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Cover Letters

A cover letter is an excellent way to explain to the employer why you are the most qualified person for the job. It should be personal yet compelling enough to make the Human Resource Director want to call immediately and offer you the position. You can also further expand your Qualification Summary or resume and point out one or two skills or accomplishments that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Important points to remember:

  • Address the letter to a specific individual (preferably the hiring manager) and make certain you include his or her title.

  • Be direct and to the point (a cover letter should be less than one page).
  • Don't send a generic, mail-merged or photocopied letter.

  • Make sure all grammar, punctuation and spelling is correct!
  • Highlight your experience towards the particular position, which you are applying for.

  • Include all contact information where a potential employer can leave a detailed message.
  • At the end of your letter indicate that you will take the initiative in contacting the employer directly regarding an interview.


SAMPLE COVER LETTER:

Mr. Jonathan Ladov
Next Generation Systems
445 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10003

Dear Mr. Ladov:

Andrew Lipman recently informed me of a possible opening for a Sales Manager at Next Generation Systems. With my over fifteen years experience in sales management at Samoset & Co., where I was responsible for recruiting, hiring and training over two hundred-fifty producing sales persons, I feel I would be an ideal candidate for this position. Please accept this letter and the enclosed letter as my application.

I look forward to discussing the opportunity as well as my qualifications in greater detail. I can be reached at 201-555-1212 in the evenings or 212-555-1212 ext. 204 during the week. If I don't here from you before Tuesday, I will take the liberty of following up with you to schedule a time to meet. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,


Clint Carter


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Reference Letters


Letters of recommendation are testimonials written by your business associates or colleagues that describe your professional abilities, positive qualities and work ethic. When requesting reference letters, be sure to describe the position and company in detail to the person writing the letter. The more they understand your objectives, the better the letter will be!

Important points to remember:

  • Have the letter sent directly to you so you can bring it to any interview personally.

  • Have the individual who is writing the letter include his or her:
    1. Full name
    2. Exact title
    3. Company name
    4. Daytime number and work address
    5. Relationship to you (make certain it's not family)

Follow-up Letters


Follow-up letters can be the most important element of the job search. They ensure that you stay in the hiring manager's mind and can often lead to a second interview or even securing the job itself.

Important points to remember:

  • The letter should be typewritten and sent within    twentyfour hours of the interview.

  • Express your appreciation for the interview and your enthusiasm about the position and the company.

  • Review your qualifications and relate them to the position (never stop selling your abilities).

  • End the letter by indicating that you will take the   initiative in contacting the employer directly regarding a follow-up interview.

SAMPLE FOLLOW UP LETTER:

Mr. Jonathan Ladov
Next Generation Systems
445 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10003

Dear Mr. Ladov:

Thank you for taking the time to discuss the Sales Manager position with your company last Thursday morning. I found the idea of heading up your Northeast operations incredibly exciting.

As we discussed, I believe my experience in training and motivating a large sales force such as Next Generation System's makes me the perfect candidate for the job… especially if you are looking to gain a larger share of the semiconductor market, where as you know the majority of my professional knowledge lies.

I look forward to discussing the opportunity further as soon as possible. Again, I can be reached at 201-555-1212 in the evenings or 212-555-1212 ext. 204 during the week. If you require any additional information about my qualifications, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks again for your time, I look forward to meeting with you soon.

Sincerely,


Clint Carter