subject: Are Cover Letters Worth The Effort? [print this page] Among recruiters and HR Managers there are differences of opinions about cover letters.The nay-sayers claim people don't have time to read them, they are lengthy, boring or are nothing more than snippets from the attached rsum. The yea-sayers read them because they want to acknowledge the sender's efforts, they may learn something about the person that is beyond the rsum and that it's an opportunity to see how the person presents him/herself.So, should you bother? The answer is yes. There is always a caveat, and here it is: If they indicate "No cover letter" you have to respect that. A company receiving a letter despite their request to not send one says that you either didn't read the ad in its entirety or that you cannot follow instructions or, even worse, you disregarded them. Bottom line: your epistle and attached rsum will not be going in the "yes" pile.So how to you construct an effective cover letter? Here's how to get started:- Keep the letter to one page and use the same font and type size as your rsum. It presents a consistent look.- You can use the header on your rsum that displays your name, address and contact info for the header of the letter.- Dear Sir or Madam or Dear HR Manager is not effective. You need a contact name to address the letter properly and make absolutely sure you spell the person's name correctly and that you have their proper title. Confirm it with a call to the company. Nothing will get your submission thrown in the trash faster than misspelling their name or not acknowledging their position!- Start the letter with a compliment to the company about their standing in the industry, their reputation as the leader in the field, their commitment to a cause. You may be gifted with an additional 15 seconds of look-see time if they are pleased with your acknowledgement of who they are and what they have worked so hard to achieve. Let them know that it is because of their standing, product or service that you were inspired to approach them.- Choose three major elements about yourself and your qualifications that you want them to really know about. Use bullets or a bolded lead-in to bring visual focus to them. Make it succinct. If this is a self-marketing letter, use it as a chance to show them additional qualifications, personality or a unique interest in something. If it's in response to an ad, choose the "messages" the company is sending out through the posting. (Think you know how to read a job ad? See article by the same title...)- End your letter with a reiteration of why you want to form this mutually-beneficial partnership. Indicate you will follow up in the next few days and that they can reach out to you sooner at (then provide your contact info.) If you say, "I look forward to hearing from you" you leave the ball in their court. Saying you will follow up shows initiative, genuine interest and they won't be surprised to hear from you.Here's a final tip: If you are reaching out to an employer via e-mail, combine your cover letter and rsum into one attachment by making your letter page 1 and your rsum pages 2 and 3. When it prints out, your letter will be right on top and you have a better chance of it being read.
