|
3 Cover Letter Secrets RevealedWriting a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage -- you don't know where to start ... and you just want it done. Wouldn't it be great if you could use a few "underground" techniques to write cover letters that get more job interviews? Faster and easier than you ever thought possible? Well, pay attention. I'm going to share 3 cover letter secrets that should get you more interviews, while a lot of the guesswork out of your letter writing. To dig up these "cover letter secrets," I interviewed career expert and author, Jimmy Sweeney (www.amazing-cover-letters.com). Read on! Cover Letter Secret #1 ? Drop The Big Words Always keep one thing in mind: when you write a cover letter, you're not trying to impress readers with your vocabulary. You're trying to land an interview. "Write your cover letter in language anyone can understand. Bring it all together with a friendly tone throughout and chances are you've got yourself a winner," says Sweeney. So, don't write gibberish, like this: "I have consulted, choreographed, compiled and specifically isolated technological solutions for challenging, yet highly inordinate retroflex samplings that have lead me to a potential mathematical resolution." Write in plain English: "I have taken the time to research your company and am very impressed. I have a real passion for this industry. I would love the chance to interview with (company name) for the position of account executive. Thank you in advance for the opportunity. I really look forward to meeting you." See the difference? "To improve your cover letter, simply read it out loud. If you find tongue twisters or wording that sounds a little too impressive, fix them! Write as you speak and let your personality shine through. Show your enthusiasm and clearly ask for the job interview," says Sweeney. Which leads to the next tip ... Cover Letter Secret #2 ? Ask And Ye Shall Receive Want more job interviews? The answer is simple. All you have to do is ask -- clearly and directly. Most job hunters beat around the bush in their letters. But this is a mistake, according to Sweeney. "Use your cover letter as the marketing tool to bring home the one result you most desire -- the job interview. And you get that interview by asking for it," he says. Here's one way to ask for that interview: "I am excited about meeting you for an interview at your earliest convenience to discuss how my credentials meet your needs. I can be reached at 555-555-5555 and will call you to follow up, as well, to make sure you received my application." This approach can work as your final paragraph. Remember, you are asking the reader (HR Director, Hiring Manager) to take a specific action. You want him or her to pick up the phone to call you for the interview. Don't leave it to chance -- ask directly. Cover Letter Secret #3 ? P.S., Hire Me! Here's a blockbuster cover letter secret, one proven by decades of advertising. It's this: add a P.S. to your cover letter. What the heck for, you ask? A P.S. is nearly impossible to ignore. When you see one in a letter, you are practically forced to read it. Smart marketers have known this for nearly 100 years. (To prove it for yourself, read any 10 "junk mail" letters and you will find a P.S. at the end of at least 9. Try it!) "A few years ago, my background in marketing led me to insert a P.S at the end of a job-search cover letter. I figured if it worked so well selling things by mail, it would help job-seekers who want to 'sell' themselves to employers," says Sweeney. And what happened? "My clients immediately experienced a dramatic increase in job interviews when they started adding a P.S.," says Sweeney. Here's an example: P.S. I would like to restate my desire to interview for the position of {insert job title }. {Company name} is #1 on my list of companies I want to work for. I am available immediately and can be reached on my mobile phone at 555-555-5555. Thank you! In the above example, your P.S. can directly ask for the interview and tell the reader what action to take. You can also restate why you believe you're such a strong candidate for the job. "Take advantage of the fact that people are trained to read a P.S. -- be sure to include one in your next cover letter," suggests Sweeney. Note: you can download a Special Report, with 10 of Jimmy Sweeney's best cover letter secrets, at this link - http://www.gresumes.net/sample-cover-letter Now, go out and make your own luck! Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1996, he and his team have provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in all 50 states and 23 countries. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal's National Business Employment Weekly, CBS Radio, and many others. As a reader of this publication, you're eligible for a special offer. Get your Free Job Search Kit ($25.00 value) at the Guaranteed Resumes Web site - http://www.gresumes.com |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES Using Recruiters: How To Get A Step Ahead Of The Crowd When there is an opening to fill, a company has four basic approaches at their disposal: Working From Home - Could You Cope? It is a well-known fact that more and more people are choosing to work from home rather than face the daily agony that is otherwise known as commuting. There are many companies that are even encouraging this practise amongst their permanent staff as a viable alternative to travelling to work. Those Little Things Moving to another state meant finding a new dentist. I tried one a neighbor recommended who seemed friendly, competent and eager to please. But, I never went back. His office was a case study on the importance of little things. Does Your Resume Lack Vision? You're just getting over the shock of having become unemployed. You know you need to begin a job search, but you may not know the best way to proceed, or where to start. Don?t Discount the Temporary Position Interview If you think, 'it's just an interview for a temp job -- no big deal,' that's where you're mistaken. Some wonderful opportunities, networking connections and careers have resulted from temporary positions. Searching for Jobs Online Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also more confusing than ever. Any Internet user doing a job search online will find that they can choose from hundreds of national employment listing web sites and the numbers can often be staggering. When performing on online job search, it is a good idea to choose from an online employment classified web site that allows for regional searching. Localized searches can narrow down employment opportunities so that the job searcher doesn't have to search through hundreds or even thousands of posts in order to locate a handful of listings in an individual's local area. When performing an Internet job search, it is important to keep in mind that not all local employers will post job listings online, but they will post their openings in local newspapers. Most newspapers allow for an online job search in their classified sections if the newspaper is also available for viewing the Internet. Resume Writing Tips Resume Writing doesn't have to be a solo gig Avoid a Three-ring Circus with These New Interviewing Strategies I referenced the circus because I just finished another interviewing book that recommends asking for the job before leaving the interview. I can envision up to 15 qualified professionals each asking the interviewer for the job. If each asks for the job, doesn't that make the question null and void ? cross out each other's great gesture? If everyone jumps through the same hoop, performing like a good little circus monkey, what's going to set you apart from other candidates? Losing Your Job Without Losing Yourself When we lose our jobs, no matter the reason, we lose a big part of our identity. Think of the last several times you met new people. After names are exchanged and polite comments made on whatever event you are attending, the question quickly arises: "What do you do?" From The WorkWise Collection: Job Hunting in the New Economy To succeed in today's global marketplace, companies must hire the best and the brightest. Having talented employees can make the difference between success and failure. Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment Success Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment Success Genes and Work Ethic If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they are exceptional, you might be successful on that alone. 3 Cover Letter Secrets Revealed Writing a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage -- you don't know where to start ... and you just want it done. Formal Business Attire is Making a Comeback The dot com boom of 1990s brought with it a laissez-faire attitude to dress code. Business casual was not a word that was part of our daily vocabulary. What Makes Americans Hate Their Jobs? This Advice Turns That Epidemic Around Here are the sobering facts: studies show that almost 70% of all employees dislike or downright hate their jobs. These dissatisfied, disillusioned people have no further career goals. Dreading the workday is a common heartache in millions of homes. Our job-hating crisis leads to lower productivity, adversely affects our economy, and -- worst of all -- causes strain on personal relationships. 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?" How to Change Career Horses in Mid-Stream You'll get wet but the reward just might be a more fulfilling ride! Choose Your References Wisely! So, you need to submit employment references. A simple task, right? Sure, you could contact three of your closest friends and ask them to be your references. They may be able to testify to your character, but do they know how well you would perform on the job? Probably not. Let's explore the types of references you must seek, the number of people you should include, and to whom references should be submitted. Learn Some Useful Feng Shui Career Tips As it does with every main life aspect, feng shui also provides tips and guidelines to help you improving your career. If your career is not moving on in the way you wish, that is due to a lack of balance and harmony within your environment and the elements that affect it. Feng shui career tips intend to help you reach that harmony, but besides of following these specific tips, you should try to follow feng shui guidelines for all your life areas, since your life should be balanced as a whole as well. Job Search Lessons From The Super Bowl The Super Bowl is a game but, like sports in general, it offers useful life lessons that we can take with us . . . if we only look below the surface. As I watched the game, I saw a number of things. How many did you see? |
|
|
Copyright © Advancing Women (TM), 1996- 