What constitutes an effective cover letter?
The jobs, to be more specific, are at a salon as an assistant, (My friend works there as a stylist) and a server/bartender at a local pub. (My friend works at a neighbouring bar and has been in the service industry in my town for 10 years or so) I have never met either manager but I have both of their names and can use my friends as references.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$4 Answers
Everybody's take on cover letters is a bit different, so I'll share my tips and opinions, but that doesn't mean that someone with different ideas is wrong.
1. The Purpose of Your Cover Letter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cover letter is a brief hello that should introduce you and your resume to an employer. Therefore, it should be exceptionally professional, easy to understand, brief, and to the point.
You don't need to recap your entire resume in the letter, nor do you need to go into fascinating detail about your self Leave them wanting just a little more, the cover letter's job is just to get you in the door. Once you're in, then you can go into finer details during the interview.
2. Anatomy of Your Cover Letter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- At the very top of the page should be the same header used on your resume (usually containing your name in LARGE LETTERS and your contact information)
- Next on the page, put the date on the left (spell it out: September 8, 2009)
-Then your greeting (in this case) should be:
"Dear Mr./Ms. XXXXX:"
(if you didn't know their names, you would substitute "Dear Sir or Madame:"
- The first sentence should mention the position you're applying for and how you found out about it.
Ex. - "I am sending you my resume for consideration for the available XXXXX position, which I recently heard about from Jen XXXX ." (or whatever your friend's name is).
-Then complete the first paragraph succinctly offering why you think you would be a good match for that company.
-The next paragraph should elaborate a bit on how exactly you're a good fit for the position. You can VERY briefly recap some of your experience, and mention a few qualities you have that make you and ideal candidate.
-The last paragraph should inform them that you would be interested in speaking with them further about the job and look forward to scheduling an interview time.
-The signature should read: "Sincerely,"
Then your typed name with hand written signature just above it.
The Look of Your Cover Letter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your cover letter shouldn't be too long, and should easily fit on to one page (the text itself should maybe be half a page at most). The text should be justified left and right, and you should use a standard font - usually Arial or Times New Roman, as they look neat and professional.
Other Cover Letter Advice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember that this is just a hello. An employer will not want to read a novel about you right off the bat. You have approx. 3 seconds in which to impress him/her to turn the page and actually look at your resume. Don't waste those seconds with casual grammar, bad spelling, or fluff.
And also remember that a cover is not the big hoopla it's made out to be. Although your resume should grab some attention, I very rarely hear from employers that a cover letter made the big difference in hiring someone (or not). Make sure your resume is strong, and your interview is positive and professional.
I'm sure you'll do great. Good luck!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$How to write a cover letter
In short, you want a clear, concise introduction that briefly mentions why you're perfect for the job.
Write a unique cover letter and address it personally to the person who will be interviewing / hiring you.
It may also be beneficial to mention the name of your friend in the cover letter.
Best of luck!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
It is traditional to say how you found out that the job was available in the first sentence. Often one will write something like "I am writing in response to your advertisement in The Post newspaper on Friday September 17th for a new Bartender."
Rather than learning about this position in a newspaper, you learned about this from a friend. So... cooth away :)
Plus, this will significantly differentiate you from the other candidates. The owner / manager can quickly pre-qualify you with a casual conversation with your mutual friend.
Really? I should mention my friend right in the letter? I would have thought that to be uncooth.
I am interested in (state the position). I feel as though I am highly qualified (tell why). Enclosed is my resume highlighting my background and experience. I look forward to discussing the opportunities with or at (the name of the company).
This is a brief idea, you need to personalize and tailor it to the position. It also never hurts to say that you would be a wonderful asset to the company for whatever reason you believe you will be. Think of a cover letter as a first impression. Make sure it's professional and sounds sincere. It does make a difference. You can mention your friend, but be cautious. As you stated, it can be "uncooth". Try mentioning that you were referred or made aware of the position by this person briefly if you feel this may help you land the interview. I wish you the best of luck.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
