A resume without a cover letter is a definite no-no

Dear Mr. Walberg:

Are cover letters still important in this age of electronic job searching? It seems that most people are online, including employers, and brevity is key, so when responding to an on-line job opening, send cover letter with resume attachment or just resume? -- J. B., Memphis, Tenn.

Dear J.B.:

You've touched a tender spot with me. If most people, including employers, are conducting online recruiting and job seeking, they are both missing out on opportunities. As I said last week, nothing beats the basics: Identify an employer that needs people like you, use the Internet for company information, make contact with real people within that company, ask for an in-person interview, follow up and follow through, and get hired!

Yes, cover letters still play an important role in hiring decisions, so says a new survey developed by Office Team, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals.

"Submitting a resume without a cover letter is like not shaking hands when meeting someone for the first time," said Dave Wilmer, executive director of Office Team. "Those who aren't including cover letters with their resumes are missing an opportunity to make a good first impression and set themselves apart from other job applicants."

Other tips from Office Team include the following:

- Name names. Address your letter to the specific manager rather than including a generalized introduction.

- Do your homework. Research the company online and demonstrate how your knowledge and skills fit the job.

- Solve any mysteries. If you have long employment gaps, explain how you filled your time with professional development courses or volunteer work that shows efforts to keep your skills current.

- Leave something for the resume. Sell yourself but try not to repeat everything in your resume.

- Make a plan. Close with a call for action, like, "I'll follow up with you next week to discuss meeting in person."

- Read and reread. Take the time to review for typos and grammatical errors.

- Be a savvy submitter. When applying through on-line job boards, always choose the option to add your cover letter to your resume. When emailing the resume, paste your cover letter within the body of your message.

For more information about Office Team, visit www.officeteam.com.

(Marvin Walberg is a job search coach. Contact him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or PO Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.)