What EVERY Cover Letter Needs

If you've completed my 7-day Resume Cover Letter Mini Course, you should have mastered the 7 basic elements of a highly effective cover letter.  Now let's see what Jimmy Sweeney says.  Here are the "Secret 7" from him.  You'll find addtional insights comparing his 7 and mine.  Try to incorporate them into your next job search letter.

Cover Letter Tip: Put The "Secret 7" To Work For You!
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,© Written By Jimmy Sweeney

Amazing Cover Letter Creator

Many hiring managers face a pile of cover letters each and every day from job seekers. If you want yours to stand out from the crowd, make it short, succinct, and snappy! In other words, grab the reader's attention and hold it. The last thing you want to do is bog down the employer with a multi-page letter filled with ponderous prose. Instead incorporate the following seven secrets—the ones every cover letter should include:

1. Write a one-page cover letter. Period.
2. Leave lots of 'white space' in your letter so it's easy to read.
3. Create three paragraphs maximum or the cover letter will overwhelm.
4. Number or 'bullet' your lists when this technique fits. It catches interest.
5. Bold face the first sentence of each paragraph to highlight your point.
6. Write only three sentences per paragraph for quick scanning.
7. Print out your letter and read it yourself.  Is it a good example of the secrets on the list above?  If not, edit where needed.

Effort = Effectiveness!

The time you spend now will come back to you a hundredfold when the hiring manager selects the most promising job seekers to call for interviews. Your cover letter is the first step. Make it count by using the seven secrets above. Bonus Cover Letter Tip: Don't be afraid to ASK for the opportunity to be interviewed. Ask and you shall receive.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career-related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job-Search Secrets.” Visit Jimmy on the web at Amazing Cover Letters.com for your ‘instant’ cover letter today. In just 3 ½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter! 

Cover Letter Blog - What EVERY Cover Letter Needs

Resume Cover Letter - Mini Course Day 7

A Powerful Wrap-up Sentence At The P.S. (Postscript) Location

Here’s the greatest cover letter secret ever revealed...few job seekers have the chance to read this.  You are one of the lucky ones.

Add a P.S. (postscript) to the bottom of your resume cover letter!

                                                                                      

I’ve actually borrowed this idea from Jimmy Sweeney, author of Amazing Cover Letter Creator.

I’ve made this suggestion to many job seekers and received feedbacks that they experienced dramatic increase in job interviews and job offers!  So I know this little secret works like magic.

As you may know, Jimmy has a marketing and advertising background. He has made use of this P.S. strategy on numerous sales letters to restate exactly what action he would like the reader to take and achieved his desired results. 

Job-seekers would like to be called for more job interviews and the P.S. is the perfect opportunity to stamp this fact on the reader’s brain.  It’s your best shot for a ‘direct hit’ that can increase the chances of producing the desired result… the job interview.

The P.S. is virtually impossible NOT to read! Think about it. When you read any type of letter and your eyes notice a P.S. at the end, you are practically ‘forced’ to read it! Use this P.S. power in your cover letter is going to boost your number of job interviews.

You can use the P.S. to ask for the interview the second time; or to restate why you believe you’re such a strong candidate for the job opening. 

TWO examples of the P.S. being used in a resume cover letter

P.S. I would like to restate my desire to interview for the position of (job title). {Company name} is number one on my list of companies I’d like to work for. I am available immediately and can be reached directly on my mobile phone at 1234-5678. Thank you so much!

P.S. I would love the opportunity to meet in person and to explain why I may be the right match for the position of (job title). I can be reached right away at 1234-5678. Thank you in advance.

Conclusion: Take advantage of the fact that people are trained to read the P.S. and make sure to include one in your next cover letter.

Resume Cover Letters - Mini Course Day 7

Resume Cover Letter - Mini Course Day 6

Effective Ways To Ask For The Job Interview

A resume cover letter should effectively ASK for the job interview.

Did you do this well in every one of your job search letter?  If you don’t, you’ll be beaten by your competitors who do!

Where And How To Effectively Ask For A Job Interview In Your Next Cover Letter

While job seekers generally ask for an interview at the end of the letter, there is no reason why you can’t place this request directly at the very beginning of the letter. 

A very effective way of doing it is to write this headline:

I would love the opportunity to interview in person for the position

of (job title).  Then continue your letter with “Dear Mr Smith…”  Of course you’ll make the same request in your last paragraph.

THREE More Effective Ways

To ASK For An Interview

If you want to attract quality job interviews like a magnet, you need to write a powerful message to achieve your desired result – job interviews.  Write messages that shine with your personality, desire and passion in the job being offered.  Here are three best examples.

1. I have researched (company name) and am excited about this opportunity. I would love the chance to interview for this position and am available at your earliest convenience. If possible, can we schedule a meeting in the next two weeks?
2. I would like the chance in person, to discuss the specific reasons why I believe I am the applicant you are looking for. If you will grant me an interview for (job title), I can be reached at 1234-5678.
3. I am excited about the possibility of a personal interview to further discuss my qualifications with you. I am immediately available and can be reached at 5555-5555. I will follow up with a phone call as well to make sure you have received my application.

Be sure to add one of these paragraphs at the end of your next cover letter. You’re going to motivate more and more hiring managers to call you up for interviews. Imagine your letter without such interview requests, you’ll be just waiting for your phone to ring, day after day. 

CONCLUSION: Write a POWERFUL message to ASK for the interview will motivate the hiring manager to give you a call.

Resume Cover Letters - Mini Course Day 6

 

  

Resume Cover Letter - Mini Course Day 5

Focus on the particular employer’s needs and explain specifically why you are the right person

One of the major objectives of a resume cover letter is to tell the hiring manager that you are the right person.  You are such a perfect match that the hiring manager picks up a phone and call you for an interview.  To make this happen, here are the things you need to observe.

Remember in Day 2 we talked about an Attention Grabbing Headline?  If you wrote this headline - Three reasons why I believe I may be the candidate you are searching for regarding the position of [job title] – be sure you provide answers to what these three reasons are.

Here’s how we can do it.

Recruitment ad requires:  industry passion, attention to details, team work:

Your cover letter states:

I have a real passion for this industry. I am a hard worker and my attention to detail is one of my best qualities. I enjoy team work and have proven to be a productive team member.

Recruitment ad requires:  global vision, dedication and communication skills:

Your cover letter states:

• I developed interpersonal and communication skills critical to a consulting position
• My dedication, ability to quickly master new tasks, and drive to succeed
• My global vision gained from MNC experience

It doesn’t matter you use paragraph or bullets.  But you must provide the three reasons why you think you are the perfect match. 

Proactive Approach

If you are proactively approaching a company, please include ‘3 WHYs’ on your cover letter: Why banking (or any other industry you are applying); Why HSBC (or name of the company you are approaching), Why you. Show your passion in that business and how you can contribute to the company.

More Writing Tips

As our resume cover letter has to be short, do keep it brief.  Try not to re-write your experiences which are mostly captured in you resume. A better strategy is to summarize your USP (unique selling point), in other words, how your best strength would add value to the role you are applying. You may also include capabilities that were not stated in your resume, such as how your people skills contributed to your success; how you achieve results through team work. 

Please also try to avoid over selling.  Though cover letter is a sales tool, but we still don’t want to make it too aggressive, such as ‘hey, I’m here, hire me.’ An appropriate tone is very important.

Don’t enjoy writing?  You may check out Jimmy Sweeney’s Amazing Cover Letter writing tool which could help you craft the right wordings in the right tone in just 3 minutes.

CONCLUSION: State specifically why you are the right fit for the position being offered.

Resume Cover Letters - Mini Course Day 5

 

Resume Cover Letter - Mini Course Day 4

Short and Sweet – Keep It To One Page / 20 Seconds

There is one BIG secret in writing a compelling resume cover letter – keep it short. There are two reasons for this. The less you write, the fewer mistakes you will make and the higher chance to attract the eyes of the hiring manager.  Remember, the trash bin loves long letters, but not the hiring manager.

Warning! 20 seconds does not only mean that the hiring manager is too busy and has only 20 seconds to read your letter. It is when a person read, what they read in the first 20 seconds will seed into their brain more firmly.

FIVE Layout Tips for a Highly Effective Resume Cover Letter:

• One page (or 20 seconds) max. The longer, the less effective.
• A good balance between white space and text.  Make it comfortable for reading.
• Three paragraphs max.
• Paragraphs should contain no more than four to five sentences each, but I highly recommend just three well-written sentences per paragraph.  Simple short sentences work much better than long sentences.
• After you've finished your letter, print it out to see that it’s easy on the eyes and ‘invites’ you to read more.  

Use these FIVE tips to create your next cover letter and I guarantee you'll avoid the 'recycle bin,' and land more quality job interviews.

Example of a GOOD Short Cover Letter

A Hong Kong-based colleague referred me to you. I am very keen to build upon my senior management experience with the United Nations, and am seeking a director-level position with a Wall Street investment bank as head of credit risk management.

My background is in behavioral scoring, leading organizational change, advocacy, and fund-raising.  I would prefer to be based in Hong Kong, but am open to other cities in Asia.

I've attached my CV, and I look forward to the opportunity to talk with you or one of your colleagues about next steps.

Example of a BAD Short Cover Letter

I am currently seeking jobs. Please find attached CV for your reference. Please feel free to call me at 1234-5678

Short vs Short

I didn’t create the BAD example for demonstration, it was a real letter.  Likewise, the GOOD example was also a real letter.  I don’t have to explain, you see the difference.  No matter how short your cover letter is, it has to been short and sweet, sensibly reflects your professionalism and maturity.

CONCLUSION: Less is more.  Keep it one page or 20 seconds. 

Resume Cover Letters - Mini Course Day 4

Resume Cover Letter - Mini Course Day 3

Show Enthusiasm And Passion In A Conversational Manner

Writing a resume cover letter filled with sentences and words even an English teacher would have to check a dictionary to understand is totally ineffective!  Unfortunately, I notice some candidates are still using this strategy.  A cover letter is not a place to showcase your superior vocabularies, “big” or “important” words.

Have this golden rule in mind:  A highly effective, interview-grabbing cover letter has to be read like a friendly conversation with a good friend.

You may greatly admire Shakespeare, but bear in mind writing business letter is different from writing literature.  A super way to present your writing skills is to make your points easy to understand by using words everyone can recognize. Use simple modern English and blend in your enthusiasm and passion in it.  Bring it all together with a friendly tone throughout will give you a license to win.

Compare These Two Paragraphs:

"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. I am self-assured my skill set will meet with your parameters and would encourage further communications between all parties concerned and in accordance with regards to this dynamic conceptualization we all strive to finalize and perpetualize." - gibberish?!

"I wanted you to know I have taken some time to research your company and am very impressed. I have a real passion for this industry. I am a hard worker and my attention to detail is one of my best qualities. 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." - plain English!

So now you see what plain English is.

Note:  I’ve borrowed these two paragraphs from Jimmy Sweeney’s resume cover letter ebook.  If you haven’t read it yet, click on the link at top of this blog and download a free copy.

Should Jargons Be Used
Yes.  Generally I don’t go for using jargons, but recruitment ads, resumes and cover letters are the exceptions.  Some employers intentionally use jargons in their ads to filter out those candidates who are not familiar with their businesses.  For example, if you don’t understand what FMCG is, there is no way you can apply for a marketing role at Procter & Gamble.  Similarly, if you are applying for an asset management role, you should have no problem in writing AUM. 

TIP: Read your cover letter out loud and if you find any tongue twisters and sentences that sound a little too 'impressive' fix them! Write like you speak, let your personality shine through. Show your passion and enthusiasm for the position and clearly ASK for the job interview.  Get a trusted friend to help if necessary.  Very often, a second pair of ears and eyes may be able to spot something that you subjectively don’t observe.

CONCLUSION: Write simple, modern, easy-to-understand English, in a friendly conversational manner.

Resume Cover Letters - Mini Course Day 3

Resume Cover Letter - Mini Course Day 2

Attention Grabbing Headline

To start a resume cover letter, don’t just write a headline.  Write a POWERFUL headline – one that practically forces the reader to explore a little further, to READ more of your letter and to find out more about you.

If you want to land more quality job interviews, you need to apply the ‘big bang’ theory, as according to Jimmy Sweeney.  For those who have downloaded his ebook will know about this.  If you haven't yet, click on the link at top of this blog and download a free copy.

At the top of any job search cover letter, you need TO GRAB YOUR READERS’ UNDIVIDED ATTENTION!

This little secret works like magic, however have been overlooked by almost all job seekers.  Have you been writing a headline like this: Application: [job title]?  Stop doing it again.  99% of the job seekers write this and most of them are victims of receiving a standard reply of ‘no, thank you’.

Let’s compare three examples of attention grabbing headlines.

 

(1) Three reasons why I may be the ideal candidate you are searching for…
(2) Seasoned [job title] ready to contribute immediately
(3) One reason I am the best candidate for …

Which is the best headline? Well, all examples grab attention, but it is important to note these: 

(1) is the best. 
(2) is not too bad, provided they are looking for a seasoned candidate available immediately. 
(3) is the worst.  Don’t ever write something like this on your job search letter.  It does not represent confidence but arrogance which no hiring manager appreciate. 

Remember to remain humble and friendly while grabbing attention. 

Study the recruitment ad and craft your headline with something of interest to the hiring manager.  Here are THREE examples of excellent cover letter headlines:

Three reasons why I believe I may be the candidate you are searching for regarding the position of [job title].

I would love the opportunity to be interviewed in person for the position of [job title].

Experienced [job title] ready to [key selling point] – such as – Experienced Sales Manager ready to Expand Territory

Use a strong headline at the beginning of your next job search cover letter can keep your phone ringing for more job interviews fast.

CONCLUSION: Start YOUR next resume cover letter off with an Attention Grabbing Headline.

Resume Cover Letters - Mini Course Day 2

Resume Cover Letter - Mini Course Day 1

Address To A Real Person

If you start your resume cover letter by TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, you’re grammatically alright.  But what if nobody wanted to be concerned?  Doctors writing sick leave certificates can start a letter that way, but not job seekers.

When writing business letters, many a time it’s not a matter of right or wrong.  Rather there are matters of friendly or not friendly; warm or cool; enthusiastic or non enthusiastic.

When we are writing a resume cover letter, we DO want to get someone concerned in reading our letter and in giving us a call for an interview.  To begin with, we need to be as friendly, warm and enthusiastic as possible.  To do this, try your best to find out who the reader is and make the appropriate address and greeting. 

Which of these greetings should you use to start your cover letter?

Poor Greetings
To whom it may concern / Dear Sirs / Dear Sir/Madam / Dear Gentlemen

Acceptable Greetings:
Dear Hiring Manager / Dear HR Manager

Good Greetings:
Dear Mrs. Smith / Dear Mr. Jones
Always greet the reader by his/her family name, as a matter of professional English, unless you only know the person’s first name.  We’ll see an example below.

When you go through the contact info provided by recruitment ads, you can find clues as to determine which is the appropriate greeting to use.  See examples below.  You are invited to send your resume to:

Group 1 – hrd@anycompany.com
Group 2 – annie_name@xyzcompany.com
Group 3 – annie@abccompany.com
Group 4 – cv@anyemploymentagency.com

Group 1 – Dear HR Director
Group 2 – Dear Ms. Name
Group 3 – Dear Annie
Group 4 – Dear Consultant

How To Look For The Right Person To Write To?
If you are proactively approaching an employer, try to do some research to find out who is the best person to read your letter and write to him (or her) directly.  For example, if you want to be an analyst, you may make a call and find out the name of the head of research in your target employer’s company.  If you want to apply for a sales role, then ask for the sales manager’s name.  Some companies have their key people’s names and contact emails available in their websites.  Don’t overlook the power of internet!

CONCLUSION: Address your resume cover letter to a specific person whenever possible!

Resume Cover Letters - Mini Course Day 1

7 Key Elements of an Outstanding Cover Letter

Our mini course begins with the key elements of an outstanding cover letter. 

Let me be blunt up front. If you want to copy resume cover letter examples, my blog is not a place for you.  I’m here to help you write an attention grabber resume cover letter in your own words, so that you’ll present yourself to the employer as a unique individual who is the right fit for the job you apply.  If you use fill-in-the-blank cover letter samples, you are just anybody in the crowd receiving a standard reply for ‘no, thank you’.

If you want to motivate the hiring manager to give you a call, here are the 7 key elements of an outstanding cover letter:

1. Address to a real person
2. Attention grabbing headline
3. Show enthusiasm and passion in a conversational manner
4. Short and sweet – keep it to one page / 20 seconds
5. Focus on the particular employer’s needs and explain specifically why you are the right person
6. Ask for an interview
7. A powerful wrap-up sentence at the PS location

** If you are proactively approaching an employer, your cover letter should include these two elements in it:

• The position or area you are interested in
• How you can contribute to the company or position (not what the company can do for you.)

You may have heard of one or more of these elements previously.  But as I said, it is always easier to know than to do.  In our forthcoming lessons, we’ll talk about what exactly we are going to do with each of the elements.

Anna Maria D’Souza’s Thought of the Day:
One Simple Error Can Disqualify You Instantly - Typo

I once wanted to hire a personal assistant and received a cover letter applying for ‘personnel assistant’.  Result?  That letter went to the trash bin immediately.  No matter how good your qualification is or how well your letter is written, one typo can kill.  ‘Personal Assistant’ is a completely different role from a ‘Personnel Assistant’.  Hiring managers won’t spend time reading a letter NOT applying to the position that they are hiring.

The non-negotiable simple but most important rule in writing a cover letter is ERROR FREE - Proof-read for spelling and grammatical errors.  No cover letter should go out of the door with any error in it, no matter how tiny it is.

Need help?  Download Ginger Grammar & Spell Checker for FREE 

Cover Letter Blog - 7 Key Elements of an Outstanding Cover Letter

How To Write A Cover Letter?

How To Write A Cover Letter?
Preparation Free eBook

Before you write a cover letter, it is important to remember that your cover letter is your ‘sales representative’ to market YOU to your potential employer.  So you would hire the greatest ‘sales representative’ to do the sales job for you, and that is your resume cover letter, not your resume.

As I started this blog yesterday, it is still a baby today and you don’t find much content yet. While it may take you some time to master the skills to write a cover letter, you may want to write one NOW as there is a dream job awaiting your application.  If that’s the case, please download this FREE e-book and get some instant assistance.

This complimentary copy of the “World’s Greatest Cover Letter” is brought to you by CareerJimmy and Ibanking Resumes. Right-click the above link and choose ‘save as’ for immediate download.

It will take you just 15 minutes to finish reading this book. If you are searching for employment, I predict this will be the most profitable 15 minutes of your job-seeking life. Read every word right now (no cheating!) and I promise you'll never look at your job search the same way again.

Whether you're a college graduate starting out, a seasoned career professional or perhaps changing careers for the first time in your life, whatever your current employment situation, the secrets revealed in this book are unlike anything you've read before.

So let’s kick start with this most important 15 minutes in your job searching.  You would have a solid foundation after reading the book and we’ll learn more of the basic and advance skills to write a cover letter.
Remember, your resume cover letter is your key to open your potential employers’ doors.  Don’t get it wrong. 

We shall begin our cover letter mini-course tomorrow.

Cover Letter Blog - Preparation Class

Resume Cover Letter – Blog Objective

Resume Cover Letter Blog is an extension of I-Banking Resumes Blog which I created on this same day in March 1, 2007.

Blog Objective

What makes you want to learn to write a resume cover letter?  Have you been writing cover letters the hard way without many responses?  If you want to speed up your job hunting process and land your dream job soonest, you need to learn to write an Attention-Getting, Interview-Grabbing, Job-Landing, 'Dynamite' Cover Letter!  The objective of this blog is to help you write such a letter.

How Can I Help?

Throughout my many years of executive search experience, I did come across some really outstanding, great and impressive cover letters that did not only make me want to see the candidates but to remember them for years. 

Hiring managers won’t read resumes without a cover letter.  At the same time, they trash a lot of resumes along with their cover letters everyday.  Why?  Because they don’t like copycats from library books, or stiff, stale, overly professional, big-worded, long winded or boring cover letters.  ALWAYS write your own cover letter in your own words, tone and style.  That’s the only way to keep the hiring managers’ eyes open and feel refreshing in reading your letter.

What Will You Learn?

Here are some of the things you will learn in this blog.

·  Write a cover letter that helps you stand out of the crowd.

·  Write a cover letter to make the right impression on the employer at the very first sight.

·  Write a cover letter that is up to the expectation and gives the employer what he wants to know and learn about you.

Remember A Cover Letter Is Not A Cover Letter - It's A SALES Letter! 

YOU are the PRODUCT, and your cover letter is the SALESPERSON.  We shall work together to get the world’s “Smartest Salesperson” to knock on your potential employers’ doors.

Great resume cover letters sprinkles magic and allow the recruiter to judge the personality and potential of the candidate applying for it.  You may know this already.  But trust me, it is easier to know than to do.  Subscribe this blog and get updated tips to write your own amazing resume cover letter.

All the best

Anna Maria D’Souza

PS:  I’ve gained career guru Jimmy Sweeney’s permission to publish some of his best articles in this blog.  Jimmy is the President of CareerJimmy and the author of The Amazing Cover Letters.  I’m sure with his wonderful tips, you are going to slash your job hunting time by at least half.