MONDAY'S TIP: Monday on Tuesday with a Cover Letter

[Abby]

So I'm bringing to you the Dear Abby Monday column on a Tuesday. Why? Because I have been so darned busy in the last two weeks that I might even challenge Chris (RecruiterGuy) to a calendar comparison. I can guarantee you that I would at least be a close second. :)

So today's quick bit of advice is about cover letters. I am not a fan of the cover letter in most situations but there is an occasion now and again when I am glad someone prepared one. But only if it is at least a good one. Now I know this starts that argument about if anyone should bother with creating a cover letter for a resume. My advice is to just go ahead and add it, friend. If you send it to a recruiter that does not like to read them then it will have done no damage. And if you sent it to a recruiter that just yums them up then you have helped yourself along.

To me the cover letter is the icing on your cupcake. Let me help to make it simple for you. And if you have any additional suggestions I would love to see them here on My Talent Network. After all we are a community so let the participation begin!

First thing is first. As you will see anywhere else on this site as well as RG's blog, you need to market yourself. Your cover letter is no exception. A good cover letter should get someones attention when they are holding it and I do not mean because the paper is pink or textured. Use some catchy phrases or titles and do not be afraid to use bold text. Remember that this could almost be considered your first interview.

Secondly you have to think about the ultimate message you are delivering and find the best way to get right to the point. If you have gone to great lengths to get your resume down to two pages you should consider avoiding any long winded cover letters. After all, if you are creating a cover letter you are going to put it on top of your resume and thus making this your new first impression. Be clear and succinct.

Lastly, if it takes too long, you are thinking too hard. Friend if you are spending a substantial amount of time on a cover letter then you need to take a break and re-think what you are trying to accomplish. Remember that you may not even need one. Writing a cover letter because you feel you must could result in something that reads poorly and seems forced. And you do not want that!

Do not be shy about hitting Google for some great examples of strong cover letters and additional tips. There are some great resources out there and even some templates that can be downloaded. If you do decide to use a template, be sure you take extra care when you proof read it. You do not want to submit something to a potential employer that has conflicting information when compared to your resume.

Got a good cover letter story? More ideas? I would love to hear them! I'm keeping this high-level because I want to see what you think or bring to the table dear friends.

[Kristine]

Great points Abby! In my experience, I have seen cover letters most useful when they briefly summarize exerience relevant to the specific job the resume is submitted for. This can be another avenue to highlight how you are a match for the job considering that most recruiters won't have time to comb through all the details in your resume. If you can clearly illustrate that your experience meets all requirements in the job description, this may warrant a 2nd look at your resume.