A Killer Secret To Get Your Cover Letter Read
You're still reading?so I know my title grabbed your attention. Why? Because it 'packed a punch.' You have three seconds to nab your reader in any written communication. Do it with a smashing title or headline! This secret technique, when used properly, practically guarantees that he or she will stay with you till the last line of your cover letter, article, or report. How does this little secret apply to a resume cover letter? I'm glad you asked! Put it at the top of your next job-search cover letter and you'll attract the employer's undivided attention. Without this powerful little gem, however, you risk being a victim of the 'scan and trash' syndrome. Why do I use the phrase, "Killer Secret?" To make my point. It's an attention-grabber! I got your attention and curiosity. You can lasso the same things from your reader. When it comes to cover letters, however, the use of a headline is hardly a theory. It's a FACT that everyone is attracted to books and articles and letters that have a title that sizzles like a burger on a grill! People today pick up a magazine, newspaper or advertisement, scan first and read later. You can stop that process cold. A strong headline that 'jumps' off the page of your cover letter will keep them reading your writing. And if you're trying to land a job interview, what could be more important than riveting the person to your every word? Imagine the results you'll experience in your job search when your cover letter opens with an attention-grabbing headline that is so unique and so compelling that the hiring manager cannot put it down? He or she will actually be excited to meet you, to discuss the job, and to hand it over to you! Potential employees that show creativity and color in their communication are a boon to any company. Maybe you're thinking it's easy for me. I've been a writer for 20 years and you're just beginning. But I'm here to tell you it's easier than you may think. Here's what to do. Just above the typical greeting in your cover letter (Dear Mrs. Smith), place your 'killer' headline. And to make it stand out even more, type the sentence in bold-face print and center it on the page. (Two lines maximum). Here are THREE examples of excellent cover letter headlines: THREE reasons why I believe I may be the candidate
you're looking for to fill [insert job opening title here]. I have researched [company name] and believe I am an ideal
match for the [insert job opening title here]. Let me show you how why I am a perfect fit for the position of
[insert job opening title here]. With a headline like one of the above, what do you think Mrs. Smith will do? Trash and scan? No way. She will be drawn in and want to read more about you. Using the 'muscle' of a strong headline at the beginning of your next job-search cover letter can fill your calendar with interviews for the job that is just right for you. So 'pack a wallop' to your next cover letter with a smashing title or headline and then get ready for the phone to ring! Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy has written several career-related books and his unique articles are always a job-seeker favorite. Who else wants their phone ringing off the hook with more quality job interviews? Visit Jimmy on the web right now at http://www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com for your 'instant' cover letter today.
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Seven Myths You Must Challenge Now To Begin Your Second Career Today
* Has it been awhile since you explored career options?
10 Warning Signs That You?re Ready for a Career Transition
1. You dread getting out of bed and going to work.
Blogging for Candidates 101: Nuts and Bolts
A "blog" is simply an internet (web) log. Blogs are created for personal or professional use. They may promote a product or service, or merely serve as a personal online journal. There are currently just over four million blogs today, with a new blog born every seven seconds.
Ten Great Careers For Single Parents
The challenges of raising a child by yourself, whether you're a mother or father, can be very difficult. Add the burden of having to be out of the home for 40+ hours per week to work and raising a child at the same time can be nearly impossible. This article describes ten careers you can train for that will give you the money to support your child and the time to be there for them.
Are You a Nice Person? What Companies are Looking for in Recruiting and Retaining Great People
Hal Rosenbluth, author of The Customer Comes Second, states; "In our selection process, kindness, caring, compassion, and unselfishness carry more weight than years on the job, an impressive salary history, and stacks of degrees."
Successful Job Search: Knocking Out The Competition
Most of the time, competition stimulates us, gets our juices flowing, generates creativity, a sense of excitement, and motivates us to perform at our best. Looking for work is another matter! When it comes to financial survival, to regaining independence and self-worth, competition can be crippling.
Seeking Knowledge Will Give You Power
What are you interested in? We all have a passion for something. So, what is your passion?
The Inevitable Job Interview Question: ?Why Did You Leave (Are Planning To Leave) Your Last Position
This is a question that you can almost count on being asked at your next interview What the interviewer wants to know is, "Why are you available?"
Knowing and Guessing
The line between average and exceptional work performance is dotted with ordinary day-by-day behaviors. I was reminded of that line recently. My husband was explaining to a nurse how he'd inadvertently taken the last dose of the live typhoid virus on the wrong day and wondered if he needed to retake the sequence prior to our Africa trip. "No," she commented, "I think you'll be fine." We both knew she was guessing.
Franchising Offers NO Guarantees --
You have to ask --- IS a FRANCHISE FOR YOU?
Is Your Resume Doing ITS Job?
Is it opening doors to new opportunities? Does it compel the reader to think, "Hey! This applicant can ?put that one on top of the 'call in for an interview' pile!" Does it showcase what you have accomplished for past employers as well as what you can accomplish for the potential employer?
Ten Great Careers That Don?t Require A Four Year Degree
One of the great myths associated with the "American Dream" is that you need to have a four-year college degree to be successful. As the economy has shifted to the information age, with a greater reliance on technology and services, this belief applies less and less.
Get In The Game With a Stellar Resume
During the job hunter's market of the 1990's, employers were settling for less than qualified candidates because the candidate pool was so small. Job hunters were able to name their price and employers were meeting their demands.
Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For
When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you, there are certain things that they are looking for from you. Naturally, you are likely to focus on these things during an interview, but you should remember all of the tips in this manual because following those tips is what is going to make the employers see all of those things in you.
Job Interviews -- The Real Reasons Why You Need to Follow Up
Effective follow-up after a job interview is often a key reason why someone gets a job, even though there are other equally qualified candidates. Many candidates treat follow up as an optional add-on to their job search. That's just not the case.
Networking is the Key to Star Performance in Everything You Do.
Many people's idea of networking relates to the 'size of their Christmas Card List, rather than the quality of their relationship with each person on that list. Similarly those people network, but few reap the rewards of zeroing in on their potential. Here are some ideas to help fill the gap between where you are now and where you can be.
21st Century Career Success
When it comes to modern career development, one thing we can all count on is change. With the advent of technology, telecommuting, and E-commerce, how work is performed is in a state of reinvention. Self-employment and small business development will become more the norm than big business. And career changes will be more frequent due to rapidly changing organizations and industries. Finally, the line between one's personal and professional life will become even more blurred. Since the modern world of work is rapidly changing to keep up with the demands of our fast-paced lives and lifestyles, here are some characteristics of what the new work contract will look like:
Career Searching: A Vision Without A Plan is a Hallucination
Success is not always something you necessarily find when you arrive. It may be the journey that gets you there.
7 Secrets of a Highly-Effective Resume Cover Letter
Just like the late, great Rodney Dangerfield, the "humble" cover letter gets no respect.
No Degree, No Problem
According to a recent survey, 52% of job candidates polled lied on their resume about having a college degree. Here are 3 brief horror stories: A new Director of Logistics and his family were actually loading the moving van provided by his new employer for relocation from California to North Carolina. The phone rang and it was the Human Resource Manager from his new company. The offer was being withdrawn. Through a routine degree verification check, the company learned the potential new employee did not have a degree. He was 3 hours short of graduating. Had the candidate been honest, the job was still his. It was an integrity issue. Five candidates for a high level software sales job were interviewing. After the face to face interviews, the candidates were offered a "grace period" to revise their application. The company was aware of a problem with one canddiate. The lead candidate changed his college degree information to "Did Not Graduate." He was dropped from contention. A candidate for a Vice President of Logistics position for a multi-billion/multi national company was offered the job. However, the background check could not verify the degree as listed on the resume. The stunned candidate said he could fix the problem. After one week, he called and faxed over the degree verification information. Only two blank pieces of paper came out of the fax. He said, "I must have faxed the wrong side." The offer was rescinded the night before his start date because of the integrity issue. The company would have hired him if he had been honest about not having a degree. Offers withdrawn because of "no degree" are not because the lack of a college degree was a "deal breaker." The issue was that each of these high level managers misrepresented themselves on their resume and during the interview. As a search firm, we always encourage candidates to be upfront and candid about the information on the resume, including whether or not they have a college degree. Don't try to hide it amongst several other educational courses you have taken. If you are hiring, ask the candidate directly. It's amazing how many hiring managers "assumed" the candidate graduated. The most deceptive piece on a resume is: University of Any State, 1986-1990. Listing the years but not if they graduated. Common oversight. Most times, if the candidate has a solid background and the chemistry is strong with the organization, the company hires the person. Remember 70% of hiring is Chemistry. Degree isn't the most important factor.
|