Your cover letter might
as well be invisible if it doesn't command the attention of
the reader. The cover letter is the first thing to create
an impression of you and if it is invisible then so are you.
If you follow the same tired old cover
letter formula that so many people seem to want to hang on
to then you'll get the same result that they get. You go unnoticed
and end up like Mr. Cellophane in the musical "Chicago".
The way for your cover letter to be invisible
is for it to be so similar to so many others that it simply
doesn't get seen.
As a professional recruitment consultant
I have viewed so many cover letter and CV combinations that
it takes something different to catch my attention. When I
receive maybe two hundred applications, the first few are
greeted enthusiastically but this soon wanes when I keep seeing:
"Dear Sir or Madam
I wish to apply for the position as advertised
in the Evening News on 25th March 2006."
An opening like this becomes an invisible
cover letter and I have to make a real effort to carry on
reading and find out if there is a worthwhile application
hidden under those words.
Heck I need something to wake me up, something
to excite my interest. If I'm not excited, how am I going
to excite my client? If this is my first impression of the
candidate, where do I go from there?
The objective of your cover letter is
to get the recruitment consultant or prospective employer
to read your details and act. You want them to call you for
an interview. But these people are busy, very busy and soon
forget the application that didn't create an impact.
Your opening paragraph must command attention
and create the interest. The most effective way of creating
interest is by you yourself being interested in the job or
position advertised. And the easiest way to do this is to
say - "I am really interested in the job you have advertised"
- then go on to tell them why you are interested.
You further show your interest and enthusiasm
by demonstrating your knowledge of their business.
Your second paragraph of your cover letter
shows how you match their requirements and your final paragraph
should be a positive, forward-looking close. Do pay attention
to any specific requests, such as salary or re-location issues.
This way you stand out to the reader as
someone who is worth meeting. Someone who is interested and
enthusiastic is much more attractive to have around. And highly
visible.
Peter Fisher is Managing
Director of Career Consulting Limited and provides expert
help for career and performance management. http://www.careerdesign.cashhosters.com
For expert help on the art of writing cover letters that really
create an impact visit http://www.your-career-change.com/Cover-letter-examples.html
and modify the examples for your own use.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Fisher
|
bravenet.com
