I have spent a considerable amount of time writing about how to structure an effective cover letter and the things you want to include therein. What I haven’t told you though is the things that you should absolutely leave out of a cover letter. There is some information that simply does not belong in this document. Here is a Top 5 list of the things that do not bear referencing:
Terminations: Do not reference terminations in your cover letter. The objective of the letter is to market yourself – not give a potential hiring manager a reason to pass you over for the interview. You should always reference positive things within the cover letter. Showcasing your skills and abilities in the cover will help to demonstrate how past contributions will drive future performance.
Medical Situations: Medical issues that affected your ability to work for a short- or long-term time should not be included in your cover letter. Perhaps you were able to volunteer your time during your leave or undertake some other efforts to keep you active. If that is the situation, you can and should discuss what you were involved with; always maintain a proactive and productive approach.
Personal Matters: Your cover letter is a professional document; this is no place to discuss personal issues. A professional approach should ALWAYS be employed. If you are not sure, ask someone for his or her opinion. If you do have a personal situation that can be linked in a positive way to the role, then by all means reveal it. Otherwise, when in doubt, leave it out.
Family Issues: Perhaps you have been caring for an ailing family member for an extended period of time, which has left you with a gap in employment – this is no place to reference that information. Situations like this arise for a lot of people. Regardless of the issue, discuss only your professional experiences and the relationship to the position for which you are applying.
Generic Data: It is important that your cover letter not contain generic information. The purpose of the letter is to provide compelling information about you and your knowledge of the company. A generic letter is uninspiring and boring – something you definitely don’t want to be! Highlight your unique qualities and achievements.
The most important thing to remember is that the cover letter should complement your resume, not detract from it. Re-read from the “outside” and make sure it shows all positive components, no excuses, no explanations just goodness.
Don’t miss out! A five part teleseminar begins on February 18th! For more information and to sign up go to: jobadvicementor.com. You cannot afford to miss this for exceptional career advice!
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of CareersDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
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Cover letters can be such a pain in the neck to write—it’s OK to just skip it isn’t it? Does the hiring manager or HR department REALLY read them?
As a hiring manager, I have to admit that I did read each and every one of them.
They’re important for several reasons.
#1: As a hiring manager, if I got a resume without a cover letter it indicates a lack of effort on the part of the applicant. Back when I was looking for jobs, I would lie on the couch and randomly hit “Submit Now” to anything that looked remotely interesting on Monster.com. Would I have been thrilled if I actually got an interview? YES! Did I clearly demonstrate my interest to an employer by not including a cover letter? NO! Because I’ve been there (and many employers have too), I know how easy it is to just hit that send button and forward a resume without putting much thought or effort into it. Show them that you care enough to write a cover letter.
#2: Cover letters give you a chance to further explain some very relevant points on your resume. Suppose that for three out of your last six positions, you worked primarily with a specific accounting program, and in one case even convinced the company you worked for that they should purchase it. If you see that the job you’re applying for calls for someone with extensive experience with that software, indicating that upfront in your cover letter will make it more obvious to an employer than just relying on them to find it in your resume.
#3: Cover letters let you clearly make the connection between what they are looking for, and what you are able to provide. You can even make two columns in your cover letter—one that is labeled “Your Requirements” the other “My Relevant Experience”, and then do a point by point comparison.
Think of cover letters as another opportunity to make that connection with a potential employer. When you’re clamoring for their attention, you need to use every trick in your arsenal to your advantage.
Or how not to brand yourself a dinosaur
There’s just no substitute for plain old experience, I grant you that. It’s safe to say we are all experienced. It’s when you drop the number qualifier — 25-plus years, or what have you — as I advised in a previous blog post, that you start straining for other adjectives. And that’s where you can get yourself in real trouble.
Do you seriously want to risk sabotaging your job-search campaign and all-important sales pitch by making yourself sound old and tired, or leathery like a well-done steak? No, of course not.
You want to sell the sizzle. You want to appear ripe for the picking. Not too ripe, mind you, but fresh with pluck, promise and enthusiasm. You’re bristling with it. Not only are you up to the task, you know how to present yourself in as flattering a light as possible, as the solution to an employer’s prayers.
Now let me rhyme off a few choice descriptors that can send your résumé straight to the circular file:
- Seasoned
- Well-seasoned
- Extensive track record
- Veteran
- Mature professional
- Long tenured
- A long and illustrious career
- Long-standing
- Long-time
Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative
What most job seekers of a certain age fail to understand, and I’ve certainly been guilty of this, is that your value to a prospective employer stems not from your years of experience but from your personality, attitude and the unique skill set you can bring to the job in the here and now. In a buyer’s market such as this, you can ill afford to misplace the emphasis.
Repeat after me: It’s your strengths, capabilities, qualifications, and achievements — not your previous job titles, duties and length of service — that you need to underscore.
What’s your wow factor?
As in, “Wow, we need to talk to this person!”
Choose language that is empowering, attention grabbing and persuasive. Good writers make it a point to use the active rather than the passive voice because it’s direct and in the moment. Think about applying that same rule when composing your cover letter and résumé.
To be able to articulate the many talents you can bring to an organization — to convince hiring managers that you’re a candidate worth meeting — consider using these or similar terms to better convey your can-do attitude and intrinsic worth:
- Dynamic
- Enthusiastic
- Energetic
- High energy
- Prodigious energy
- Excited
- Self-motivated
- Skilled
- A quick study
- Ready to hit the ground running
- Thoroughly schooled in
- Well-versed in
So start compiling a list of your positive attributes, business accomplishments and successes, all of which speak to your strong work ethic, and you can’t help but demonstrate your complete confidence in your own brand.
— Judy Margolis
As a follow-up to my article on the importance of having a cover letter accompany your résumé, I am going to demonstrate here the mechanics of a well written cover letter. I hope that this provides some value and enables you to craft your own cover letter to generate interest on behalf of a potential hiring manager.
The Salutation (The Hello): Get a name, any name. By hook or by crook try to get a name. Sometimes you can’t – then try To whom it may concern or Dear hiring manager.
Dear Hiring Manager:
The Opening (The Grab): Your opening paragraph is your introduction and presents the reader with some immediate and focused information regarding the position you are pursuing and a few core competencies that demonstrate your strength:
Having contributed as an operations and general business leader, I am writing to express my interest in [Name of Position] with [Name of Company]. You will see on the enclosed résumé that I turned around an underperforming business, substantially improved productivity and employee morale, and possess critical and creative thinking skills that will facilitate my swift contribution to your sustained growth.
The Second Paragraph (The Hook): This paragraph should define some examples of the work performed and results achieved. This paragraph should be connected to your résumé. This does not mean that you should copy verbatim what is in the résumé. Rather, cover some key competencies that you feel define your success. In the event that you are highlighting some information that is not contained in the résumé (if you are switching careers, or have a unique value proposition), this is the perfect place to cover that information. Use bullets to define key areas of achievement and highlight what you bring:
My professional experiences include my recent position with XYZ Corporation as Operations Manager, and previous positions with ABC Corporation, and DEF Corporation. In all of my roles I guided the professional development of staff and gained consensus for the adoption of new ideas due to my demonstrated ability to clearly present value added recommendations. The following is a brief sample of the expertise I offer:
- Conceptualized and implemented an innovative business strategy whereby inventory was maintained at vendor locations, resulting in the effective use of a JIT system and annual savings of $250,000 for XYZ Corporation.
- Established internal operating procedures that reduced employee downtime by 15%. In addition to conducting cross-training initiatives, I fostered an environment predicated on accountability for results, which improved the team’s commitment to the attainment of short- and long-term goals.
- Conducted industry and competitive analysis while at ABC Corporation, which enabled senior leadership to analyze potential acquisition opportunities. After contributing to the due diligence process, three targets were pursued, and resulted in one successful deal. From working with attorneys, investment bankers, and CPA’s, to serving as a key liaison to senior leadership, my recommendations were successfully implemented.
The Third Paragraph (Paragraph of Knowledge): Here demonstrate something you know about the company that prompted you to write. This shows the reader that you did some preliminary homework and understand the company’s drivers and goals.
After researching 123 Company, I understand that your immediate goal is to improve business performance and establish key benchmarks within [Name of Industry]. Your recent acquisition of [Company Name], puts you in a position to gain market share and establish a unique brand presence with potential and existing customers. Given my professional achievements, I am in a position to help you quickly achieve your goals.
The Fourth Paragraph (The Close): In the closing paragraph quickly summarize what you offer and close by either suggesting a meeting or indicating that you will call in a certain number of days. If you choose the latter approach, make sure you follow-up within the timeframe you reference.
I bring a tool kit comprised of leadership, strategic planning, and analytical skills; and I would be pleased to review my credentials with you to personally explore how I can contribute as a member of your senior leadership team. Please feel free to contact me at the number above to arrange a time to speak.
Sincerely,
Full Name
Enclosure: Résumé
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of ResumesDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
ResumesDoneWrite.Blogspot.com
WWW.ResumesDoneWrite.com
Connect to me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter
