Pongo Resume

No matter how much advice is out there, a lot of job seekers still seem baffled by the concept of using cover letters. They wonder if they really need a cover letter (yes); if it should just repeat what's in the resume (no); if it has to be customized for every job (yes), and how long it should be (1 page max). But the burning question, the one that really seems to gets people's knickers in a twist, is:

What should I say in my cover letter?

Clue Wagon's Kerry Sandberg Scott (yesterday's guest blogger) puts it this way:

"Really think about why you want this particular job, and why your experience makes you the one they should call first. This doesn't have to be long, because you want to save something for the interview. It just has to show them that you really did read the ad, that you understand what they're looking for, and that you might be the one they need."

6 Key Cover Letter Elements

In order to convey that message effectively, there are six things you must include in your cover letter. The table below shows the six must-have elements for an effective cover letter, and gives an example of how you might express them:

Got a specific question about how to say something in a cover letter? Post a comment below and we'll post a reply!

RELATED LINKS
7 Experts Offer Their No. 1 Cover Letter Tip
3 Tips to Avoid a Boring, Self-Absorbed Cover Letter
Good vs. Bad: Make the Best of Your Cover Letter

BTW, the asterisk indicating a required field on this form is way over to the right of the page instead of right after the "Required Fields" text...I'm using IE 7.

Thank you for you advise.

* (My experience in manufacturing-safety wasn't enough for the outdoors-in-the-field safety experience required by the job)

@Paul Bunyan I think most jobs do require a combination of teamwork and independence, but some are more weighted toward one or the other.

@Augusto I'm so glad you got an interview! And even though it didn't work out, you now know that your resume and cover letter are working, so it's just a matter of time before the right match comes along! (Be sure to tweak the letter a bit for each new employer you apply to.)

Good luck! -- Julie

Yes, you should make it clear that you have a good reason for wanting to be in Indy, just so they don't think you'll be running back home to MN as soon as you get another opportunity there.

Don't give details; just assure them that you are committed to relocating to Indianapolis and are interested in working for their company specifically.

Good luck! Julie

I'd put it somewhere closer to the middle, so it's not the last thing they see (and remember). You could say something along the lines of:

"After relocating to XX to be closer to family, I've spent the past year doing short -term assignments for X, X, and X. No that I'm established in the area, I look forward to committing to a full-time endeavor such as the X position at your company."

You can modify that to your own style, but the idea is to explain that you are settled and eager to be a long-term employee.

Good luck! Julie

Thanks for sharing your success! A cover letter really can make a difference. If nothing else, it shows the employer you're enthusiastic enough about the opportunity to do a little extra work!

Good luck landing that job!

Julie

Do I need to state that in cover letter? If it's better to mention it, do I include just that in my opening paragraph?

Thanks,,

You should definitely mention in your cover letter that, despite your engineering background, you would like to move into marketing. In addition, you should give a little background about why you want to make this change, what makes you qualified, and what kinds of marketing-related projects you've worked on, and/or what training or research you've done to learn about marketing.

In short, you'll need to explain yourself, otherwise employers will assume you sent your resume in error.

Best of luck to you! Career change can be scary, but rewarding in the end.

--Julie

Your confidence comes shining through in your comment, and that is a huge plus. Sales success is largely dependent on personality traits, and it sounds like you've got the right ones. Now use them to sell yourself!

A cover letter alone won't get you the interview if your resume isn't targeted to a sales role.

So start by editing your resume to emphasize the way your non-sales experience ties in, and how it's prepared you to be a great seller.

Then, use your cover letter to help the employer see that you understand what it takes to be a successful in sales, that you have those qualities, and that you can use them to help the business.

Meanwhile, keep networking. Ask around. Try to get informational interviews. An employer who's not actively looking for new salespeople might be open to reviewing your resume and cover letter, and giving feedback about what they would and wouldn't like to hear from someone like you.

Prove you're a sales pro by pitching yourself. And you know what that means... focus on the benefits you have to offer, not just the features. (In other words, talk about the results you can achieve, not just the skills you possess.)

Best of luck!

--Julie

I also look for examples of meeting not just goals, but how someone created 'stretch goals' and how they brought 'value added' to a position current or past position. The creation of and examples of using 'metrics' for measuring finite productivity and seemingly intangible customer service all provide me with a sense of how this person thinks outside the box. No one is looking for an 8 to 5 person who just punches a clock and does bare minimum. The competition is tremendous for excellence as well as being able to articulate experience and successes. If you took any position to pay the bills while searching for that new career, find a sentence to show your responsibility in being financially frugal and resourceful in your career quest; how you took a transient position to new levels and accomplished goals. Employers do not want to get the feeling from a cover letter that offers a sentiment of: "I've had it with applying, I'll never get hired" - also found in 'canned' resumes. Being succinct in cover letters, yet covering all the requirements of the position posting, is what I look for. Research the entity you are applyng to, use internet resources (search engines)... and if the position is over $100K/year, research key individuals within that entity and papers/publications/associations they've written or belong to. Knoweldge is power.

You must project that 'readable' enthusiasm and positive attitude in your cover letter. To be able to remain upbeat and in a positive mindset during a long job search will be borne-out in an interview - is it genuine? No one wants a negative or indifferent employee.

Lastly, ... research yourself on the internet ... your potential employer will - guaranteed! I've used the same internet services available to anyone with a computer researching strong candidates ... and have found glaring mis-truths about applicants' experience, integrity in legal proceedings past and current, as well as missing job-relative employers and dates NOT listed on resumes or applications. All that speaks to detail orientation and integrity. Write and re-write your cover letter until someone you trust and will tell you the truth and not what you want to hear; "I wish I had written this!", ... then you have a winner.

Best of luck to all in your career search!

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing your perspective. You make a lot of great points.

--Julie

What you're referring to is a "prospecting" cover letter, also known as a "cold contact" letter.

The first step is to learn about your targeted company's business needs, so you can then craft a letter that shows how you're qualified to help address those needs.

We actually have a blog post titled "Write Cold-Contact Cover Letters to Warm Up Employers" that can describe the whole process for you:

http://www.pongoresume.com/blogPosts/208/write-cold-contact-cover-letters-to-warm-up-employers.cfm

Hope that helps!

--Julie

I've been told not to address To Whom It May Concern.

What do you do? To whom do you address your cover letter?

Thank you, and I wish you the best of luck!

@Lee

First, you should try to do a little research to find out the hiring manager's name. Check the company's web site, check LinkedIn, and even try calling and asking who the hiring manager is for the position you're targeting! (It might not work, but can't hurt.)

If all else fails, you can try one of these:

Dear Hiring Manager:

Good Afternoon,

(Or, if you're using a memo format...)

TO: Hiring Manager for Marketing Associate Position, Job Reference 16754

Good luck!

Julie