Cut Down Job Hunting Time With Cover Letter Examples

Did you know that according to the last reported national average, your typical American jobhunter could easily take well over 9 months just to find a new job? Now, there’s no why that I can know your own personal situation, but I’d think it’d be safe to assume that you really don’t have that sort of time. How would you feel if I told you that there’s a way to take that time down to a sliver of what it could be?

Guess what, there is such a way…and it goes by the name of “cover letter”. Well, technically, it’s actually called a “great cover letter”. Chances are good that any job you apply for will want a resume, and even if it didn’t ask for one, why wouldn’t you add it anyways? The same applies for a cover letter, it just doesn’t make sense to leave out such an important tool for raising your chances of getting the job.

When some employer is sitting in his office trying to sift through stacks of piles of heaps of applications looking for just ONE lucky person to get the job, do you really think that guy is going to sit there and scan through each little part of every single resume? No! Nobody has that kind of patience. What the guy will do is glance through all the cover letters. It’s your first shot at moving on to the next round.

The process is easy: the resumes with cover letters that look promising will stay in the game, and the ones with the sub-par cover letters –or dare I say it: none!– will be given to Bob in Accounting to feed to his goat.

So if you plan on making it past the first round, it’s a necessity to have more than just a cover letter, but to have the best one possible! Don’t forget,,your resume is important and of course you’ll have to be qualified for the position, but a shining cover letter can do more than open the door; it can roll out the red carpet for you.

Now, this is great if you are already an expert at writing amazing cover letters…but what happens if you for some reason missed the opportunity to go to college to get a master’s degree in Cover Letter Writing? What if you’re just a guy looking for ajob? Think about it. what’s the best way to learn how to do something?

You have somebody teach you! I’m not talking about one-on-one tutoring either, you have to find a person who’s written a terrific cover letter that bagged him a good job, and read his cover letter to see how he did it. Learning by example is easy! Furthermore, why should you limit yourself to just one person? Learn from a bunch of different examples! Spend some time seeing what’s worked for other people, and work out how to best adapt the ideas to work for what you need. Now, I strongly advise against plagiarizing, but if you can see what others have done, it shouldn’t be too hard to learn how to do it yourself.

But there’s a little problem…where exactly can you find these sorts of cover letter examples? How do you distinguish between the ones that are worth looking at and the ones that are garbage?

This site has a bunch of cover letter examples that you can use to learn how to write a cover letter. The numerous resources are sure to be able to get you the information you need.

Writing a Cover Letter – 6 Do’s and Do Not’s

In today’s competitive job market, your cover letter can be your best friend or your greatest enemy, depending on how well you engineer it. To make your job a little bit easier and make sure that your cover letter ends up being more of a buddy than a nemesis, I’ve built a list of the top 6 things to make sure you DO do or DON’T do.

1) This should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised. DO write a cover letter. The vast majority of cover letter mistakes out there is that people don’t write them! A cover letter is just too powerful a tool to not use it, and when you consider how widespread that knowledge is becoming, it’s getting to where it’s almost a necessity to even be considered. If you don’t write a cover letter, you shouldn’t get your hopes up too high for getting that high-paying job.

2) Too many people just send out a cover letter/resume and sit around waiting for a response. DO be proactive when you’re on a jobhunting campaign. Do a lot of research into the company you’re applying to, know a lot about what it is they do and what you can do for them. Send your resume to the head honcho in charge of staff management, the guy or gal who has the authority to hire you straight away. Impress them with your stunning initiative and determination.

3) Perhaps the most key goal of a cover letter is to set up or pave the way for an interview. By all means, DO bring it up…and by that I don’t mean say “please contact me to make an appointment for an interview.” That’s not being proactive. YOU tell THEM when you plan on calling to make the appointment for an interview, and then do it! As in item #2, initiative and proactivity win the ball game.

4) DO NOT allow ANY spelling, structure, grammar, or word use mistakes even touch your cover letter. You want to appear professional, and “I hoep you are considr me four job” gems just aren’t going to promote that image of you. The employers have entirely too many resumes and cover letters to sort through to let that stuff fly. It doesn’t have to be that severe to knock you out of the running, either. A SINGLE incorrectly-spelled word could destroy your chances. If you must, get help. It’s too critical to risk it.

5) DO NOT allow your cover letter to become some droning reiteration of all the information in your resume. They have your resume, so they can see your job experiences and family situation right there. Sure, you can refer to past employment, but make sure you make there be a good reason for talking about it, such as how it’s contributed to you being a much more able and viable candidate for the position for which you wish to be considered.

6) Above all, DO NOT let yourself seem desperate. Desperation does not make them think “determination,” it just makes them think “loser.” It will not factor into their thought process that you being desperate makes you more driven to prove yourself…it’ll work against you, making them think of you more as annoying, needy, and just generally a hassle. Pity won’t help you…these are professionals who don’t have time for pity.

Now, there are other things to think about, but I genuinely believe that if you take heed of what I’ve talked about here today, you’ll have a lot better shot at getting the most out of your cover letter. If you could use some more information, you can go here to get some free cover letter examples. These can be really helpful when you’re trying to learn how to write a cover letter. Having a checklist is wonderful, but seeing the desired end result is even better. Take a look.

Using Cover Letter Examples to Get a Better Job

Did you know that according to national statistics, average American jobhunter could easily take over 9 months to find a new job? Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m betting you don’t have the luxury of waiting that long. What would you say if I told you there was a way to cut that time to shreds?

Well, it just so happens that there is…and it’s called a cover letter. Well, if you want to get really accurate, it’s called a great cover letter. Most job applications are going to require that you submit a resume, and really what would ever possess you to turn in an application without one? Well, the same goes for a cover letter…what would ever make you want to turn in a resume without a cover letter?

When a potential employer is trying to sort through literally hundreds of applications looking for ONE person to take the position, do you really think the poor guy is going to sit there and scan through every minute detail in every single resume? No! There’s not a fellow in the world who has that sort of time. What that employer will do is look at all the cover letters. It’s the first thing he’ll read, and it’s your first chance to avoid elimination.

It’s a simple process: the resumes with great cover letters move on to the next round, and the ones with the so=so cover letters –or Heaven forbid, none!– will be tossed into the “Kindling” stack.

So if your goal is to manage to survive the original culling, you’ll need to have not only just a cover letter, but the best one you can possibly come up with! Dont get me wrong, your resume is important and naturally you’re going to have to be an appropriate candidate, but the perfect cover letter can not just open the door but set out a velvet welcome mat as well.

But this is all wonderful if you somehow already know how to write an amazing cover letter…but what if you didn’t quite find the time to go to college to get a four-year degree in Cover Letter Writing? What if you’re just the average guy out there who needs a job badly? Well, ask yourself a question: what’s the best way to learn how to do something?

Well, it’s to have somebody teach you! You find a person who’s written a wonderful cover letter that got him a job, and find out how he did it. Learn by example! And why limit yourself to only one person? Learn from tons of examples! Look at what works, and figure out how to adjust the ideas to fit your needs. Now, I don’t advocate plagiarism, but if you see what others have done, usually you can figure out how to do it yourself.

But the problem is…where exactly does one find these cover letter examples? How can you tell which ones work and which ones are worthless? This I can help with.

You can visit this site to get your hands on a bunch of cover letter examples that you can use to learn how to write a cover letter. It shouldn’t have to be like pulling teeth to get a new job.

How To Write a Cover Letter

Getting an excellent job that’s actually going to make you happy will generally be an uphill battle, as those “dream jobs” are in very high demand in a country with 300 million people. To get that job, you’ll need something to set yourself apart from the rest; you’ll need an awesome cover letter.

Now, writing a cover letter may not be your specialty, but there are ways to make yourself a good one without being an expert in the matter. First thing you’ll need to have is a real understanding of what a cover letter is and why you need one.

Simply put, a cover letter is a formal message accompanying your resume when you submit an application for employment. The message should serve to identify yourself as a potential candidate, explain your qualifications, and just simply make them aware of the fact that you are very much interested in setting up an interview. Shameless self-promotion isn’t what you’re after, but a statement of why you’re a good potential employee is what you’re after.

A cover letter isn’t the hardest thing in the world to write, but it can get confusing for a lot of people, and it’s really the most important part of getting in the door. When a potential employer is trying to sift through hundreds of applications, the cover letter is the first line of elimination. It’s your first impression, and your first test to pass. Of course your resume and qualifications are important, but the “cover letter round” can make or break your chances of getting the job.

There are a number of ways to learn how to write a cover letter that will do the job required of it, but seeing as you probably don’t have time to take a bunch of classes or seminars on the subject, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

One of the all-time best ways to learn almost any process is to learn by example. Taking what others have done, analyzing it, and coming up with your own applications is a long-tested system for achieving excellence in almost any subject, and cover letter writing is no different.

You can visit this site to get your hands on a bunch of cover letter examples that you can use to learn how to write a cover letter. It shouldn’t have to be like pulling teeth to get a new job.

Cover Letter Workshop – Cut Jobhunting Time by Improving Your Cover Letter Writing Skills

In today’s working world, the competition is staggering. With over 300 million people in the USA, finding a good job is a tough chore for almost any American. National estimates show that your average American citizen can be on the jobhunt for almost 9 months! With competition like that, you’re going to need an edge if you want to find any kind of decent job.

But such an edge does exist. It’s not a sure-fire employer snare, but it can drastically raise your chances of getting a better job and cut down your time spent out of work. It’s all about the cover letter.

Turning in a resume without a cover letter is like showing up naked to an interview. Most businesses frown upon nudity in the workplace, so you can imagine that you wouldn’t do too awfully well in that interview. Having an excellent cover letter, however, is like wearing a fine, expensive suit…it creates a stunning first impression, gives the employer an idea of the hardworking, responsible person you are, and paves the way to a profitable business relationship. It makes them want you in their business.

Now, first elimination is always the cover letter. The people who show up naked to their interviews get thrown out first, while the guys with the best, most expensive suits go much further. The better your cover letter, the better you start out. Of course you’ll have to be qualified for the job and ace your real interview, but a great cover letter can GET you that interview.

So how do you write or improve your cover letter? Well, one of the best ways is to learn by example. Look at some sample cover letters that have worked for others in the past, and learn. Copying someone else’s letter would be stupid, but copying someone else’s technique would be genius. Why did this cover letter work? What makes it different from mine? How can I use this to improve my cover letter? These are all questions you need to ask yourself as you read others’ cover letters.

To get you started, I’ll point you in the direction of a site from which you can get access to a bunch of cover letter examples. At http://coverletters.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/cover-letter-examples/ you’ll find more basic information about cover letter writing, and also a bunch of links to all sorts of places where you can see just what should be done with a cover letter to maximize your chance of success in the job market.

Cover Letter Examples – Get a Better Job by Writing a Better Cover Letter

Did you know that by national average, your typical American could easily take 9 months to find a new job? I don’t know about you, but most of us just can’t afford to wait that long. What if there was a way to “magically” cut that jobhunting time down into ribbons?

Well, there is…and it’s called a cover letter. Well, I guess that’s not entirely accurate…it’s called a good cover letter. Most job applications require a resume, and why would you ever turn in an application without a resume? Well, the same goes for a cover letter…why would you ever turn in a resume without a cover letter?

When a corporate paperpusher is trying to sift through hundreds of job applications in the pursuit of finding ONE person to fill the slot, do you really think he or she is going to sit there and read through every single resume, check every single source, and give every single applicant the same chance? No! Nobody in the world has time to do that. What that person is going to do is look at all the cover letters. It’s the first thing they’ll read, and it’s your first elimination to get through.

The process is simple: the resumes with good cover letters stay, and the ones with the poor cover letters –or worse, NONE at all!– will be kept “on file.” Translation: paper shredder.

So if you want to survive the first initial culling, you’ll want to not only have a cover letter, you’ll want to have the best one you possibly can! Your resume is important too, and of course you have to be a decent candidate for the job, but the right cover letter can not only open the door but also lay down a welcome mat.

But all of this is well and good if you know how to write a killer cover letter…but what if you didn’t go to college for four years to get a degree in Cover Letter Writing? What if you’re just that guy out there who’s looking for a job? Well, ask yourself…what’s the best way to learn how to do something?

You have somebody teach you! You find somebody who’s written a great cover letter in his life, and see what he did. You learn by example. And why just one person? Learn from dozens of examples…see what works, and learn how to adapt it to your own personal needs. By no means am I telling you to plagiarize or rip off of other people, but by seeing what others have done you can see how you can do it as well.

But where do you find these cover letter examples? How do you figure out which ones work and which ones don’t? Well, I can help you out a little bit there. http://coverletters.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/cover-letter-examples/ has links to a bunch of places where you can build your cover-letter-writing skills by checking out what others have done and learning about it. Think about it…nine months. That’s how long it could take you to find a job…unless you open up the door with an awesome cover letter.

Cover Letter Examples

Get Examples of Strong Cover Letters

A cover letter is said to be the most important part of a resume when you’re applying for a job. Having a good one can make or break your job application, and it’s best to learn how to write one by looking at some cover letter examples.

When a company gets 300 applicants for one job and they have 300 resumes to choose from, do you think they’re going to read that entire resume? No way! Why would they?

They read the cover letters, and decide from there whether to trash the resume or keep it for further consideration. Maybe once they’ve narrowed the field down by culling it based on cover letters, they’ll probably check out the rest of the resume.

That’s where your job experience, references, and all the rest of the stuff comes in, but if you want to even get your foot in the door, you’ve got to have an effective cover letter.

Learning By Example

But how do you write an effective cover letter? How else than by learning from the best?

Learn from the people who’ve bagged a solid job by using a rockin’ cover letter that made them stand out from day one of the consideration process.

Face it, it’s a competitive world out there, and there are always going to be other guys who want the job you’re after. The better the job, the more competition you’ll have, it’s a fact of life.

The only way to rise above that competition is to show that you’re better than they are, and to do that you need to kill with your cover letter. It’s a valuable tool that’s underused by most people, so using it well could give you the edge!

Reach For What You Want– And Grab It!

So if you seriously think you’d like to get the job you apply for, you should do some delving into how to write a quality cover letter. The best way to do this is to read some cover letter examples and learn from what the people getting the jobs have done.

Just think..the average American takes 9 months to find a new job. 9 months! Can you afford to wait that long?

With a solid cover letter, your chances of success will skyrocket…so good luck, and happy jobhunting!

Cover Letter Tips

Some important things to remember!

1) Always do your homework on the business with the job. Knowing what you’re getting into is very valuable throughout the entire writing, sending, and interviewing processes!

2) Send your cover letter and attached resume to a specific person who has the power to hire you immediately. Which’ll get you noticed more: being one envelope out of a couple hundred in a Human Resources basket, or being one letter sitting on the corner of a higher-up’s desk? Think about it!

3) Make sure that cover letter is flawless! No spelling, typographical, or grammar errors! They make your paper look unprofessional, and even a single mistake can mean the difference.

4) Keep your cover letter short and sweet. 2-4 paragraphs are the usual, and never go over a page! They just don’t have time to sit around reading it all day, and most won’t go past the first page anyways.

5) Don’t rehash your resume! With how little space is available, it’s important to include only vitally relevant information!

6) Be positive! Negativity in your cover letter will cause those reading it to feel negative, and that’s not something you want when those reading it are the people who could give you a job.

7) Try not to sound desperate! Employers are after somebody with drive to succeed, not someone who’s frantically begging for a job. Desperate and dependable don’t go together in an employer’s mind.

Avoid including a bunch of personal information. In brutal honesty, most employers don’t care who you are, so long as you’re qualified. A cover letter has precious little space, so don’t waste it!

9) Broach the subject of an interview, but in a proactive, self-motivated way! Don’t sit and wait for a call, make the call yourself! Use your cover letter to let them know when that call is coming, and follow through!

10) Know what you’re going for by looking at some online cover letter resources! From examples to helpful software, the things you can find online are invaluable to your jobhunt.

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