Resume help: free cover letter samples and examples for human resources

Many people believe that when applying for a job, the cover letter is an optional addition to the resume. However, most hiring managers expect a cover letter and do not even consider resumes that do not come with one attached.

While the resume is in fact the meat and potatoes of your presentation to a potential employer, the cover letter acts as the spice that makes the meal worth sitting down to eat. Your resume is where your accomplishments are listed, but your cover letter is where you highlight some of the more relevant ones and pitch yourself as the person the company should hire. There may be hundreds of other candidates with equally impressive resumes, so use your cover letter to stand out.

Be original, but don't be "cute". To be original is to present your unique ability to handle the job requirements, whereas to be cute is to use the highly unprofessional "giggle factor", hoping your humor will get you a call back. It won't.

Your cover letter should be addressed to the person whose job it is to hire you for the position. If you do not know his or her name, call the company and ask. Make sure you have the correct spelling and title for this person. Of course, make sure you have meticulously checked your spelling and grammar.

The person who will hire you probably doesn't have much time for all the resumes on his or her desk, not to mention the other work that he or she needs to get done. Therefore, getting to the point and putting as much information as you can in as few words as possible will raise your letter's chances of being read in its entirety. An effective cover letter would read something like this:

DATE

Mr. John Doe

President

Big Company

123 Any Street

New York, NY 00000

Dear Mr. Doe:

Please find enclosed my resume for your consideration for the position of ____________.

Your ad in the New York Times specifies that the ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree or three years experience in ___________. I have recently completed my bachelor's degree, and I also have over two years of experience in the field.

My coursework in __________ has provided a solid foundation for work in _____________. Furthermore, my experience in ____________ began with my first job at Dynamo Company and continues into my present employment with ABC Corporation. I understand the importance of ___________ to Big Company, and am excited about the opportunity to help enhance it.

I have references available upon your request. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you. I can be reached at (phone) or by email at (email address).

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Of course, you can't just take any cover letter, change the name and address, and send it off to every employer. Nor can you simply fill in the blanks in the suggested format shown above. The point of your cover letter is to let specific employers know that you have knowledge of their company and demonstrated skills that you can offer them.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Resumes & cover letter mistakes

Though the cover letter should be an exercise in attention to detail, there are far too many blunders that happen all too often in the job marketplace. The following are the top ten cover letter blunders that you should always make sure to avoid. Committing one of these all too common career crimes is the equivalent of telling the interviewer that you definitely don’t want the job.

Unattractive Layout

One of the first ways to get your resume noticed – for the wrong reasons – is to have a layout that is unattractive or inconsistent. For example, changing the spacing throughout the resume would be one way to achieve this; alternating between capital letters and boldface type to separate sections would be another way. Be sure that your resume is set up to look neat and sharp, and that you follow a consistent design scheme the whole way through.

Inappropriate Stationery

One of the great thing about having a great supply of stationery and writing paper is that it can really say something about who you are as a person. Though this is a great way to express yourself to friends and family, it doesn’t work as well with a potential employer. Save the cutesy flowers and animals for friendly correspondence; write all professional papers on a heavier stock of professional paper.

Too Fancy Fonts

Just like the elaborate stationery that can work against you in business correspondence, employing the use of too decorative fonts can also damage your reputation as a professional and business savvy job seeker. The best font to use is a Times or Arial font. Something basic, and that can be found on almost any word processing program.

Making Corrections

Perhaps it’s the fact that businesses themselves have been becoming more and more relaxed these days, but job seekers seem to take this philosophy to an extreme. Time and time again, candidates seeking employment think it’s okay to make a correction on their resume with white out or – even worse – a pen or pencil. Other candidates have opted for a quick Post-It note explaining the slip-up. If you make a mistake on your resume, go back and make the change directly to the document, and reprint it. There is no excuse for any resume to be less than perfect.

Incorrect Information

When sending out a cover letter, you should always have a specific name of the person to whom it is being sent. One common mistake – and it’s a mistake that can really bother a sensitive interviewer – is finding incorrect information on the cover letter. For example, if the cover letter send to “Chris Jones” reads “Dear Mr. Jones” when Chris is actually Christine. The same goes for incorrect information as it relates to the company name and address. The easiest way to avoid this mistake? Take a moment to give the company a call and double check the mailing address and name and spelling of the person’s name to whom you are sending the resume.

Typos

A major problem that is often encountered when an interview is reading one’s resume is a whole slew of typos. More and more, this type of error (even if the typo is one small one) is becoming enough a reason for interviewers to exclude someone from the running altogether. A quick spell check and a careful edit are two ways in which you can prevent this from happening to you.

Inappropriate Tones

In any sort of business correspondence, job seekers need to walk a distinct line between familiarity and professionalism. The tone of any cover letter should be polite without being obsequious, and professional without being too stiff. Don’t be afraid to show a little bit of your personality, just don’t show it all up front.

Comparisons and Clichés

In everyday language, it is likely that you will hear at least one overused cliché or obvious comparison come out of the mouth of someone you know. As is the nature of such phrases, they only serve to make you sound unoriginal. Avoid using clichés and obvious comparisons when writing a cover letter, as it’s likely that someone else is writing the exact same thing.

No Signature

One of the most important things employers are looking for nowadays is an employee with a great attention to detail. Sending off your cover letter without having signed it is one sure way to assure the interviewer that your attention-to-detail skills are certainly lacking.

Missing Resume

Another sign that a candidate is lacking in the attention-to-detail department: sending a cover letter without a resume. Though it seems like a ridiculous mistake to make, there are far too many people that send out a cover letter and forget to include what is really important here, their credentials.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Writing resumes and cover letters

To start any job search you first have to have a resume and cover letter. These two documents are your potential employers’ first glimpse of you. It’s these documents that will make them decide whether to contact you – or not. By following the practical advice below, you can create a resume and cover letter that will give you the step ahead you need.

The first thing is your resume. Tailor each resume to the job that you are applying for – selecting only the relevant skills, qualifications and work experience. If you’re applying for a driving position, it probably won’t matter that you were previously a dog walker – unless you had to drive the dogs to the park. Try to fit your resume on one page if you can, or two – but never on one and a half, and format it so that attention is brought to your highest qualification. For example, if you’re applying for a kennel position, and you have no professional work experience with animals, but do have personal experience, then bring attention to you skills – pointing out what personal experience gave you the skill. If you do highlight your work experience, then list what duties you performed or what responsibilities you had in connection with the job. Use action verbs such as organized, performed, categorized, improved, created, increased etc. But try not to use the same word too much. If you wrote performed four times for one work experience, then check a thesaurus and find words to replace it with. For ideas on how to format your resume, look at examples of other people. The only “must” in a resume is to have your name, address, and contact at the top of the page, and include the little blurb “References available upon request” at the bottom. (But only if you do have references)

The next thing you need is a cover letter. This too should be tailored for each job. Format this in the form of a business letter and try to get the name of whom you are applying too if possible. Start by expressing you interest in the job and mention where you heard about it. If it was in a paper then name which one. In the body of the letter summarize your skills, qualifications, and education, but try not to just reiterate your resume. The most important thing is to explain why your qualifications and the job requirements are a good match, and it doesn’t hurt to mention why you would like to work for the company. Wrap the letter up by stating when you’ll be available for work and when the employer can reach you. Also mention that your resume is attached. In the last sentence, thank the employer for their time or consideration and say that you look forward to hearing from them.

When you’re finished writing your resume and document, proofread it carefully and watch for grammar mistakes. Then print them out using a good quality printer. If you don’t have one, then use one at an office depot or hire a student. Never send in a handwritten resume or cover letter. A good resume and cover letter won’t get you a job in themselves, but they will certainly help.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Cover Letter Mistakes

Learn about three cover letter mistakes and how to avoid them.

Avoid the Top Three Cover Letter Mistakes!

by Deborah Walker

As a career coach and professional resume writer, I'm often asked "How important are cover letters to my job search?" My answer is, "It depends on how long you want to search for your next job." If you are in no hurry to get interviews, then don't worry about your cover letter.

The fact is I've never met a job searcher who wants to have a painfully slow job search. The whole point of sending out resumes is to get multiple interviews as quickly as possible. But many job seekers still unwittingly sabotage their efforts by using substandard cover letters. Instead of helping you, your cover letter may actually be hurting your job search.

For fast job search results, make sure to avoid these top three cover letter mistakes:

1. Not understanding the hiring motives of your audience

2. Repeating rather than introducing your resume

3. Overuse of the word "I"

1. Not understanding the hiring motives of your audience

There are three basic audiences that a job seeker sends his/her resume to: executive decision-makers, resume screeners, and third-party recruiters. Each of these groups has its own hiring motives.

* Executive decision-makers are looking for candidates who will have a significant impact on bottom-line initiatives, such as time saved, income generated, revenue built, etc.

* Resume screeners are searching for candidates who directly match the lists of qualifications in the job description.

* Third-party recruiters are looking for selling points to help position you as a top candidate.

Knowing these hiring motives will help you craft your cover letter specifically to catch the attention of your particular hiring audience. By appealing directly to the reader, you are creating an immediate bond that will make you a stronger candidate.

2. Repeating rather than introducing your resume

Repeating the exact same things you wrote in your resume is one of the most common cover letter mistakes. No one wants to read the same thing twice. By the time most people have finished writing their resume, they feel that they have run out of ideas and just cut and paste to create a cover letter.

Instead, the cover letter should be what sells the reader on your skills. Like the jacket-cover introduction to a good book, the cover letter should give the reader a taste of the great things to come and encourage them to read more.

If you are don't have any idea what your top skills are and how they will help the company, neither will your reader. Take the time to craft the right words and statements to make your skills shine.

3. Overuse of the word "I"

A cover letter that begins nearly every sentence with "I" is as boring as a conversation with someone who only talks about himself. That kind of person one avoids at all costs. Is that the way you want your reader to see you?

Focusing all the attention on yourself may seem like a good way to sell your skills. But it can also reflect lack of interest in the company, in the job, and in making a real contribution to that workplace. There's a good balance to be drawn between selling yourself and selling what you can do for the company.

Creating variety in the sentences of your cover letter is an easy way to show your interest without being self-centered. By shifting the emphasis to the recipient/company - and away from yourself - you can prove that your main interest is not just in winning the job but also in doing it effectively. Try to rewrite sentences that start with "I," "me," or "my," to start with "You," or "Your." Show how you can make a difference for them.

A cover letter that is poorly written may cause your resume to be ignored. But a well-crafted cover letter will invite and encourage the reader to take a closer look at your resume. You'll make a positive first impression before your resume is even opened.

Rather than making your cover letter an afterthought, take the time to really consider the type of presentation your cover letter will make. If your resume isn't winning you job interviews, consider hiring a professional resume writer to help. It's true what they say: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Deborah Walker, CCMC

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

E-Mail Cover Letters

Get expert advice on creating a professional image when submitting your resume for jobs online.

Creating Resume Cover Letters for Online Submission

by Vault.com - The Most Trusted Name in Career Information

Something happens to people when they get online. Maybe it's the instant access, maybe it's the anonymity, but when people get online they sometimes get overly casual and informal. This might be fine when your talking to your friend in Omaha or the someone you just met in a chat room, but it doesn't work well when you're trying to get business done.

Just because you're communicating online does not mean you should consider yourself exempt from any of the formalities of paper-based communication. Online cover letters are notoriously awful, poorly written throwaways of fewer than three lines whose only purpose is to say "I'm applying, this is my resume, have a nice day."

When formatting the cover letter, stick to left-justified headers and four-inch wide text lines in your paragraphs. You never know when the address you're mailing to has a small e-mail-page format that will awkwardly wrap text around the screen. Also, many e-mail systems cannot handle text enhancements like bolding, bulleting or underlining, so play it safe by using CAPITAL LETTERS -- or dashes -- if you need to make an emphasis.

Proper E-mail Cover Letter Etiquette

Anil Dash, the former chief information technology officer for an online music video production studio in Manhattan, lost his job this January when the company fired nearly all its employees. Since then, Dash figures he's applied for more than a dozen jobs, contacting every one of the potential employers - befitting an out-of-work CIO - through e-mail.

But every time he prepares another e-mail, he faces a choice. Should he bother to write an e-mail cover letter, the sort of thing he'd do if he were mailing the resume, or should he merely dash off a few lines to the effect of, "Hi, I'm interested in your job, and I've attached my resume as a Word file. Thanks." "I do cover letters for jobs I really want," Dash says. "For ones I don't care about, I just spam them."

Why Cover Letters Still Matter

According to recruiting experts, Dash is doing the right thing by writing extensive e-mail cover letters. Even though cover letters came of age in the age of pen and paper (or typewriter and paper), they still have a place in the 21st century, when want ads, resumes, and interviews all fly over virtual networks. "It's going over the Internet, but it's the same product," Madeline Miller, the manager of Compu-Type Nationwide Resume Service in upstate New York, said of e-mail cover letters. "The cover is very important and it should be the same quality if you were to mail it."

Since e-mail messages generally tend to be conversational and quickly written, many people aren't used to drafting carefully written e-mail cover letters. But Miller said any applicant who creates a fully-fleshed e-mailed cover letter has an advantage over an applicant with a more slapdash cover letter.

"There is a tendency to jot off a few lines, and people might write, "I'm applying for this job, here is my resume," Miller said. "But if there is a cover letter, that could put somebody over the top." But at the same time, make sure your e-mailed cover letter isn't a chore to read. If brevity is a virtue with conventional cover letters, it's a necessity for e-mailed cover letters.

Appropriate Cover Letter Length

Reesa Staten, the research director for OfficeTeam, a staffing service firm, says e-mailed resumes shouldn't run more than two or three paragraphs.

"You want to include the same type of information, albeit in a shorter version," Staten said. "What you don't want to do is rehash your resume. There's no need to restate what you've done in the past. What you want to do is tell them where you learned about the listing, why you're right for the job, and how they can reach you."

Tips for Sending Cover Letters and Resumes

If you really want the job, follow up an e-mailed cover letter and resume with a hard copy you mail. Make sure this hard copy includes a cover letter, too, that restates who you are and why you're qualified. Somewhere in the cover letter, be sure to write, "I recently e-mailed you my resume and I'm following up with this hard copy."

Why should you do this? A hard copy gives your resume another chance for exposure and makes it easier for a potential boss to pass around or file your cover letter and resume. In cases where your e-mailed cover letter and resume have been overlooked in someone's in-box or rendered inaccessible by a computer glitch, a hard copy may be your only chance for exposure.

If you're including a resume as an attachment, first make sure the prospective employer accepts attachments. Then, in your cover letter, mention the program you used to create your attachment. ("I've enclosed a cover letter written in Microsoft Word 2000.") It's also a good idea to include a cut and paste text version of your resume in addition, in case the person reading the resume doesn't have the software to open your attachment.

With any resume file you're attaching, open it first to make sure it's updated, error free, and the version of your resume you want to send. Sending a virus is tantamount to sealing your job-doom. Save a copy of whatever you send by including your own e-mail address in the "BCC" field or by making sure a copy goes to your "Sent mail" folder. This allows you to resend the letter if a problem pops up. Lastly, don't fill in the "to" field with the recipient's e-mail address until you've finished writing and editing the cover letter and resume. This prevents you from accidentally sending off the message before it's ready.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Cover letter tips

You are responding to a “Help Wanted” advertisement that requests a copy of your resume. It does not say anything about sending a cover letter. Should you write a cover letter to accompany your resume? Yes, always include a cover letter with your resume whether it is requested or not. The company might get hundreds of responses to a single ad. You need to give the person who will be interviewing you highlights of your experience at a glance. A cover letter allows you to stand out above the crowd, and emphasizes all of the positives you have to offer a new employer.

First, your cover letter should be no more than one page long. It should include all the ways that a potential employer can contact you, including not only your home address and telephone number, but your cell number, and email address. You want to make it very, very easy for the company to contact you.

If at all possible, try to avoid addressing the salutation to “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Madam or Sir.” If the advertisement directs you to send your resume to the Sales Manager, call the company and try to get the Sales Manager’s name. Using a name not only personalizes a cover letter, it shows initiative on your part.

Look over the advertisement carefully. If the company is looking for an administrative assistant with four years of experience and an A. A. degree, make sure that you tell them that you have five years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree, if that is what you have earned. If you only have three years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree, write that you have several years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree. A “Help Wanted” is a wish-list, not necessarily a must-have list. The purpose of a cover letter is to entice the reader to find out more about you.

Tell the reader what you can do for the company, not what you want the business to do for you. If you are applying for a sales job and you increased sales 100% over the last four years in your current position, tell them about it, and tell them that you can do the same for them. You are experienced, you have accomplishments, and they need you on their team. The old “I want to work for a company that offers opportunity for growth” does not cut it anymore. Everyone wants to work for a company that will allow them to grow. The question is not how the company is going to help you grow, but how you are going to help the business grow.

That being said, everyone likes to be flattered. Do some quick research on the company. If, for example, they are an industry leader in marketing and you are applying for a marketing position, it does not hurt to mention that you know that they are well known for their marketing expertise and you are looking forward to contributing to their continued success.

Does the advertisement ask if you are willing to relocate and what your salary requirements are? If it does, respond to the requests. If they ask if you are willing to relocate for this job, and you are not willing to do so, you should not be responding to the ad. If they are asking if you would be willing to relocate in the future and you are not tied to the area in which you are living, who knows? You may fall in love with your job, management, and the company. As far as salary goes, do you really want to waste your time—and theirs—if the highest compensation package that they are willing to offer is worth $25,000, and you need $55,000 in order to cover your bills? However, if the advertisement does not ask for this type of information, do not offer it. It will probably be addressed when they call you to set up an interview.

Businesses want to know how you express yourself. After all, everyone needs to write reports of one sort or other. Make sure to use “spell-check” on your letter and then double check the spell check. You might have accidentally spelled a word correctly, but still have written the wrong word. This is easy to do with words like accept and except, for example. The letter should be easy to read and grammatically correct. It is always a good idea to have someone else proof your cover before you send it out.

Cover letters should showcase your efforts and achievements. They should tell the reader why they really need to talk to you in person. The letters should be positive, positive, positive. You be prepared to be proactive. When you close the letter, tell them that if you have not heard from them within a week or ten days, you will call them. Then do it.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy