The second paragraph should discuss your relevant skills and experience-especially how they match the advertisement. When closing, do not say "I look forward to your response" like everyone else-instead say that you will call in a week to schedule an appointment to meet with them. Following up shows genuine interest. Besides, if they're not going to interview you, it's best to find out quickly and move on.
Employers want conscientious people working for them. They want to see that you want the position as much as they want to fill it. Some guidelines to follow when writing your targeted cover letter:
- Use facts from your research to catch the reader's interest.
- Write about your current situation. Include your education (if that is a factor).
- Find out who the decision-maker is in the company and address your letter to that person-never send a letter addressed, "To whom it may concern."
- Do not include personal information.
- Tell them you will contact them in a few days to arrange a meeting.
Research the company. Your cover letter is the place where you can really look impressive. Show these employers that you're on the ball by knowing what their company has been doing and where they are going. If it is a publicly held company, your local library will have a variety of information on who the officers are, what their products are, and what their sales potential is or has been. Ask a reference librarian to help you. Match your qualifications with any of these details. Hand your credentials to them on a silver platter! For example:
- I have some wonderful ideas on how to improve sales at your Main Street location. In my current position, I improved sales 60% by reorganizing and creating a better traffic flow through the store.
- As the leading supplier of recyclable paper products, I believe you will find my background in chemical engineering, specifically the breakdown of raw materials, to be right on target with your needs.
- With the increasing trend of companies looking into employee wellness, an individual with a health and fitness background, such as mine, would be helpful in initiating a company-wide exercise program.
- I recently graduated from Marshall University with a Personnel Management degree in business management. While working my way through school, I held several positions in a personnel office where I managed employee records and oversaw the hiring of part-time staff. I am very interested in obtaining more experience in the areas of benefits, compensation, and training in a larger organization such as yours . . .
- As a former homemaker and librarian, I am interested in getting back into the workforce and putting my research skills to use. I have been following your recent activities in restoring the old state capitol building, and know with careful research I could uncover little-known facts about how the building once stood.
- I will be attending school in the fall and have given a lot of thought to choosing Finance as my course of study. I would like some experience in the field before I begin my classes, particularly with a reputable company such as yours ...
Find out who the decision makers are. Your credentials will get lost in the shuffle if you don't address them to a specific person. Your resume will be much more effective if it is sent to someone who has the ability to make hiring decisions. In most cases, your local library can help you find out who to send it to. If not, call the company. Ask the receptionist who is in charge of the department you are interested in. The employer will be impressed with your initiative.
Do not include personal information. Personal information such as age, sex, race, marital status, etc., is not needed to make a hiring decision. Do not discuss personal matters in your cover letter.
Tell the employer you will contact him. Contacting the employer for an interview or meeting will speed up the job search process. Some employers may keep your letter aside and see if you'll actually call. Look at it this way: You have a perfectly good reason to call-you said you would! Some employers like this approach because they're too busy to hunt down candidates. For example:
- I look forward to discussing any career opportunities with your firm. I think you'll agree with some of my ideas. I will call on June 26 to schedule an appointment with you.
- Perhaps we could get together in the next week or so to further discuss the industry. I will call you on the ninth to arrange a meeting date.
- I would really appreciate fifteen or twenty minutes of your time to ask you some questions. I will call in the next few days to schedule a time to meet.
