COVER LETTERS

by | Sep 30, 2013 | september2013, This Issue's FEATURE

By Sheena Williams

Being in the business that we are in, one of the things that we get asked about a lot is “Do I really need a cover letter?”

Point blank, a cover letter is something that is personal to each individual writer. We can’t make a cover letter for you. We can give you suggestions on what should be in it, but a cover letter is used to let your personality shine through. So, in an effort to help everyone get their cover letter together, we’ve compiled a short list of things that each cover letter should have.

Less Is More. A cover letter should not be more than one page. It’s an introduction, not a life story or sonnet. Most are not more than 3 or 4 paragraphs in length.

Your first paragraph should be about letting the reader know who you are. As a matter of fact, your first sentence should capture the attention of the employer. Make it known that you know about their company and that you know about the position they have posted. You should always create enough interest in your opening which will compel the employer to continue reading.

 I am writing to apply for the position of Engineer with your company. I have read that your company is held to the highest standards to more effectively contribute to a better world. This is exactly the type of company that interests me.

The 2nd  and 3rd paragraph is most likely discussing your background and why you are interested in this particular company.

I attended the University of Texas and earned my Master’s Degree in Architectural Engineering and for the past 10 years, I have worked with ABC Company expanding my knowledge and experience by participating in various training programs. My accomplishments have received recognition in the form of awards and certificates. Your company has all the qualities and specifications that I am seeking in an employer. I believe I am the right fit for your position and I will be able to handle the responsibilities that come with bringing about great results for the company.

In the 4th and final paragraph, wrap it up and request for the opportunity to interview with them. Mention your resume that you have enclosed for their review. You are not trying to impress them with your writing; you are trying to explain why you are an awesome candidate for the job that they have posted. Make sure that you indicate you are at their disposal. Thank the employer for taking the time to read your letter and review your resume.

Please accept my enclosed resume and it is with great anticipation that I welcome the opportunity to personally discuss my qualifications and experience with you, at your convenience. Please contact me at (555) 555-5555. I will call your office to find out if an interview can be arranged. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read my letter and review my resume. I look forward to hearing from you.

Keep The Reader Reading. If your cover letter doesn’t spark the interest of the reader right away, then it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on. You may be an excellent writer, however, sometimes being too wordy can be a hinderance. Try to find that balance of being well spoken on paper, and not too verbose. Employers don’t have a lot of time to read letters and review resumes, so you need to start out strong and get the point across within the first few sentences.

Personalizing Your Cover Letter. A cover letter isn’t always one size fits all. Sometimes you will need to cater the cover letter to fit the job you are applying for. Research where you are going to work, and make sure that you mention anyone you know there who might prove helpful and get you noticed. For instance, you spoke with “so and so” and they recommended that you send in the application.

Explain Why You Want To Work For Them. “I want to make a boat load of money” is not a good reason to give in wanting to work for a company. “I want to utilize my talents in a field where I can grow and learn” is a very good statement.  “I want to work here because your medical benefits rock” is also NOT a good reason. “I would love to work for your company because I feel that I would be a good fit and I would work well with your staff” is another good statement.

Selling Yourself Is A Must. If you aren’t going to sell yourself, why bother with the letter? Brag about yourself a little. This is the time that you can brag, so do it. If you know that you are the only one in a hundred miles who can do the type of coding, building, paperwork, etc., make sure you mention that. You want to ensure that they know what they are getting and that you are a prize! Show them why you are worth hiring.

Getting The Interview Is The End Goal Of The Cover Letter. Your resume should give them the meat and potatoes of what you can do. The letter is just to get them to read your resume. The last paragraph should be how the employer can contact you if they are interested. When you mention that you will follow up, try not to make it sound like a threat. There is a fine line between following up and stalking.

Hope this helps with the cover letter process. Most importantly, just remember to relax when you are writing it.  You are already awesome. You’re just letting others in on the info! △

 

Discussion 60: Faith and Adjustments

by | Sep 29, 2013 | Job Club Heart of Texas

“Faith is the ability to step out into the darkness, and trust that you will either land on something solid, or you’ll learn to fly” -unknown

 

There are times in our lives where we lose ourselves due to the process of looking for something that we don’t have at the time. Maybe it’s a relationship, sometimes it’s a reward, and sometimes it’s money. When that happens sometimes you have to take a step back and re-evaluate what it is you want and why. What is it about this something that makes us chase it? Is it worth chasing, and is it even good for us? Once you’ve thought about it and have decided that it’s what you want you have to fall back on faith, and trust that the things that you want most will come to you. If you have faith in a higher power, then trust that it will lead you to your goal. If you have faith in yourself, then you can trust that you will make the right choices for your and those you love. If you are searching for a job at the time, trust that if you have lost it that it may be a blessing in disguise. How often have you stayed in a position that you don’t love or even barely like because it was safe? How often have you stayed in a place that you are because it’s familiar? Sometimes something happens because it’s a course of adjustment, and you have to trust and believe that something better is right around the corner. What is something that you haven’t done that you hope to do with your next job?

Discussion 62 Alamo: Resume Builders

by | Sep 24, 2013 | Job Club Alamo Area

Hello! We’re going to touch upon a topic that we have a lot of questions about. Building your skills. YOu may think that all the skills you have now are all you need for your job, and in some cases that might be true. But it never hurts to add another skill to your resume. Maybe they have free classes at your local library. Maybe they have a leadership seminar run by the city that you can join. There are hundreds of free events that go on throughout the year that will not only give you free skills to add to your resume, but will also allow you to network with others. Check your local college. Maybe there is a typing class that they offer as part of continuing educatino. You don’t have to go and get a whole new degree. Most colleges offer a continuing education program designed for those who just want to try something new. Contact your local library or Workforce Center. They will usually offer classes that you didn’t think would be important at first, but find that it may be a skill that your employer might need down the road. If you’re going to sell yourself an extra skill isn’t a bad place to start!

Discussion 62: Resume Builders

by | Sep 24, 2013 | Job Club Heart of Texas

Hello! We’re going to touch upon a topic that we have a lot of questions about. Building your skills. YOu may think that all the skills you have now are all you need for your job, and in some cases that might be true. But it never hurts to add another skill to your resume. Maybe they have free classes at your local library. Maybe they have a leadership seminar run by the city that you can join. There are hundreds of free events that go on throughout the year that will not only give you free skills to add to your resume, but will also allow you to network with others. Check your local college. Maybe there is a typing class that they offer as part of continuing educatino. You don’t have to go and get a whole new degree. Most colleges offer a continuing education program designed for those who just want to try something new. Contact your local library or Workforce Center. They will usually offer classes that you didn’t think would be important at first, but find that it may be a skill that your employer might need down the road. If you’re going to sell yourself an extra skill isn’t a bad place to start!

Discussion 61 Alamo: Making Choices Simple

by | Sep 16, 2013 | Job Club Alamo Area

There are times when you are looking for a job that you have to make choices. Sometimes the job maybe a little fruther thenyou want to drive. Or maybe the hours are no just right. These are all things that can factor in your success at your job. What you have to decide is if the road blocks are really road blocks. The job might be a little further away then you would normally drive, but the pay is better then anything closer. The hours might not be the best, but they have benefits. Take a piece of paper and make two columns. Write down 5 must haves and 5 road blocks. Start with your road blocks. Can these things be fixed? Can you hire a sitter? Can you take a bus instead of driving? Is there anyway to surmount the problem. If so then take it off your road block list. Once you’re done with that, go to your must haves. Decide if the must have is a need or a desire. If it’s just a desire then take it off the list. If it’s a must have that you would ignore for the right job, then it’s not a must have. Once you’re finished with the list look at the job you’re considering then make your choice.