The Personalized Cover Letter

When sending your résumé to a potential employer you should enclose it with a cover letter.  Some experts claim that a cover letter is more important than the résumé itself, while others minimize its importance and say that it is hardly read.  Do not underestimate the importance of the cover letter.  The cover letter might be used by you to clarify a number of points:

Highlight and clarify

1)     To highlight (without repeating the résumé) your skills, education, and qualifications so as to convince the employer to arrange an interview with you.  Each cover letter you write should relate directly to the company and position you desire.  Use the cover letter to clarify points in your résumé that may not be self-evident because of cultural differences, or if you simply wish to explain things in more depth.

Look good

2)     The cover letter should be typed on high quality 8 1/2” by 11” paper (preferably on the same paper as the résumé).  And like the résumé, it should be typed on white or off-white bond. Do not use dot matrix printers.

Write the letters in clear, concise language, and proofread several times for spelling and grammar errors.

Keep the letters brief – no more than half to two-thirds of a page long.  Address your cover letters wherever possible to specific individuals and use their titles. 

The first paragraph should explain why you are writing.  Explain the type of work you are interested in, and indicate how you learned about the employer and/or the specific opening.

What benefits do you offer the employer?

3)     Always focus on the employer's needs rather than your own.

In the text of the cover letter make sure to highlight your skills and past achievements in a way that will solve employers’ problems.  In the second paragraph, show the employer that you have done your homework and have a genuine grasp of the organization’s personnel needs and philosophy of business.  Be sincere in your praise.

In any commercial advertisement you see, the advertiser shows you the benefits you will receive by using the product or service.

“Expect the interview”

4)     End the cover letter in a way that you definitely expect to meet with the employer.  Use the word “meeting” rather than “interview”. For example you might want to say something like, “I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how my qualifications and background can meet your needs.”  You might also wish to include times when you can be reached and leave alternate phone numbers.  An answering machine is essential in the job-hunting phase and while interviewing for this purpose.  Also, refer the reader to the résumé you are attaching/enclosing.

How to Look For a Job

1. Through the Internet

Possibly the fastest and most abundant source of information on current job listings is the Internet – Some of the best employment sites are: www.hotjobs.com, www.freeagent.com, www.guru.com, and www.monster.com.

One of the most popular job-hunting websites for university students is www.jobtrak.com.  This website offers various services to assist you in finding a job.  Some of these services include: an online career fair, career forums, job search tips, etc.  If a student’s school has purchased access to Jobtrak then the student can use these services free of charge using the school’s username and password.  Otherwise, a student must pay to have access to Jobtrak.

www.monster.com .  Monster allows you to post your résumé directly to their database so that employers can seek out people who are qualified for positions they have available.  In a matter of minutes you can set up your own résumé and have employers looking you up. 

2.     Through a recruiter/recruiting firm

There are many different types of these firms – there are basically six types (which are not listed in order of importance):

• Public employment service– also known as the Job Service, operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  There are some 2,300 points of service nationwide; about 1,700 of them are full-time, full-service offices.  The Employment Service provides its services free to both employers and job seekers.  Openings range from entry-level to technical and professional positions.  It also provides access to America’s Job Bank (AJB).  On any given day this national resource lists over 400,000 job opportunities.  It also provides links to numerous employment and training programs in each state, including programs for people with disabilities, minorities, veterans, welfare recipients, and young people.
  
  
• Employment agencies or personnel placement services work to fill specific positions available within companies. Their purpose is to bring applicants and employers together. Often, the hiring company pays the placement fee, but when state law permits, you and the employer may share the fee or the fee is billed to you after you've secured a job. Employment agencies usually are licensed in the state where they do business.
  
  
• Executive search firms or executive recruiters are hired by businesses to find the "right" person for a particular job within a company. These recruiters sometimes are referred to as "headhunters." The executive who is hired does not pay anything – fee payment is part of the agreement between the hiring business and the search firm. Executive search firms usually subscribe to a code of ethics established by industry members.  Some firms are licensed by the states where they do business, as required by state law.
  
  
• Temporary help services provide workers to businesses on a temporary or as-needed basis.  Businesses pay an agreed-upon wage to the temporary service for work performed by the employees. The temporary service firm pays the workers, not the temporary employer.
  
  
• Executive counseling services or career counseling services help job seekers with career directions and decisions more than with job placement. They may offer such services as skill identification and self-evaluation, résumé preparation and letter writing, and general information about companies in a particular location or job field. Fees can be as high as $4,000, and payment often is required before any services are provided.  You probably have to pay this fee even if you do not find a job.  Placement is not guaranteed.  State law dictates whether executive counseling firms are required to be licensed.
  
  
• Job listing services or advisory services sell information about getting a job in the U.S. or abroad, rather than provide actual job placement.  Often, they use pay-per-call 900-numbers to do this.  Information may include lists of job openings, general tips on conducting a successful job search or interview, and broad guidance in resume writing.  These advisory firms often require an upfront fee for their listings.

3.   By researching directly and contacting the companies (and industry) you would like to work for and/or in

For example, if you wanted to get into advertising, it would be an excellent idea to contact the advertising agencies in your area to see if there are any positions open.  This example applies to most companies and industries.

This research is easily done on the Internet.  Do a keyword search under any search engine and you should find the results you are looking for.  (See the different types of search engines under the Section “Communications”).  Additionally, look up any professional organizations that are in your area.  Many times they will have meetings where you can sit in and meet people.  Networking is at its best here and you will have the opportunity to talk with many business leaders in your area.  Make sure to either bring your business card or a few résumés with you stating your objective.  Finally, contact the Human Resources departments of the companies you are looking to work for.

The Interview

Approach. Interviewing is an art form.  Even if your culture believes that it is undignified to highlight your past achievements at an interview, selling yourself is the only way to obtain employment in the US.  The approach in the USA is to forget modesty and explain why you are qualified for the position and how you will benefit the employer.

Research.  Researching the company prior to the interview date will give you an advantage. The interview is your chance to evaluate them!  You want to be informed to ask questions about where the company is headed, what opportunities for growth are available in the organization, and what benefits they offer their employees.