Jerz > Writing > Professional > Résumés
Your cover letter can’t simply announce “I really want this job” or “I am the best person to hire” or “see my resume for my qualifications.”
You have a few paragraphs to attract the interest of someone in a position to advance you to the next stage of the hiring process. A detailed résumé is only part of the game plan. Your cover letter should emphasize why your experiences and attributes make you a good match for this particular job.
Your employer doesn’t want to read “I need this job because I want to make money” or “It has always been my dream to work in your field.” Don’t focus you your own needs (the “me” attitude).
Your employer wants to read “If you hire me, you will gain a hard-working employee with two years experience doing a very similar job.”
Anyone can write “I am clearly the best person for the job” or “I will slave tirelessly for you.” But these are empty claims. You can’t possibly know that you really are the best applicant — you haven’t read anybody else’s application, have you? Provide evidence to back up your claims, or you will lose credibility. Instead of demonstrating that you have access to a thesaurus, and can therefore apply snappy adjectives to yourself, you should instead emphasize your achievements.
For example, instead of saying “I am really great with people,” list specific, relevant accomplishments (“recruited 14 new members and won ‘volunteer of the month’ award at local Red Cross agency; delivered 12 safety speeches at area middle schools, to a total of 600 fourth graders; counseled preteens whose parents have recently divorced”). If you don’t have any such activities to list, then you should consider what volunteer or extra-curricular activities might give you the kinds of experience you need.
Instead of simply listing every piece of computer software you have ever worked with, describe what you accomplished with those software packages. “Used PowerPoint to present weekly staff reports” or “Used MS-Front Page to create a tribute to the TV series ‘Full House’ (available at www.get-a-life.com).” After you have described your accomplishments, you can add a line that says you are “familiar with” a longer list of software. (Your employer will correctly deduce that you have only fiddled around with those software packages in your spare time.)
Tell an anecdote directly related to the job for which you are applying. For example, when I applied for my current job, I described a memorable classroom experience, which not only told the readers what kinds of things I value, but also showed me in action. (See: Show, Don’t (Just) Tell)
If you let mistakes slip into your cover letter, you are telling the reader that you just don’t care. Spell checkers are no substitute for a dictionary, close inspection, and time. (See: Hit Parade of Errors in Style, Grammar, and Punctuation)
Cover Letters: How to Write Them
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09 May 2000; Dennis G. Jerz Resumes — Top 5 Problems I regularly ask my students to submit resumes early in the semester. Here are the top 5 problems that typically cause stress for my students (and me) during this assignment. |
Most colleges or high schools have a career center, where employees typically offer such services as resume workshops, mock interviews, and other career guidance. Often those schools have programs designed to serve alumni.