Did you know that cover letters are valuable tools showcasing your uniqueness, catapulting you above the throngs—and providing the pitch that gets you in the door for an interview in a coveted position? Most jobseekers realize the importance of a cover letter as the accompaniment to a resume when applying for a job through the Internet, word-of-mouth, cold calling, faxing, email and postal mailing. A compelling cover letter provokes the reader to call you in for an interview. It is conversational self-marketing strategy to get in the door. Even if an ad does not ask for one, it is assumed that one who is professional should send one. Each cover letter is tailored to each position. Together, both documents make a perfect package. One compliments the other and no formal job application is complete without it.

Copy and paste your resume heading with contact info as your own letterhead. It is crisp, business-like and professional. A good cover letter introduces you, presents you in an interesting manner and puts a little personality to the resume. If you are changing careers, a cover letter is the perfect forum to explain in a paragraph why you are switching and what strengths you bring to the new field of work. More than likely, the resume will reflect positions held in a former field.

If it was always your dream to change careers to a particular field, say so. The layoff is a perfect time to pursue it! “After a successful career in real estate sales, I am seeking to transfer my strengths and skills as a social worker with seniors in your establishment.”  If someone connected to the company suggested you contact them, start out by saying so and mention the person by name. That means you will, no doubt, know to whom you are writing, and have the person’s name spelled correctly along with his/her title.

Of course, ideally, you won’t need cover letters except for job applications. Hopefully, you are networking and are you own “cover letter.” in the networking group “elevator pitches” that are touted now, where you talk about your most impressive achievements and qualifiers and what you seek in the way of work.

Here are some examples for the body of your letter: “As you will see on my resume, I bring….”Then be sure to mention something to show you’ve researched them “I read about your company in the Wall Street Journal and its present challenge of…..That’s where I come in with my (specific) ability to (or background in)….” or “I see your company is named number one in the industry by JD Power for the fifth year in a row. As someone who delivers premier customer service and is customer-driven, I would be honored to come and work for your company.  I wish to affiliate myself with (name of company) because… I believe in its mission…”)

Sometimes an ad will ask for “salary history” or “salary requirements.” Don’t pigeon-hole yourself and get rejected at the onset for giving yourself away with a static figure that might be out of their paying range. This is meant to eliminate applicants. While your career and everything about it should never be referred to as “history”—especially not by you—you will need to answer this question. Go onto www.payscale.com or www.salary.com (there are other sites, as well) and find out the going rate for the desired job. You’ll get the low, median and high range for the region. Keep searching for a related title if yours does not come up and go from there. Then, in a separate paragraph towards the end of the letter, convey something along these lines:

“I have been exploring a number of opportunities in similar companies such as yours which are offering between (give a ten thousand dollar range here i.e.: $45,000 to $55,000). However, I look forward to actually meeting you and sitting down to discuss how I may benefit your organization. I am sure that once we have this chance, you will be offering me a salary commensurate with my experience.” But be sure and use this paragraph ONLY if asked for salary requirements in the advertisement.

It’s important to be creative. Static, old-fashioned letters are no fun to read or write and say nothing about it. Rote sentences like, “I am responding to your advertisement in…for a….and enclosed is my resume,” are boring and do not make you stand out from the crowd. You want to be compelling and evocative, someone they want to see.

TEACHERS:

I read your advertisement in the Sunday Times for a teaching position in your nursery school with great enthusiasm and greatly anticipate the chance to meet you and tell you about myself and how I already feel aligned with your school’s mission…I bring with me a plethora of experience and expertise in all aspect of childhood education and development, having functioned in the capacity of private school administrator, as well….nursery schools have always been my platform and choice of forum because I love nurturing and exploring new experiences with children just beginning their educational journeys…I have a knack with children…I believe I can be an asset to your team and look forward to interviewing with you shortly. You will also want to know that I hold a current certification in CPR and have recently saved a child under my watch from choking at my last position in the Montessori School, which closed, due to lack of funding. As you can imagine, I am very eager to return to my beloved field. Mr./Ms./Dr…., I am a teacher you will be proud of!

TWO YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE OR NONE:

Although I believe that education is an on-going, richly rewarding, lifelong pursuit, life experience cannot always be totally measured in degrees or amount of book learning. While those things are invaluable, uplifting and inspiring in one’s journey, the “soft” people skills that enable one to communicate effectively with compassion and understanding of those less fortunate and suffering, the organizational and business savvy mastered on the job that determines that fine line between school and real life—all these things are equivalent to a college degree—and get the job done…I am immensely proud

of my accomplishments, including….a former employer once told me they should award college credits for my initiative and imaginative approach to problem-solving… (If true, write that a Bachelor Degree is “pending” to show that you are continuing your education.)

GREEN CAREERS

The environmental field and preserving it is very popular now as a career choice and you can create interest by aligning yourself with its basic principles with something like this: “I have always been cognizant of sustainability in business and have thoroughly familiarized myself with eco-friendly products and services. Currently, I am engaged in….and I feel your recent urban renewal project is so timely and my construction management background lends itself nicely to your conversion of….” Just as you need industry buzz words in a resume, you need some reference to them in cover letters, as well.

Use some imagination and write a catchy introductory sentence in cover letters when applying for job openings—especially in marketing, advertising and sales positions: “What would you say if I told you I can penetrate the 18-34 year old marketplace in three months and garner (name) company over ten million dollars?”

Many years ago, when I was entering the world of sales, I answered an ad to sell medical textbooks. I said in my letter that I had “the prescription for success.” The company called me and wanted to fly me to the corporate office in Indiana. I didn’t go on the interview because I was preparing to get married and stay in New York but it proved to me that people do indeed respond to fresh, lively statements in cover letters.

Just perhaps a lively cover letter that jumps off the screen or page, a cover letter that begs the reader to meet you, might make a difference in the amount of interviews you get. That’s why it is imperative that you always “cover yourself!”

-By The Job Enthusiast Who Won’t Rest Till Everyone Is Put To Work!

Read about more helpful resources from The Job Enthusiast here.