W7 (Cover Letter & Resume) Flashcards
________ is usually the first item an employer reads from you. Your letter should immediately indicate what position you are applying for.
Cover letter is usually the first item an employer reads from you. Your letter should immediately indicate what position you are applying for.
[ Fill in the blanks ]
Cover letter only ______ you; it is a letter you write to introduce yourself to a particular hiring manager. It needs to be accompanied by a ______ or a ____.
Cover letter only introduces you; it is a letter you write to introduce yourself to a particular hiring manager. It needs to be accompanied by a resume or a CV.
[ Fill in the blanks ]
A good cover letter includes highlighting your ______ and ________ that are most applicable to the job or industry and to _____ the letter to the specific organization to which you’re applying.
A good cover letter includes highlighting your skills and experiences that are most applicable to the job or industry and to tailor the letter to the specific organization to which you’re applying.
[ What are these? ]
Address your reader by name.
Identify the position.
Highlight your most relevant skills.
Conclude with a call to action.
Follow up with interesting prospect.
Essential Elements of a Cover Letter (5)
[ What are these? ]
Address your letter to a named individual.
Send an original letter to each employer.
Use simple language and uncomplicated sentence structure.
Write cover letters that are unique and specific to you.
Keep your letter brief. Never more than one page, and it’s best to keep it well under a full page. Each paragraph should have no more than 1-3 sentences.
Tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribution to the company.
End with the statement of intent.
Cover Letter Do(s) (7)
[ What are these? ]
Don’t ever send your resume without a cover letter.
Use a formal salutation (E.g., gentlemen).
Don’t use your first paragraph by writing a boring introduction. Use it to grab the employer’s attention; give reasons you are qualified for the position.
Don’t depend on the employer to take action. Request action.
Don’t send a cover letter that contains any typos, misspelling, incorrect grammar or punctuation.
Don’t go beyond one page. In most cases, 3-4 paragraphs are enough.
Don’t simply repeat claims you made in your resume.
Instead, highlight and describe the most impressive accomplishment from your resume.
Cover Letter Don’t(s) (7)
[ Identify which part of the cover letter is being described. ]
Do - Address our reader by name.
Don’t - Don’t use a generic greeting such as “To whom it may concern, Dear Hiring Manager”
Parts of the Cover Letter (Greeting)
[ Identify which part of the cover letter is being described. ]
Do - Identify the position you are applying for. Mention by name the person who suggested that you apply. Explain when you saw the job advertisement.
Don’t - Don’t refer to a position in general (E.g., “I’m applying to fill the job vacancy at your company?”)
Parts of the Cover Letter (Opening)
[ Identify which part of the cover letter is being described. ]
Do - Present 3-5 qualifications that directly relate to the position. Describe what you can do for the employer. Focus on how your strengths benefit the reader.
Don’t - Don’t list curses or previous job duties. Don’t include skills or experiences you don’t have. Don’t describe your qualifications in detail or repeat resume specifics.
Parts of the Cover Letter (Qualifications)
[ Identify which part of the cover letter is being described. ]
Do - Confidently request an interview. If you haven’t referred the reader to your resume, do so in this section. Provide your phone number and the best times to call.
Don’t - Don’t directly ask for the job. Don’t provide elaborate contact instructions.
Parts of the Cover Letter (Conclusion)
[ Identify which part of the cover letter is being described. ]
Do - Resend the cover letter and resume if you don’t hear from a potential employer.
Don’t - Don’t ignore instructions or advice from the employer about following up.
Parts of the Cover Letter (Follow-up)
Parts of the Cover Letter (5)
Greeting
Opening
Qualifications
Conclusion
Follow-up
______ is a one- or two-page summary of your education, employment history, skills, and accomplishments. It presents your background and promotes the qualities and achievements that are most likely to appeal to your targeted employer.
Resume is a one- or two-page summary of your education, employment history, skills, and accomplishments. It presents your background and promotes the qualities and achievements that are most likely to appeal to your targeted employer.
It is one of the most important tools to assist you in getting an interview for a job.
Resume
Although resumes are short, structured documents, they demand… (3)
careful planning
editing
proofreading
