What NOT to include in your cover letter

Don’t Indicate Why You Left Your Last Job – Never discuss why you left your last employer, or why you can’t wait to leave your current employer, in a cover letter. And never say that you hated your boss. This is one of the best ways to exclude yourself from consideration.

Don’t Discuss Your Health – Never discuss your health in a cover letter. You may discuss your health during an interview if you have a condition that requires special equipment or facilities. Recruiters do not expect you to include your health information in a cover letter or resume.

Don’t Complain – Never complain in your cover letter, your resume or during an interview. Don’t criticize your current employer, your manager or complain about any jobs you’ve held in the past. It’s not professional and will be frowned upon by the corporate recruiter.

Don’t Write your cover letter on Corporate Letterhead – Never write your cover letter on the letterhead of your current employer. Your cover letter is about you and is not related your employer so don’t use corporate letterhead. Plain white, or off-white, paper is best.

Don’t Send a Generic Cover Letter – Don’t send a generic cover letter. If you take time to research your prospective employer it will be appreciated. A generic cover letter will fast track your resume into the wastebasket.

Visit www.jobhawk.com for more job seeking resources and tips.

Successful Job Seeking – The importance of your cover letter

As an employer I receive many job applications each week. Some cover letters are so well written that I am compelled to review the attached resume even if our company is not currently hiring. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to contact an outstanding individual. Other cover letters are sufficiently interesting that I will file them away and review them later in the week, while others simply beg to be deleted immediately.

What makes the difference? For me, there are three factors; understanding, argument and attention to detail.

Understanding. Here’s what I am looking for. Did the job seeker spend time to find out about our company, our products and services and our markets? As an employer it’s easy to identify the level of understanding of job seekers and classify them into three areas – those who understand our company, those who have some understanding of our industry and those who have no understanding at all. I dispose of e-mails from this last group immediately. However, if the job seeker clearly takes time to understand us, I’ll take time to read about him or her. As for the group in the middle… I’ll usually take some time to read their cover letter, but unless they make a compelling argument with excellent attention to details they too, will be deleted.

Argument. Even if the applicant clearly demonstrates some knowledge of our company I’m still looking for a compelling reason why I should take time to review an accompanying resume. I’m interested in the applicant who clearly goes the extra mile – one who understands us and persuades me to find out more. This is the type of person I want working for our company!

Attention to Detail – Grammar and Spelling. It goes without saying that grammar and spelling are important. They are cornerstones of written communication. Since we are a client-focused company, every employee must possess good communication skills, both written and oral. I’m looking for well-constructed paragraphs and sentences, together with correct spelling. Details count.

I’ll be adding a series job seeking tips to this blog. In the meantime, find more job hunting resources at www.jobhawk.com

Ten Tips for a Great Cover Letter

Catch Interest – The first sentence of your cover letter should show that you are an ideal candidate for the position. You will want to compel the reader to learn more about you.

Enthusiasm – Show how interested you are in the position, show that you know about the company and how well qualified you are for the position. Don’t exaggerate. Your cover letter is a chance to sell yourself to a prospective employer and obtain that all-important interview.

Customize – Customize your cover letter for each position. This can more than double your chances of obtaining an interview while a generic cover letter may be dismissed quickly. Show that you have done your homework and that you understand the requirements of the available position.

Show Success – Clearly show that your track record of success and achievement makes you an ideal candidate. Don’t repeat text from your resume. Show how your past achievements will provide a solid foundation so you will be able to start achieving right away in your new position.

Request an Interview – Before closing, be sure to request an interview. Indicate that you will follow-up in a few days to make sure the company received your resume and be sure to ask for an interview.

Thank You – Thank the decision maker for reading your cover letter and considering your resume.

Keywords – Use keywords in your cover letter. You want to make sure that an electronic scan of your cover letter and resume ensures you will ensure you come up as a valid candidate.

Presentation – Give your cover letter a professional appearance. Use margins of 1” or 1.25” on all sides. Use left justification and allow a ragged right margin. Do not justify left and right. Use single spacing for paragraph text and double spacing between paragraphs.

Be succinct – After you have prepared your cover letter review it for non-essential words and phrases and re-phrase sentences using fewer words where possible. Your cover letter should only be one page in length. Longer is not better.

Proofread – Have someone else proofread each cover letter you prepare. Even if you have prepared a new cover letter based on one that has already been proofread. Check and double check for grammar and spelling errors. These can redirect your cover letter and resume to the waste basket in the blink of an eye.

Visit http://www.jobhawk.com/ for more helpful job seeking resources and tips.