|
|
|
    Contact Information:
|
|
EMPLOYMENT RELATED LETTERS A cover letter is a letter sent along with your resume when you apply for a job. If a resume is a set of facts about you, the cover letter is your personality. It is a personalized letter of why you are the right fit for the job. Cover letters and resumes do NOT get you the job. They get you the interview. Your goal in the cover letter is to interest the employer for an interview. A cover letter should just be part of a job search campaign. A cover letter is targeted to an employer. Research the employer to target the person who has the power to hire you. The cover letter should be addressed to a specific person. The best person to address it to is the person who has the power to hire you. That is usually the departmental manager. Call the employer and get the name, title, spelling, and address of the contact. This may also be the Human Resources department. A cover letter is a business letter. It should be professional and clear. Some guidelines: · Write clearly and go beyond what’s on your resume · Tell why you are right for the job · Keep sentences brief and concise · Keep it brief, less than one page · Keep the number of “I”’s in the letter under five · Cover letters demonstrate your ability to write. It is your first impression. · State why you are interested for the job · Use the “T” format: (Enclosure) Include a phone number and a good time to contact you · Sign in blue or black ink. · If you know someone in the company or have a contact, include that person’s name in the first sentence. · Use the same type of paper as your resume. · Don’t send out cover letters blindly, have a focus. · Use a laser printer and the same high quality paper as your resume · Send a cover letter if you are e mailing or faxing your resume. · Experts are split if you should e-mail or send a paper letter. The advantage of a paper letter is ease of reading and higher impact. E-mails so a bit more of technological finesse and can be responded to instantly. Use the following format for your cover letter: Do: · Follow rules of layout and format of a standard business letter. See the examples below. · Your letter should state what you could offer employers, not what you think they should be offering you. · Use proper spelling and punctuation. Have someone proofread your letter. · Write in your own words and in conversational language · Sign your letter in black or blue ink · Be brief, concise and to the point · Save it on a word processing program. It may be useful as drafts for similar jobs. · Close with a direct call for action (i.e., interview appointment). State that you will be calling the employer to follow up. · Take advantage of any link to the employer that can put your foot in the door or give you an edge over the competition. · Thank them for their time and consideration. Don't · Use stiff language or phrasing. Make your letter friendly yet professional. · Be too “cute” in an attempt to be original or clever. · Be lofty in tone or exaggerate your qualifications. · Over sell your reliability, capacity for hard work or intelligence. Be honest but humble. The appearance and tone of your letter and resume can say more about you, than you can gracefully say about yourself. Response Letter To Help Wanted Advertisement Experts agree 80% of jobs are never advertised. However, you should not ignore the want ads. A good rule of thumb is to spend no more than 25% of your job search time on want ads. Here are some guidelines: 1. Thoroughly read and reread an advertisement to aid you in determining what it is the potential employer is looking for. Try to speak to the "need" of the organization evidenced through the ad...some reading between the lines may be necessary so that you can tailor your response. 2. Answer the ad as soon as possible after it appears. However, make sure that you allow yourself enough time to prepare adequately. 3. Be as innovative as possible, to aid your letter in standing out amidst the wave of response letters the company is sure to receive. For example, you can Fed Ex the letter. 4. Follow the instructions carefully regarding where the response should be directed and what to include. For example, a resume, geographic preference, etc. The letter should be addressed to a specific person. You can call the company to find out the proper name and spelling. 5. Answer all questions, with the exception of responding to a request for salary requirements. In this case, it is advisable to avoid the question and simply indicate that it is open or negotiable. 6. Be brief! Letters should be individualized, concise and factual. 7. Consider your audience. Try to determine what accomplishments and skills would be most attractive to a particular employer. 8. Be straightforward, professional and businesslike -- remember you are selling yourself. As with the resume, stick to the facts. Thank you letter Your interview should always be followed up with a thank-you letter expressing appreciation of the interviewer's time. It should be short and personal. Thank them for their time and consideration. The thank you letter should be sent the same day as the interview. This shows good follow up skills. It also reminds the employer your are interested. SOME EXAMPLES: Sample Cover Letter Outline Your address Date Ms. Ruby Moran Title Company Street Address City, State, Zip Code Dear Ms. Moran: 1st Paragraph • Tell why you are writing; name the position, or field, or general career area about which you are asking. Tell how you heard of the opening or organization. 2nd Paragraph • Mention one or two of your qualifications you think would be of greatest interest to the organization. Tailor your letter to the needs of the company. Tell why you are particularly interested in the employer, location or type of work. If you have had related experience or specialized training, be sure to point it out. 3rd Paragraph • State specific things about yourself that the employer is looking for. Use the “T” format as a guide. Don’t just repeat your resume. 4th Paragraph • Close by making a request for an interview. State that you will follow up (usually three days after you send the letter) to ‘further discuss how your needs can me met”. Sincerely, Jacque Colburn (Your handwritten signature) Your Name Telephone number Enclosure: Resume 1.Spend time on your letter. It is not unusual to spend an hour writing a letter. It may take several drafts, but the results will be worth it. 2: Look at the letter the next day for any revisions of your draft. 3 Have a strong close. “I will be calling you next week to discuss my qualifications and arrange an interview. 4: Follow up with a phone call. 5; Avoid weak endings such as “ I hope you will consider me for an interview. State how you will follow up. Another example: Michelle Colling 321 Apple Street Minneapolis, MN. 55454 (651) 555-5555 April 5, 2006 Ms. Maria Sanders, O.T. Manager, Occupational Therapy North Memorial Hospital 3030 Builders Square St. Paul, MN 55101 Dear Ms. Sanders: I am writing to apply for the Occupational Therapy Assistant position that North Memorial Hospital posted on Jobtrak. Debi Waller, an OTA at your clinic and a recent CSC graduate, also encouraged me to apply. Your advertisement asks for candidates who can use excellent communication and organizational skills to service South Memorial’s current and future clients. My education and internship experiences would give me the means to communicate well with your clients. Specifically, my internship with Go-Med, a high-tech medical supply company, has given me the ability to assess client needs. With respect to organizational skills, I have developed excellent time management practices over the last four years by balancing the demands of part-time work, school, internship, and volunteer service. I am ready to further develop my organizational skills in recruiting clients for North Memorial. I look forward to an opportunity to discuss your needs in filling Occupational Therapy Assistant positions at South Memorial. I will be calling you Tuesday, or please feel free to contact me at (651) 555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, (Sign your name here.} Michelle Colling Enclosure: resume Show that you have researched the company. For example, you might highlight how a company's mission statement is aligned with your goals or mention a positive component of their last year's annual report. When discussing experience relevant to the position, highlight an accomplishment within that experience that is related to the position and that you feel proud of. Always remember to do a spell check and proofread, proofread, proofread!! LETTERS OF REFERENCE A reference is a person who has seen your work and can vouch for you. It is preferred that this be a teacher or work related reference. Generally you will want to develop three references. But I don’t have three work references! Don’t worry. First, ask a teacher if they would be willing to provide a reference. If possible, have them give you a written reference. ( A note for you in your coming career: Whenever you leave a job, ask for a written reference from your supervisor. It’s good to get one while it’s fresh and even supervisor’s switch jobs) Think of past jobs you have held. They may be able to provide a reference. Or, if your supervisor gives you a luke warm reference: You can always use co-workers or fellow students. What is important is that that person has seen your work and will give a positive reference. Examples of attributes of you that they can give are your work, attitude, willingness to learn, dependability, and your pleasing personality. Not all good references have to be about your work-they can also be about what a asset your work ethic contributed to the team Collect References When you apply for jobs, you will be asked to provide references. Usually this means providing the names and phone numbers of people who can answer questions about your work history and qualifications. Having good references can make a difference in your job search, so you want to choose your references with care. Types of References There are four types of references. It is best if you can have several references representing the different types: Employment references include past employers and co-workers who can speak about your specific employment experience. Professional references are people who know you on a professional basis. They may include contacts from business, professional, or community organizations. Academic references are instructors and vocational counselors who can speak about your academic endeavors. These references are most appropriate for current students or recent Graduates. Personal references are people who know you personally and can describe your skills. Selecting References Here are some guidelines for selecting the best references: Select people who honestly know you and will speak objectively. Avoid references that may be controversial or may concern the employer. Examples of these types of references are clergy, counselors, or social workers. You do NOT want to use a family member or friend for a reference-unless your friend can present herself as a person who knows your work.. Someone who is influential in the community or business may be an effective reference but select that person only if he or she meets the other criteria listed above. Before Giving Out Your References Before you give the name of a reference to a potential employer, you need to contact the reference and get permission to give out his or her name and number. Discuss your job search goals and the specific employers who may be calling. Other Sources Besides providing a list of references, you can provide copies of letters of recommendation from former employers. Copies of written performance evaluations may also be helpful. You will want to include the following information: Name Job title Address Telephone, cell phone Fax If you need more information: http://www.rileyguide.com/cover.html http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/coverlet.shtml http://www.iseek.org/sv/Frame?pg=41455 Cover Letters for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy Cover Letters That Knock 'Em Dead by Martin John Yates. In summary, a cover letters accompanies a resume sent to an employer. It should describe how your background fits the needs of the employer. Your high impact cover letter is part of your arsenal towards getting a job. |
|