CelestialBody
Starlet of India
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Cover letters-
- Thread starter CelestialBody
- Start date
Calamity Jane
Reverend Blue Jeans
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- Sep 19, 2001
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I don't often use cover letters. When I do, I keep them short - just a couple of paragraphs - and I use them to tell the company how badly they want to hire me.
Showcase your strong points, make sure it's well written, especially if the position will require written communication skills, sum up your education/experience in the area, and tell them why you'd be a good fit in the organization.
Showcase your strong points, make sure it's well written, especially if the position will require written communication skills, sum up your education/experience in the area, and tell them why you'd be a good fit in the organization.
Ordinary Bob
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2001
- Posts
- 145
When I review cover letters and resumes
1st paragraph should be a short introduction of yourself of no more than a few (2 or 3) sentences and what postion you are applying for.
2nd paragraph should show a little knowledge of the position and the company you are applying to. (again keep this short. usually no more than 5 or 6 sentences). State briefly why you are interested in the job.
3rd paragraph (optional) - any specifics about the job you are applying for and your thoughts about why you are the perfect candidate for the job.
Closing paragraph - Offer thanks for the opportunity to interview for the position. In a situation such as yours Celestial, if you know who the cover letter is going to or have any personal knowledge it may not hurt to close your cover letter out with a sentence such as, "Thank you for the opportunity (Mr.) (Ms.) so and so, to interview for this position and I look forward to speaking to you (in the near future) (next week) (during the interview process).
And then close with a Sincerely Yours, Celestial Body
A cover letter should never be that long. It is simply an introduction for the interviewer to get a quick glimpse of you. Cover letters may be longer, but those should only be used when you are applying for specific position and where you have a personal knowledge or relationship (such as a friend of the family, or friend of a friend or teacher) with the interviewer. Another case of a longer cover letter is when the position or company asks for it.
Usually though, when I am reviewing resumes and cover letters, the shorter letters and resumes get read more thoroughly than the longer ones. Its just a time factor.
keep everything orderly, neatly spaced and organized so information is found easily.
Good Luck, CB.
1st paragraph should be a short introduction of yourself of no more than a few (2 or 3) sentences and what postion you are applying for.
2nd paragraph should show a little knowledge of the position and the company you are applying to. (again keep this short. usually no more than 5 or 6 sentences). State briefly why you are interested in the job.
3rd paragraph (optional) - any specifics about the job you are applying for and your thoughts about why you are the perfect candidate for the job.
Closing paragraph - Offer thanks for the opportunity to interview for the position. In a situation such as yours Celestial, if you know who the cover letter is going to or have any personal knowledge it may not hurt to close your cover letter out with a sentence such as, "Thank you for the opportunity (Mr.) (Ms.) so and so, to interview for this position and I look forward to speaking to you (in the near future) (next week) (during the interview process).
And then close with a Sincerely Yours, Celestial Body
A cover letter should never be that long. It is simply an introduction for the interviewer to get a quick glimpse of you. Cover letters may be longer, but those should only be used when you are applying for specific position and where you have a personal knowledge or relationship (such as a friend of the family, or friend of a friend or teacher) with the interviewer. Another case of a longer cover letter is when the position or company asks for it.
Usually though, when I am reviewing resumes and cover letters, the shorter letters and resumes get read more thoroughly than the longer ones. Its just a time factor.
keep everything orderly, neatly spaced and organized so information is found easily.
Good Luck, CB.
It is really easy to do if you do it right and can really make or break getting a interview.
Don't use colored or flashy papers. No crazy fonts either.
The scanners spend all of 20 seconds to one minute on a coverletter, to decide whether to dump you are put you in the read pile. They don't get impressed by flashy shit. Keep it simple.
The purpose of a cover letter is to highlight and summerize your strong points and state why you are the best candidate for the postition.
Here is an edited copy of mine to give you an idea of what I mean....
Use a letter head.
Celestial Body
69 Literotica way
Email:
Date:
Dear Management, (replacable by one of several greetings)
I am certain that my education is my strongest attribute to this position. My knowledge of the Horticultural arts is sufficient enough to work retail customer service, supply, installation, and management, but can be improved upon now, only by gaining hands on experience. (In your first paragraph you want to introduce what is most important: Adress the postition, and why you are applying, if needed. Otherwise keep it brief.. 2-3 sentences.)
(In the second paragraph you want to either bullet list or write out, paragraph style, your best features that qualify you for the job and make you the best candidate)
I am a quick and apt learner to both that of hands on and intellectual work. I am reliable and organized. I am not only a self starter, I am perceptive and take charge of my work. I am not afraid to make decisions, and act in a responsible manner in times of need. I do, however, respect designated lines authority, and try to not cross those lines unless absolutely needed. I have much experience handling customers best interests at times of displeasure, while maintaining a deep understanding of what is best for the business of my employer’s company and acting accordingly.
(Quick summery of what you feel is most important in the above summery)
I feel that my work ethic, education, along with my past experience are the most developed strengths I have to offer your company. I am a determined and self motivated worker and I hope to be joining your team.
Sincerely,
Starfish (your signiture)
Brevity and precision are key factors to a successful cover letter.
Some people feel that they are necessary and others don't.
I see that they aren't always needed BUT I think that if you are attaching any letters of reccomendation that you should definately have one, to give it a more professional feel or else you'll not have a composition to your resume.
Good luck and I hope you get a postition with Nader.
Don't use colored or flashy papers. No crazy fonts either.
The scanners spend all of 20 seconds to one minute on a coverletter, to decide whether to dump you are put you in the read pile. They don't get impressed by flashy shit. Keep it simple.
The purpose of a cover letter is to highlight and summerize your strong points and state why you are the best candidate for the postition.
Here is an edited copy of mine to give you an idea of what I mean....
Use a letter head.
Celestial Body
69 Literotica way
Email:
Date:
Dear Management, (replacable by one of several greetings)
I am certain that my education is my strongest attribute to this position. My knowledge of the Horticultural arts is sufficient enough to work retail customer service, supply, installation, and management, but can be improved upon now, only by gaining hands on experience. (In your first paragraph you want to introduce what is most important: Adress the postition, and why you are applying, if needed. Otherwise keep it brief.. 2-3 sentences.)
(In the second paragraph you want to either bullet list or write out, paragraph style, your best features that qualify you for the job and make you the best candidate)
I am a quick and apt learner to both that of hands on and intellectual work. I am reliable and organized. I am not only a self starter, I am perceptive and take charge of my work. I am not afraid to make decisions, and act in a responsible manner in times of need. I do, however, respect designated lines authority, and try to not cross those lines unless absolutely needed. I have much experience handling customers best interests at times of displeasure, while maintaining a deep understanding of what is best for the business of my employer’s company and acting accordingly.
(Quick summery of what you feel is most important in the above summery)
I feel that my work ethic, education, along with my past experience are the most developed strengths I have to offer your company. I am a determined and self motivated worker and I hope to be joining your team.
Sincerely,
Starfish (your signiture)
Brevity and precision are key factors to a successful cover letter.
Some people feel that they are necessary and others don't.
I see that they aren't always needed BUT I think that if you are attaching any letters of reccomendation that you should definately have one, to give it a more professional feel or else you'll not have a composition to your resume.
Good luck and I hope you get a postition with Nader.
Last edited:
LukkyKnight
Equal Opportunity Enjoyer
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2001
- Posts
- 58,516
CelestialBody said:
Cover letters have ONE purpose. They are to compel the person reading it to go ahead and read the resume.
Resumes have ONE purpose. They are to compel the person sorting them to put you in the "yes, call her" pile.
That phone call is your chance to insure they invite you in for an interview, use it to insure you get invited unless you don't want the position after learning what little you do over the phone.
The point of the interview, the WHOLE point, is to get them to make you an offer. You don't say "I want to work here." You can say, "You seem like you're doing very cool things here." You want to ask as many questions as you answer, and you want to convey that you have a goal, a direction, a purpose in mind and - in this case - that an internship seems like a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the field (possibly to help you narrow down your career path choices, because there's so much you find intriquing about the field.)
So, the cover letter needs to hold the words from their ad, and tell them where you saw the ad, and look like a zillion bucks. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry has their stuff printed on a laser these days, print your cover letter on nicer, just off-white paper. Keep it short, and sweet, they see hundreds. Reflect back exactly what they said they wanted, do it in a full blown business letter, indent the paragraphs (not block style) so they fill out nicely, and use a clean serif font like Times or Goudy.
Ordinary Bob
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2001
- Posts
- 145
What they said!
is exactly what I was trying to say. Only they said it better. If I like your cover letter then I will scan your resume.
Good Luck, CB.
Starfish, you are sharp and have a good mind and your example is very good.
is exactly what I was trying to say. Only they said it better. If I like your cover letter then I will scan your resume.
Good Luck, CB.
Starfish, you are sharp and have a good mind and your example is very good.
CelestialBody
Starlet of India
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2000
- Posts
- 7,904
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