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You wouldn't go to a job interview half-dressed, so
don't send your resume out half-dressed either. A well-written cover
letter is the key to making a great first impression.
Your cover letter can unlock the door to a job interview,
which will affect your career and your paycheck and, therefore,
your life. That's a lot of pressure riding on one 8 ½ by 11 sheet
of paper.
"With a great resume and cover letter, you go out
on a first-class public relations campaign," explains Anne McKinney,
a career expert and senior editor at PREP Publishing in Fayetteville,
N.C.
Writing a good cover letter is tough, and you're not
alone in fretting over it. "Almost without exception, what people
feel most uncomfortable and awkward about [in the job hunt] is the
cover letter," says McKinney. "It's worth doing right because you
are developing your reputation."
Tailoring that first impression
The cover letter connects that past experience
listed on your resume to your potential future at a new job.
"Cover letters are exciting," McKinney enthuses. "A
cover letter can really express your personality so much more than
a resume can."
While you can emphasize and de-emphasize certain
aspects of your history on a resume, it is nowhere near as flexible
as a cover letter. Your letter can be tailored to the needs of the
company to which you are applying, McKinney explains.
Most companies have someone screening the applicants,
so make sure you say the right things to get your foot in the door.
One way to make sure your resume is passed on to the boss is the
use of words from the job ad or description. With a quick scan,
that assistant will connect you with the job.
Go for the gusto!
Remember again, this is a potential employer's
very first impression of you, so keep the sunshine turned up. Highlight
your strengths, accomplishments and sparkling personality. Don't
admit to shortcomings. Forget about apologizing for career gaps.
Leave off the whining about what a creepy boss you have. You want
the potential employer to be eager to meet you, not to pity you.
Also be positive in terms of specifics. Give (brief)
examples:
- Show that desired flair for efficiency by
explaining that on your last job, you re-organized the department's
supply-ordering process, saving them $1,000 over the course of
a year.
- Reveal your persuasive charm by telling them
you met the highest quota of any vacuum cleaner salesman in the
last 10 years.
- Clarify your extensive computer training
with a list of classes you've taken and programs you've worked
with.
Don't stop now. A salesman would never make a pitch
without trying to close the deal. And neither should you. Tell the
reader -- your potential new employer -- what you want them to do
next: interview you. Of course, you have to do this politely and
professionally with a little moxie without being pushy.
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