Cover Letters - Get Noticed!

The past few weeks, I have received a handful of e-mail messages that go something like this:

Hello, I am looking for a job. Your name was given to me by 'Jane Smith.' If you know of any openings or have any referrals for me, please get in touch a.s.a.p. My resume is attached. Thank you.

As a hiring manager or recruiter, do you receive e-mail messages or cover letters in some variation of the above? If so, do these messages grab your attention or do you readily dismiss them?

If you're a job seeker who sends e-mails similar to the above example and your queries are going unanswered, perhaps now would be a good time to rethink your online communication strategy. With the intense competition in today's economy, make sure to view your career marketing documents from the hiring manager's vantage point. In a matter of seconds, would the above e-mail message entice you to get in touch a.s.a.p. and/or take time to download an attached document? Yes? No? Maybe?

In her newest work, Cover Letters for Dummies 3rd Edition, nationally syndicated careers columnist Joyce Lain Kennedy has assembled "more than 125 outstanding samples from top career professionals, including a mix of new-style, traditional, creative, friendly, hard-hitting and clever letter" samples that can be used for both online and offline career marketing opportunities." Check it out -- it may be the perfect solution to help you get noticed in 2009.

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Bob McIntosh]

Hello.

I was interested in reading this article but a bit disappointed to only be sent to a link for Cover Letters for Dummies. As a workshop facilitator, I like to read samples to illustrate the various components of job development (citing the source, of course). I'll check out the book during my free time, but it would be nice to mention even in Resume Writing, as people often ask, "Is a cover letter necessary?"

Bob

[billiesucher]

Hi Bob -- thanks for your feedback. For your perusal, I have inserted links in this post to numerous cover letter samples found at Quintessential Careers and Vault. Just click on "outstanding samples" and "samples." Hope this helps with your workshop facilitation & best to you in '09!

[Paul Copcutt]

Billie

You are lucky to even see a reference to someone you might know. Recent cover letters (well actually people are not even bothering with a letter -now it's just an e-mail)that I have received are part of these mass mailings, not even well targeted and giving an impression of desperation - perhaps even - 'this is not that important to me, but I thought I would try'.

Candidates really need to start getting it about needing to stand out for the right reasons.

[billiesucher]

Your words: "Candidates really need to start getting it about needing to stand out for the right reasons."

How very true! Thanks, Paul, for your thoughts.

[Sample cover letter]

By reading above samples, it seems for time pass they sent request. Cover letter must be written by keeping in mind job requirements.

comments are really helpful These are the great tips for me.Thanks for sharing these supportive information with us.It is really a helpful stuff for writing perfect cover letter.

-Syed-