities to hiring managers
Broadcast Letters
-advertise availability to top professional in particular field
-used by seasoned executives
-used when letter will end up in the hands of fellow industry executive
Letter to Employment Agency
-focus on who you are and type of position you are looking for and in what field, and your strongest qualifications for it
Letter To Executive Search Firm
-highlight accomplishments and summarize experience to intrigue recruiters
Networking Letters
-these letters refer to a third party industry contact to get the reader’s attention and induce him or her to assist you in your job search
-be careful with tone; many are written to an addressee whom the candidate has not met but has been referred to by a mutual acquaintance
Thank You Letters
-handwritten is acceptable but make sure neat
-short and send promptly

“Your Resume on the Internet” (Dikel and Roehm)
-posted resumes on the internet are good but are not the best way to achieve job search happiness
-may be ineffective but if going to do it then do it right

The Myth About the Internet Resume
-Information on the resume can be the same but different formats: hard copy, scannable version, plain-text version, email version
-don’t put too much information on it

Rules for Responding Online
-Send resume in the body of email (catches the eye)
-include cover letter
-use advertised job title in subject line of the email
-follow application instructions

E-Resumes Are Not Just For Email
-can post resume online not just email them
-if you type directly in site it is very easy to have typos
-may have certain from with format that you don’t like
-can’t save your resume for other uses because the resume bank is on a website, so have to repeat resume building steps on each site

Preparing A Perfect Plain Text Resume
-check keywords
-save your resume as text only document
-delete page numbers
-use all caps for words that need special emphasis (text only gets rid of bold and italic)
-replace each bullet point with standard keyboard symbol
-use straight quotes in place of curly quotes
-rearrange text if necessary
-limit line lengths (no more than 65 characters)
-save as text only with line breaks

Where, Oh, Where Should That Resume Go?
-post only on one or two large online databases
-post it one or tow targeted resume databases specific to your industry, occupational group, or geographic location

Protect Yourself Online
-does site have comprehensive privacy policy?
-do you have to register a profile or resume before you can search through the jobs
-are most of the jobs posted by employers or agencies on behalf of the employers
-can you set up one or more email agents that will send matching jobs to you when you are not on the site.
-who has access to the database of resumes
-can you limit access to your personal contact information
-can you store more than one version of your resume so that you can customize if for different types of opportunities
-will you be able to edit your resume once you have posted it
-will you be able to delete your resume after you have a found a job

Before You Post Something to Think About
-do you want your resume public
-are you prepared for the consequences should an electronic resume come back to haunt you

Resume Blasters
-resume distribution services are becoming more prevalent
-offers little or any control of where you resume could end up
-most of time pay to have your resume forwarded in a way that they cannot be responded to or they could simply be paying for recruiters without jobs