Engineer
Resume
Cover Letter Truths |
Many resume books
will tell you that your cover letter introduces
your resume. This is not the case. In fact,
more often than not, your resume determines
whether the reviewer ever reads your cover
letter. The reviewer will read your cover
letter only if your resume passes an initial
review.
Gatekeepers (recruiters, staffing managers,
HR managers) are interested in facts not fluff.
A resume offers a quicker route to the facts
than a cover letter. Most people who review
resumes and cover letters for a living quickly
learn to discount and ignore a candidate's
cover letter unless the resume gives the reviewer
a good reason to consider the candidate for
an interview. |
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| Important
facts you should know about cover letters
if you would like to succeed in your job search: |
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| 90% of
all cover letters are never read, or scanned |
| Most recruiters
and staffing managers will scan your resume
first unless your cover letter is brief and
is placed in the body of your email or online
submission form. If they do not like your
resume, they will not read your cover letter.
If you have something important to say, say
it in your resume unless it does not properly
belong in a resume. Your cover letter is not
a chance to make a first impression -- it
is a second chance to maintain a good impression. |
| |
| But,
the other 10% can sink good resumes |
| If a recruiter
or other gatekeeper reads your cover letter
first, and it is poorly written, he or she
may decide not to spend any time (not even
ten seconds) scanning your resume. On the
other hand, a well-written cover letter will
persuade the reader to pay special attention
to your resume. |
| |
| So, you
must have an outstanding cover letter |
| If your resume
survives a ten second scan, and a thorough
review, the recruiter or staffing manager
will want to read your cover letter. For this
reason, your cover letter must stand out and
make a strong positive impression. In short,
cover letters are seldom read but you should
have one, and it should be superbly written. |
| |
| A few
tips to help you produce a superior cover
letter: |
| |
| Just
the facts |
| A cover letter
is not an autobiography. It should be short
and sweet, brief and to the point. The cover
letter and resume should demonstrate that
you meet or exceed the requirements listed
in the job description, that you are interested
in the position, and that you are available.
Any additional information is superfluous
and can be counterproductive. |
| |
| Avoid
negatives |
| It’s been
said that no politician ever lost an election
over a speech that wasn't made. Don't lose
the election. This is not the place to explain
why you left or are leaving an employer. Negatives
are best delivered in person so that your
personality and humanity can counter them.
If a recruiter or hiring manager likes your
resume and wants additional information, she'll
schedule an interview. |
| |
| Avoid
providing a salary history |
| A salary history
is more likely to cost you a job than not.
If the job ad says that resumes without a
salary history will not be considered, give
a historical salary range and state that your
salary requirements are flexible. |
| |
| Make
your cover letter easy on the eyes |
| It should be
easy to scan and have a logical progression.
Bunched up text in long paragraphs will frustrate
anyone who has to review hundreds of resumes
and cover letters a week. Don't repeat your
resume. Your cover letter is not a summary
of your resume - listing previous employers
and job roles can be counterproductive. |
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| Don't
repeat worn platitudes and clichés
|
| Experienced gatekeepers
know that almost every candidate promises
"excellent written and verbal communication
skills", and the ability to "think
outside the box" and "juggle multiple
tasks" while walking and chewing gum.
Be different. Demonstrate your written communication
skills by writing a good cover letter. |
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| Offer
a solution to their problem |
| Most employers
hire people because the employer needs to
accomplish a task—not because they want
to provide employment opportunities to the
public. Your cover letter should be solution-centric;
not "I" centered. Keep the "I
would like" stuff to a minimum. |
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| Personalize
your cover letter if possible |
| Your cover letter
should be addressed to a specific person whenever
indentifying information is available. Form
letters insult the reviewer's intelligence
and indicate that the writer is broadcasting
her resume to every employer or has not made
an effort to learn more about the company.
Generic/canned cover letters can lead to failure.
Even if you do not know the name of the recipient,
if you conduct basic research, you can customize
the cover letter to suit the position and
the company. Tell the reader that you are
interested in the company and the position,
and why. |
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| >>
More job search tips... |
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| The following
links point to pages with further advice on
resume writing. |
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|
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| Let's
talk about your resume. |
| Searching for
work is time consuming and unpleasant. Common
sense suggests that using a subpar resume
to apply for competitive jobs is a waste of
time. Whether you write your own resume or
employ a professional resume writer, you should
always present the best resume possible. |
|
| Contact
us today. |
| Let us use the
experience we have gained on the other side
of the fence to your advantage. We make experienced,
highly qualified engineers,
professionals
and executives
look even better. Your resume will come to
you custom-built, with the best guarantee
in the industry. |
| |
| Contact
us to discuss your options. |
|
| Should
you write your own resume? We think
not. |
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