You can benefit from sample
cover letters as they can help you learn about the constructs
of a high quality cover letter.
However, there are some dangers
in doing this ...
If you have been sending out tons of resumes
and cover letters and are not getting interviews you are probably
wondering why. After all, you have the requisite education
and work experience required in the job posting.
You are sending in both a resume and cover
letter as requested, so why aren't you getting any calls for
interviews?
The answer to this probably lies in the
type of cover letter you are sending. A lot of job seekers
believe it is quite acceptable to copy and paste a sample
cover letter and insert their name.
There are certainly innumerable sites
on the internet that can provide you with a cover letter example;
however there are a few things you should consider before
you simply cut and paste a sample letter and make it your
own.
The Purpose of the Sample Cover
Letter
The purpose of a successful cover letter
is to make the employer want to know more about you, to feel
the need to meet you in person and discuss the job opening,
to get you an interview!
A sample cover letter is really only meant
to provide you with the inspiration to create your own. A
cut and pasted sample resume cover letter will not highlight
your unique skills and experience.
In fact, a sample cover letter simply
inserted with your name and address can have the appearance
of a 'canned' letter. Prospective employers can spot a cut
and pasted cover letter and it often ends up in the trash
instead of the 'call for an interview' stack.
What a Sample Cover Letter Can't
Do
You do not have much opportunity to give
any hints of your personality in a resume; after all it's
just a recitation of your education and work experience. In
today's competitive job market, many people share similar
certifications and occupational backgrounds; what sets them
apart is their work ethic, personality, and yes; even passion
for the job!
Prior to the interview, your unique qualities
can only come through in the cover letter. A generic sample
cover letter just isn't going to give the employer an idea
of what sets you apart from the hundreds of other job applicants
vying for the same job.
Sending out multiple copies of the same
tired cover letter gives the impression that you are lazy
and are saturating the job market with the same sample cover
letter. What employer wants an employee who is lazy and doesn't
have an original thought in their head? Not many.
The Benefits of a Sample Cover
Letter
But what if I'm not a creative type of
person? That's fine. Not everyone is. We all have our strengths
and weaknesses and there are some benefits to using a resume
cover letter example.
Using a sample cover letter can give you
a foundation to create your own; insuring you stay focused
on the task at hand. However, the wording should be your own.
A sample cover letter gives you the correct recipe; it's up
to you to add the ingredients. If you feel as though you truly
need a template use the following hints:
· Address your letter to a real,
live individual. Avoid the trap of the "Dear Sir/Madam'
that is so common in many sample cover letters.
· Specifically state how you found
out about the job or who referred you. This will help to liven
it up.
· Mention something unique about
the company you hope to employ you. Don't use canned wording
like 'your successful track record'.
More Resume Cover Letter Examples
There are several websites dedicated to
career related issues which can help you build an impressive
cover letter. They also provide sample cover letters and examples
of other letters related to the job search process.
Roger Clark (BSc) has
over 25 years experience in career development & recruitment
at a senior level through top management positions he has
held with major international companies.
You can visit his "Top
Career Resumes" website for a wealth of top quality
information relating to the employment market.
http://www.top-career-resumes.com
http://www.top-career-resumes.com/sample-cover-letter
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roger_Clark
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