How To Use A Targeted Process Of Crafting The Cover Letter
Just as your cover letter can make the difference in whether or not your resume is
considered or simply discarded, the opening of the cover letter make a difference of whether or the recipient even takes the time to finish reading it. How you start your cover letter can determine whether the potential employer who receives it will actually even finishes reading it. And of course this determines whether or not your resume will make it to the top or the bottom of the pile.
Your research should be as comprehensive as possible. You must go beyond only conducting a quick internet search. You need to find books, articles, newspapers, presentations made at association meetings and conferences, product reviews, and television appearances, to start. You need to become knowledgeable about the trends affecting them, the competitive advantages they might have, and challenges and opportunities facing them. You also need to learn about the individual backgrounds of those in charge - including what schools they attended, the way they advanced to their current position, any exceptional successes they have made, what charity and board participation they have, hobbies they pursue, and even what their favorite sports teams are. All of this is meant to give you insight into the organization and the people heading the organization.
Information is your best asset. The more you learn about these individuals the more you'll be able to customize your letter, and the more you will have with which to establish rapport with the employer.
Your purpose in the first paragraph is to let the employer that, as opposed to your competition, you have gone to the trouble to research them. This shows something about your attitude - how you approach tasks, that you have a good work ethic, and that you are focused. It also shows something about your competence - that you are a good researcher, that you understand the field or industry, and that you know enough about them to know what they are about and what the job entails. You are not only searching for a job. You are searching for the job they are offering.
After that comes the middle paragraph of your cover letter. This will be the first time you discuss yourself. You begin this paragraph by going over your concentration for your degree and how it fits with your desire to work in the industry or field. And you discuss how your experiences in college provided you with the background necessary to hit the ground running.
In the third paragraph you then describe that you would like to work with this employer so that you can be working with a team that will be leading the industry or field. Do it right and you will communicate to the employer that you are professional, that you know what will be expected of you in the job, and that you have a passion for the industry or field - positioning you as a candidate who is likely to be successful and work with them long-term.
Recognize that the intent here is in thanking the person for having helped you develop a deeper understanding of the industry or field, resulting in your interest in the employer, and establishing that you are familiar with what they do. It's only in the third paragraph that you even introduce that you're open to an opportunity to work with them. By then you have provided a context of wanting to work there as a result of what you have learned about them.
Observe that what this approach is actually doing is providing a compliment to the reader. It is critical to this approach that you address something in which the employer has vested time and emotion. That is why discussing something like a paper or book they published or a presentation they made can be so highly effective. And even if this person is extremely self-confident he or she is still going to appreciate it when a person shows that they understand and value his or her effort. The person is also likely to have a reaction to you thanking them for helping. And if it happens that this is someone who has no interest in helping others, even if it's with a brief moment to offer advice, this may not be the sort of person you wish to work with. You may want to find the ones who are willing to take the time and make the effort to mentor you when you work with them.
The majority of individuals deflect compliments. This is largely true when the compliment is personal as is the case when, for example, the compliment is about how smart they are. In cases where the compliment is about something they have done, especially if it concerns something they are proud of, though, they are much more likely to accept the compliment. Those who are the leaders in their field, in particular, typically recognize the importance of what they have accomplished and take pride in it. A compliment about such an accomplishment may therefore truly resonate with them.
What this approach does up front is to talk not about yourself but rather about something that probably is important to the employer. Moreover, it recognizes their efforts. It is difficult to not be touched by a genuine compliment such as this. It is also difficult not to be affected by someone directly thanking you for having made a difference to them. In addition, this also has a second effect which is to leave the reader feeling as if they have already made an investment in you and this is likely to make it easier for them to make further investments in you.
With the right cover letter you should be able to stand out above your competition. And may just persuade the employer to put your resume to the top of the list and call you in for an interview.
The job search process can be done haphazardly or strategically. Doing it the first way will likely lead to rejection after the rejection. Doing it the second way could dramatically increase your chances for getting the job of your dreams. So just go get that job!
by: The Job Hunt Coach
What To Know When Getting Into Janitorial Cleaning Compound Interest Table: Learn Your Moneys Worth Four Tips For Profession Change Cover Letters How To Resist The Impact Of Foreign Enterprises Jimmy Sweeney Cover Letters Creator Evenflo Infant Provider Can Help Most Mommies The Standard Of Producing Roll Crusher A Great Spot In North Devon - Croyde Bay Learn To Choose The Very Best Bathroom Drapes On Your Restroom Having Fun Because Of A Big City Rental Apartment How To Reduce The Dust Of Roller Crusher Garden Canopies Inside The Reduction Effort How To Make Roll Crusher Use Life Longer