Resume Cover Letters

As any expert will tell you, a well-crafted Resume Cover Letter is often the difference between getting an interview and getting overlooked.

While most job seekers will expend a lot of time and effort in putting together a resume, many applicants treat Cover Letters as afterthoughts. In fact, sometimes Cover Letters are not written at all! Presumably these job seekers are of the mistaken opinion that a good resume makes a Cover Letter unnecessary.

But make no mistake about it, an effective Cover Letter complements a resume, and is thus an important and expected part of any job seeker’s application package.

Of course, a Cover Letter works best when it is tailored to a specific addressee or organization. That said, form letters should be avoided. While these are commonly used when mass-mailing resumes, be mindful that they are also apt to generate form letter rejections.

The first step in drafting an effective resume cover is to determine the type of letter you are writing, i.e., is it an application letter or a prospecting letter.

Application letters are used when responding to a job advertisement, or when a job seeker has knowledge that a particular vacancy exists. On the other hand, prospecting letters are used when a job seeker is networking and exploring job opportunities in one or more organizations.

In the next step, the job seeker needs to articulate answers to the following questions:

* What position am I writing for?
* What are my qualifications? (Experience, skills, training, etc.)
* What are my demonstrated achievements in like or similar positions?
* What personal work qualities do I bring to this position and employer?
* Does my resume support my stated qualifications for this position?

Once these questions are answered, the job seeker can begin the task of formatting the Cover Letter. Fortunately, there are many useful desktop and online resources available on this topic. As a starting point, the Related Links at the end of this Posting lists several useful and informative resources.

Your research will reveal that the following elements are common for all Resume Cover Letters:

* Salutation - Make sure you spell the addressee's name correctly and you use the proper title. If you are applying to a blind ad, use the P.O. Box Number or “Hiring Manager”.

* Reason for writing – See Step 1 above.

* Relevant experience, skills, or training - Summarize from the resume.

* Significant achievements - Describe with "action words" and be brief.

* Contact Information - Make it easy for the hiring company to reach you.

* Closing - Be enthusiastic and express gratitude for the consideration.

* Follow up plan - State how and when you will follow up (usually by phone call).

As with all Business Communications, make sure your Cover Letter is written clearly and persuasively. Keep in mind that you are writing a Marketing Letter for yourself, so be upbeat.

Finally, edit for brevity. For most job seekers, a one page Cover Letter will suffice; however, two pages is acceptable for individuals with significant work experience.

Resume Cover Letters: Quick Tips

Far from being a simple transmittal letter, an effective Resume Cover Letter serves as a reasoned and important complement to a resume.

That said, job hunters who treat Resume Cover Letters as afterthoughts are, in all likelihood, marginalizing their resumes and short-changing their employment chances. Simply stated, paring a good resume with a mediocre cover letter often leads to a quick rejection.

Preparing an effective resume involves planning, writing, and revision. But this same diligence also applies to preparing an effective Resume Cover Letter. As you draft your cover letter, keep the following quick tips in mind:

1. Determine the type of Resume Cover Letter you are writing, i.e., are you responding to a job ad or are you exploring job opportunities?

For job ads, the cover letter (and resume) should be focused on the particular experience, job specification, and skills outlined by the employer for the job in question.

When exploring job opportunities, the cover letter will be more general in nature, but it should still be focused on the types of jobs that are relevant for a particular industry or business. Do you homework!

2. Take time to reflect and answer the following questions:

*What position or type of position am I applying for?
*What do I have to offer this employer?
*Are my skills and experience what this company wants?
*Does my resume reflect the qualifications this company values?

3. Once you have answered the above questions, format your cover letter as follows:

*Salutation - Make sure you use the correct name and title.

For blind ads, use the listed P.O. Box Number. If posting your resume on an on line service, "Personal Profiles" are sometimes used in lieu of cover letters. As such, take the time to complete a thorough and up-to-date profile.

*Indicate your reason for writing - Refer to step 1.

*List your relevant experience, skills, training, etc. - Summarize from your resume.

*Identify your significant achievements - Describe with "action words" and be brief.

*Contact Information - Make it easy for the hiring company to reach you.

*Closing - Be enthusiastic and express gratitude for the consideration.

*Follow Up - State when and how you will follow up (letter or phone call).

In the end, think of a Resume Cover Letter as an advertisement for your resume. In other words, write a cover letter that will compel a prospective employer to read and evaluate your resume. Generic transmittal letters do little or nothing in this regard.