Anything being sent to a decision-maker
should sell you, not just state facts. When conducting a job search,
your cover letter and resume are in a pile for the decision-maker
to review, one by one, along with a vast number of other documents
submitted by other hopeful individuals. The odds that YOUR document
is the very first ones on the pile are about a zillion to one! This
means the decision-maker has probably read X number of cover letters
(and resumes) before reaching your set of documents. With that in
mind, I never recommend you start the cover letter with the sentence
used in so many other letters:
"Pursuant to your recent advertisement in the New York Times for
the position of Staff Accountant, I am enclosing my resume for your
review."
B-O-R-I-N-G!! Plus, the decision-maker probably just read this
same (or very similar) sentence about five dozen times. Remember,
you want to GRAB the decision-maker's attention and SELL yourself
to them.
Since the cover letter is designed to market you to potential employers,
don't state the obvious. If the cover letter does not create a sense
of excitement and entice the reader, it is a waste of your time
for writing it and a waste of time for the reader reading it.
Keep track of how many times you use the words "I" and/or "my".
After you write the letter, take a pen and circle all the I's and
my's in the letter: more than five? Time to re-write some of the
sentences.
Here's an illustration of how to do that: instead of writing "I
am looking for an opportunity for advancement with a new employer.
My background is in retail management and I feel well-qualified
for the Store Manager position with your company" you can write,
"A background in retail management and proven record of obtaining
results as a Store Manager are key elements in qualifying me for
consideration as part of your team."
Remember the PURPOSE of the cover letter: to highlight your background
in the right light, sell your skills, and show the potential employer
you are worthy of an interview. Explaining what you WANT throughout
the letter doesn't tell the reader the BENEFIT of what you can offer,
which is imperative for you to be successful.
One of the techniques I like to use in cover letters is to pull
out the top 4 or 5 achievements and mention them in bullet form
with the letter. It serves as a wonderful focus point for readers'
eyes and draws their attention immediately to your strengths. Here's
a brief highlight in what would naturally be a longer cover letter:
...Recognized as a top-performer and dedicated professional, my
record of achievements include: á Generating a 58% increase in new
business during tenure as Regional Advertising Manager á Boosting
client media coverage 50% and developing partnerships with previously
unsecured media contacts
There are many ways to say things but, as you can see, some words
have a stronger impact on readers than others. In cover letters,
e-resumes, and traditional resumes, you can change the reader's
perception in a heartbeat by substituting various words or phrases
for more traditional (and outdated) verbiage. See the outline below:
| Non-Aggressive Verbiage |
Aggressive Verbiage |
| Set up entire department from scratch |
Established department from inception through successful operation |
| Worked closely with department heads |
Fostered relationships with department heads |
| Helped produce $3 million in sales |
Instrumental in generating $3 million in sales |
| Helped new employees |
Aided new employees |
| In-depth knowledge of capital markets and corporate finance |
Expertise in capital markets and corporate finance |
| Assisted marketing department in strategies and bids |
Actively participated in formulating marketing strategies |
| Reduced expenses by 10% |
Slashed (or cut) expenses by 10% |
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This article is republished with permission from
Get Interviews - Certified Professional Resume Writing http://www.getinterviews.com/
Find out more about the Author, Alesia
Benedict
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