ShareThisDear Mr. Walberg:I need some help with cover letters. Is it acceptable to compose a good basic letter that you use for each employer? I'm not good at writing and want to speed up my job search. -- L.W., Nashville, Tenn.Dear L.W.:Speeding up your job search by taking short cuts is dangerous, and, in fact, can be fatal to your search. If you have trouble writing, there's a lot of help out there in public libraries and quality book stores, but you must learn to write individual cover letters for each resume you forward to an employer. As Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at Northeastern University's College of Business Administration says, "Your cover letter often determines whether the recruiter looks at your resume. It is your opportunity to sell yourself for the specific opportunity." Form letters tell the employer that you sent the same basic introduction to many different employers. It's not very personal.Sarikas also offers the following pointers:-- "Customize to the specific company and job. Focus on their specific needs and how you can add value, demonstrate your knowledge of the company and the industry."-- "Execute flawlessly. Perfection is expected, no typos or grammatical errors or you will likely be eliminated."-- "Focus on what's in it for them. How can you add value and address their specific needs."-- "Connect the dots for them. Don't assume that they will figure out how your experience is transferable to their job. Show them how you meet their specific needs and the unique value you bring to the table."-- "Demonstrate interest, passion and enthusiasm -- why this position and company? What's unique about you?"Don't make errors, use form letters, or overstate your experience. Don't be redundant by repeating everything in your resume. Match yourself to the employer's needs and do it in three or four paragraphs. Brevity helps insure that your resume will be read.And, finally, in closing your cover letters, ask for action. Tell them you will contact them in a few days to request an in-person interview. Never wait for a reply. Be active and create your opportunities. Sell, sell, and then, sell! (Marvin Walberg is a job search coach. Contact him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or PO Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.)
How to write the perfect cover letter
Submitted by SHNS on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 12:01
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