Times are getting tight, the economy’s in a nose dive and I’m one of the many who find myself laid off and without steady employment prospects (aka a job). Rather than freak out, however, I’m trying to make sure that I’m doing the very best I can to try and get a new job. I’m using LinkedIn, Craigslist, and all my personal networks, but I’m unsure in this day of job sites and database searches whether I should still be using traditional application strategies. Specifically, do I need to both with a cover letter when I apply for a job via email?
Sorry to hear about your employment situation. You’re right, there’s a lot of turbulence on this portion of our economic flight through the clouds right now, as demonstrated by the completely unpredictable behavior of the stock market.
Because it’s an employers market for new hires – because so many people are out of work and looking for a new job – I think you need to do the very best you can for every single job for which you apply. A sloppy resume submitted via monster.com is unlikely to produce any positive results at all which not only ends up being massively depressing after a while but also means that you can’t reapply with a better package, so it kind of burns bridges too. Not good.
Instead, yes, you’re right that the “old ways” of applying for a job absolutely still apply to the modern world and modern job quest. A very well organized and attractively laid-out resume – in PDF format, don’t rely on MS Word to lay things out for them how they look on your screen – and a smart, succinct cover letter that you can customize for each job is a must.
Just as importantly, if you think your experiences speak for themselves, well, you’re wrong. Assume that the person reading your submission is scanning through hundreds of applicants and really wants to do something else, so they’re flying through things as fast as possible. In fact, most hiring managers “triage” applicants, instantaneously discarding those without cover letters, those without credentials that match the job listing, those with typos, poor grammar, spelling errors, etc. That usually weeds out at least 75% of applicants.
The rest are in the “let me spend an additional 90 seconds on this person” bin and for those it’s critical that you make their life as easy as possible. A cover letter that’s long and complex is less useful than a short one that demonstrates you applied for the specific job listed and the two or three key skills you have that make you a perfect match.
This is why if you have an online resume, a Web site that lists all your credentials, your portfolio of work, your smartly written weblog, links to your Facebook profile, etc etc., that you can’t just email them a URL. Why? Because most hiring managers don’t have the time to click on the link and scan through a Web page / web site to figure out the basic “are they credible?” questions they have about you.
Get over your self-importance and create an application that makes the job of the hiring manager as easy as possible and you’ll find you get a lot more interviews and callbacks than if you just assume that they’ll find you in the great morass of resume databases or will wade through your wicked personal Web site.
Added tip: If you’re having trouble writing your cover letter, a good place to start is www.CoverLetterExamples.net: the site offers dozens of resume cover letter templates to get you started. Don’t use any template letter verbatim — be sure to add your own unique qualities and experience. A cover letter template should give you a push in the right direction.
And very best of luck to you!
A cover letter is a crucial document to accompany the resume.
It provides you with the chance in the first person to clearly provide a solution to the company and portray using a couple of examples from your career why you are the perfect candidate for the position.
Cover letters are read more today than they were just a couple of years ago. Always be prepared, if they don’t read it at least you have had the opportunity to state the reasons why they should consider you!
Best of luck to all in your job search!
Though some hiring managers and recruiters may not read the cover letter, most do, and at the very least it is expected. So while writing a cover letter may not help you in the case of those who don’t read it, not wiritng one can definitely hurt you.
Your cover letter is an opportunity to emphasize your attributes, passion and cultural fit for a company and position which otherwise may be challenging to represent in a resume. To pass up this opportunity is like having the ball on the one yard line and taking a knee for 4 downs.
I’ve written some articles regarding some unique aspects of how to write an effective resume cover letter. If interested stop by http://www.JobSeekersGold.com
Here’s to your Success,
Take the time to research the employer. Lots of large employers have correspondingly large human resources staffs. Microsoft actually has a few recruiters that blog about what they look for in an application packet. They also offer advice about how to make your resume rise to the top after the information is scanned into their databases. Using the right keywords can make you a top candidate and using the wrong ones can make your database entry one that is never picked up on a search.
I took the time to write a cover letter, reviewed and updated my resume, and carefully filled out the application paperwork. I also took my time to answer the pre-interview questions as thoughtfully as I could. I knew full well that these steps were not what would ultimately lead me to my current position – but that being the primary internal candidate is what really mattered. However, I know that had I been an external candidate, my application portfolio would have landed me an interview. I take great pride in the compliments sent my way from the human resources staff as well.
Bottom line is that Dave and the first commenter are both correct. Take the time to research the position or positions you are applying for and make the paperwork count. Presenting yourself as a professional with good or great written communication skills can get you in the door. Then it is up to your oral communication skills to keep you there. Good luck!
I worked as a hiring manager once so I have a first hand opionion on this.
I’m not convinced a cover letter is all that critical. IF you have one, you need to make it UNIQUE.
I prefer to see what I call the “buzz word list” at the top of the actual resume.
IF you use a cover letter, make sure both it and your resume put what the hiring manager is looking for FIRST.
If a cover letter:
I’m applying for X job postion. I believe I qualify for the following reasons:
Top reason 1
Top reason 2
Top reason 3
(of course, the letter should be much more engaging than what I wrote.)
and then on your resume, make darn sure that the reason show up again at the top of the resume and are supported by your work history.
Dave’s right. If I don’t see what I’m looking for right away, I’m not going to give it more than the 2 seconds it takes to find that out.