THE WHARTON SCHOOL JOB SEARCH LETTERS • • •
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Job Search Letters Purpose of a Cover Letter What to do Before You Start Writing Competencies, Interests, and Values • Market Research • Outline Your Points Before You Write • The Structure of a Cover Letter Sample • A Good Cover Letter… Examples • Letters to Executive Search Firms Requests for an Informational Interview Thank-You Letters Commonly Asked Questions About Job Search Letters Conclusion Sample Letters First Contact • Request for an On Campus Interview • Following -up on a Referral • Following-up After a Meeting • Responding to an Advertisement/Job Posting • Requesting an Informational Interview • Letter to an Executive Search Firm • Post In terview Thank-you Letter • Resources
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JOB SEARCH LETTERS
For all but the most talented of writers, writing an effective cover letter is time consuming and frustrating. The number of people who who tell you you that your letters are never read contributes to the frustration of the process, process, not n ot to mention the th e varying opinions on letter format an d content. However, However, cover letters are an absolutely necessary part of the job search process. pr ocess. Ninety-five percent of employ employers ers will quickly quickly scan scan your resume befo before re deciding whether or not to even read your cover cover letter. So, you you may think, why even bother? Because, while your your resume may determine if your cover cover letter gets read, r ead, your cover cover letter then determines whether the reader’s interest is further piqued or diminished. There are many qualified applicants for every available job. A compelling compelling cover letter can be one of the things that differentiates you from the rest. Additionally, Additionall y, resumes sent without cover cover letters have a high probability of being discarded. The time-consuming process and doubt about real results of cover cover letters often lure job seekers seekers into the trap of conducting conducting mass mailings to firms firms using a minimally tailored form form letter. This effort effort will get you you nowhere fast. Mass mailings are very tempting because personal computers have made it easy and because it is a great way to feel as though you have been productive. However, However, your your chances chan ces of of reaping anything anythin g from this effort effort are minimal. You have put in very very little energy, enthusiasm or creativity. Why should should the employer employer believe anything other than th an that tha t you lack these three qualities? quali ties? If you you leave this section section of the guide with with nothing noth ing else, leave it knowing that unless unless you are a recognized expert in the field in which you are applying for jobs, your time is ABSOLUTELY better spent on the myriad job search activities discussed in this guide rather than on processing a mass mail campaign. campaign. Use the tips in this section to help you you create an effective, effective, thoughtful cover cover letter and th en tailor it to the employer employer or situation – it really can make all the difference. The vast majority of your job search letters will be cover letters applying for a specific job or asking for information. information. Therefore, the majority of this chapter chapter is devoted devoted to these. However, However, thank-you letters and letters requesting informational interviews are also covered briefly at the end of the section. Examples Exampl es of of different different styles of of letters are included in the sample section. PURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER •
A cover cover letter will not get you you a job. job. However, However, it might migh t get you you an interview, inter view, which takes you a step closer to getting a job.
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Networking Networking is one of the most effec effective tive ways ways to prepare for the job search and, indirectly or directly, is responsible for an extraordinarily high percentage of job seekers’ employment offers. offers. Most networking networking interactions int eractions require some sort sort of introduction; a cover letter often often serves as an introduction intr oduction to the employer or contact.
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A cover cover letter adds a personal touch to your resume and helps create a bridge between your past experience and what you you can contribute to an employe employerr in the th e future.
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The best resumes, resumes, like the best commercials, commercials, are short, to the point and get the reader’s attention. attenti on. However, However, this often requires requir es leaving off off valuable valuable details that may differentiate you from other applicants. The cover letter is the perfect perfect place to expand on your your accomplishments and experiences. Additionally, compelling an employer employer with your your knowledge of the industry/firm/function indu stry/firm/function is a great way to get an interview. inter view. The cover letter allows you to do this in a way that a resume never will.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU START WRITING
Career advisers can predict, with remarkable reliability, the people who will have the most difficulty difficulty changing careers. You may imagine that it is typically the individuals with work experience most dissimilar dissimilar to their target, but this is not the case. It is the individuals who who insist on skipping all or some of the steps below below.. So, to remind you you once again, not completing at least some rudimentary (the more the better, obviously) Competencies, Interests, and Values Analysis and Market Research is a sure-fire way to fail. Competencies, Interests, and Values Analysis It will be impossible for you to sell an employer on your skills and experience if you do not have a well considered inventory of your skills and how you have demonstrated them (see Chapter Three). Without a defined area of interest and a knowledge of how you fit in there, you will find cover letters extremely difficult to write and letters that compel the reader, almost impossible to produce. Market Research Once you know where you you want to work and have h ave defined what you have to offer, the n ext step is to research the industry, function, function, and firm BEFORE BEFORE you write to them (See Chapter Th ree). Knowing a firm’s structure, new businesses and profit drivers will allow you to determine which of your your skills and experiences you should should highlight. high light. It will also show show your your sincere interest in the th e industry industr y or firm. Extra effort really does count here. When applying for a specific specific position, position, obtaining obtainin g a job description is very helpful, but is often not available. Your assessment efforts efforts should include research on what skills people in the industry/function/firm have and what kinds of backgrounds backgrounds the firm typically typically seeks. seeks. Outline Your Points Before You Write Decide what you are going to say before you start writing. After you have finished your Market Research, structure this information into a list of the characteristics, skills, and experience the firm to whom you you are writing writin g is seeking. Then, Then , for each of these, list an example or two of how you you have demonstrated demonstra ted the skill, characteristic, charact eristic, or experience. Use this list to develop your your cover letter.
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THE STRUCTURE OF A COVER LETTER
Whether you are writing a letter to request an informational interview, or are writing to apply for a specific job, the structure of a cover letter is basically the same. Most le lette tters will ill hav havee thr threee bas basic ic sectio tions: ns:
#1) #1) W Who ho you are are and and why why you are are writi riting ng #2) What you have to offer the firm #3) Conclusion and indication of follow-up
The following provides a description of the sections and a sample layout of a basic cover letter. Date Mr. Out of Control Power Nap Company Cat Lane, NY 19856 Dear Mr. Control: Opening Paragraph: The first paragraph should be a short (two-four sentences) introduction to you. You should identify who you you are and indicate i ndicate why you you are writing. It is best to try to be specific specific in this thi s section so that the recruiter will know how to treat your your application. Simply saying saying that you you are interested in working for Walt Disney, for example, doesn’t give the recruiter much to go on considering the large number of divisions and positions at the firm. This paragraph is also the appropriate and ideal time to mention why you you are specifically interested interested in the t he firm. If your your interest in terest was piqued by a recent article arti cle you you read or you have been referred to the r eader by another person, it should be stated here. Middle Paragraph: The middle paragraph (sometimes -- but only with discretion-- two paragraphs) is the bulk of of a cov cover er letter. letter. This is the sec section tion in which which you you sell sell yourself yourself and where where you you link your your past past experiences to your your future performance. It is important to not n ot simply repeat repeat the information that th at you have on your resume, but to synthesize the information in formation and introduce experiences experiences and skills that make you you qualified for the particular job for which you you are applying. Sometimes Sometimes this means going in to detail about projects projects which which gave you you applicable applicable experience experience but are are not detailed detailed enough enough on your your resume resume to make that that clear. This section can can be in paragraph form, in bullet points or presented as a skills summary. Conclusion: This part of the letter usually reiterates your interest in the firm and indicates the action you are expecting or that the recruiter should expect. If you you are truly interested in a position, you should should never “leave the ball ball in their court.” End the letter thanking the recruiter for for his or her consideration consideration and indicate that you will call in a few days to discuss discuss employment employment opportunities. If you you are seeking employment employment in a city in which you you do not currently live and you are planning a trip there, make sure you mention this here.
Sincerely,
Joe Job Seeker Enclosure
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A GOOD COVER LETTER .... •
Is addressed to a specific person , preferably a person in the department in which you want to work. work. Letters addressed to to 'Dear Sir', 'Dear Madam', Madam', or 'Dear Gentle Person' Person' are very likely to end up in the circular file. If you you are applying for for a job and no contact name has ha s been been given, go out of your way way to find find out to whom you should write. Call the th e firm and ask for the name na me of the head of the department departm ent in which the position is located. located. If that doesn’t work, see if the firm firm has a Web Page that lists department heads or find an article about the firm in which senior people are mentioned. Don’t forget about Wharton alumni. alumni. Alumni who work at the firm firm are an essential source of of information. informati on. Even if they don’t work work in the area ar ea of interest inter est to you, they have inside information about the culture of the firm and can, usually, at the very least, tell you to whom you you should write about about opportunities opportunities in a particular department. Also, Also, remember that there are associations for almost everything and their directories often include the names of their members. These can be useful in finding contact names within firms. If you you are responding responding to an ad that does not give the name of the firm, much less the n ame of a contact, your best best bet is to address the letter to Dear Hiring Officer or Human Resources Professional. Professional. If you you are applying for a specific position, and Human Resources is listed as the contact, still make every effort to find a person you you can write to within the department. Then, write to both HR and directly to the person person within the department.
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Is one page. Clear, concise cover letters indicate your ability to be so in other other business situation s. If you are applying for a specific job and you feel that a detailed discussion of highly related work experience will increase your chances of being hired, a page and a half cover letter may be used judicious judiciously. ly.
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Is not simply a repeat of the information in your resume . A good good cover cover letter synthesizes synthesizes the information on your resume, draws on applicable experiences, and provides detail that the resume does not. “ As you you can see see from from my resume” is an overused and unnecessary phrase that is doomed to providing providing information that the reader already has.
Repeat from resume As you can see from the enclosed resume, I worked at XYZ bank for th three years and am currently a Consulting Manager at Little Rock Consulting firm. Both of this experience has given me the opportunity to hone my analytical and managerial skills and would allow me to to con tr tribute im immediately to your fi fir m. m.
Better synthesis from resume While at XYZ Bank I was chosen to participate in a committee charged with reengineering our 75 member department. This was an invaluable experience that involved high-level strategic as well as operational decision making. The committee’s findings led to a completely new or ga gan iz ization al al st str uc uctur e which I assisted in implementing. I truly enjoyed enjoyed the strategic strategic and problem solving nature of this position, and this led me to a change of careers into consulting. .
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Does not overuse personal pronouns . It’s hard to write write a cover cover letter discussing discussing YOUR qualifications qualifications and an d YOUR experiences experiences without overusing overusing the words I or my. However, However, no more than 50%, and 25% is much better, of your sentences should begin with a personal pronoun. Fixing this can be as simple simple as restructuring restructuring your your sentences. sentences.
Overused personal pronouns
Better phrasing
I have eight years experience in business development development in which I increased my companies client base by 50%. I have led multiple projects for which I had P& L responsibility and managed up to twenty people. I also have expertise in accounting systems systems which I believe will be useful useful to your department as you undergo the change in systems that Ms. Dilworth and I discussed over the phone.
While at Ximex Corp., I have increased the company’s client base by 50% as Manager of Business Development. Development. The multiple projects that I have led included P&L responsibility as well as managin g up to twenty people. people. Additionally, several of the projects I worked on at my previous previous employer employer involved implementing accounting systems, systems, which I understand from Ms. Dilbert, your department is about to undergo.
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point out your weaknesses. weaknesses. Job descriptions descriptions are Emphasizes your strengths . It does not point written for ideal candid candidates ates who rarely, rar ely, if ever, ever, actually exist. Don’t get hung up on the qualifications qualifications you you don’t have, ha ve, and for goodness sake, don’t point th em out! Emphasizing the weakness Although I do not have any consumer products marketing experience, I have many of the other qualifications you seek. Through completion of a two year field sales training program I gained first-hand knowledge of……..
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Emphasizing the strength Through completion of a two-year field sales program, I gained first hand knowledge of the intricate links between sales functions and those of brand management. This experience …….
effective Is tailored to your reader . One of the most important rules in creating an effective marketing marketin g campai campaign gn is "know your audience". The cover cover letter is no exception. exception. The more evident it is that you know about the firm, the job and the industry, the more seriously you will be taken as a candidate. candid ate. Additionally, Additionall y, the more you you know, the easier it will will be able to determine which parts of your experience you should highlight.
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Does not tell the reader what he or she already knows. Be careful of tone in cover letters. Often Often writers, in an attempt a ttempt to show knowledge knowledge about an ar ea, come across as know-it-alls know-it-alls or preaching to the th e choir. Use the knowledge knowledge you you have to convince the reader of your your fit with the firm rather than th an trying to display your your knowledge through factoids. By all means avoid ending a paragraph with….'and with….'a nd this is why I feel feel I am a good good fit with the firm'. Let the reader decide that.
Example of ineffectively ineffectively using what you know. The consulting industry is one of the fastest growing service industries in the country and good consultants need to be quick on their feet and require strong analytical and problem solving skills. I have demonstrated these skills through…
Example Examp le of using what you know to compel
I have been most successful successful in high growth and fast-paced environments. This is one of the reasons that I am interested in the consulting industry. During the take-over of my most recent employer, employer, I was selected to solve several strategic problems involving……
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Is well-written, free of grammatical and typographical error, and makes a professional presentation. The cover letter letter is a representation of your your professio professionalism nalism and attention to detail. Most people people are not good at proofing their own work work -- have at least one other person review your your document. ("Spell check" does does not count as another person!)
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Indicates how and when you will follow up. Never leave the ball in the employer’s employer’s court. Always indicate indi cate when you plan to follow-up follow-up and do so without without fail. You should make at least three phone calls before you even begin to feel as though you have followed-up diligently.
LETTERS TO EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS
Letters to executive search firms do not n ot necessarily need to be tailored th e way other cover letters do. You should do some preliminary research to find find the firms that specialize in the level of position position you you are seeking and in the industries in which you you are interested. Once you you have done done this you can send a general broadcast letter. This letter should indicate indicat e the level level of the position that you are seeking, the type of position you are interested in, and a brief summary of your experience experien ce or outline of your your most impressive accomplishments. accomplishm ents. If you you are 100% positive that tha t you will only accept positions in a certain geographical area or within a particular salary range, you you can indicate your preference in this letter. It is best not to do this, however, however, if you you are not certain as it will naturally limit the number of opportunities for which you will be considered.
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REQUESTS FOR AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
At the heart of any networking effort is the information interview (also called networking meetings) as discuss discussed ed in the Market Research Research chapter (Chapter Three) T hree) of this guide. guide. Letters Letters regarding informational interviewing can be correspondence requesting a meeting or can simply inform the reader that tha t you you will be be contactin contacting g him or her and why. The emphasis of this type type of letter should be a discussion of your Market Research efforts, your desire for an exchange of information, and how h ow you you came to be be aware of this person person as a contact. You can include some brief information about about yourself yourself but but this is NOT a sell letter. letter. Resumes Resumes do not belong belong in this type of correspondence. correspondence. Remember, Remember, the end result of networking networking is good, substantive information. information. This, in turn, if done properly, substantially increases the likelihood of job offers but this is the desired byproduct of an informational interview, NOT the actual purpose of the event. THANK-YOU LETTERS
People often often question question the neces n ecessity sity and appropriateness of thank you you letters. Of course, course, a thank than k you letter is always appropriate. Whether or not it is a necessity can be debated, but but do not overlook overlook the impact that a thoughtful, timely thank you letter can have. The most common common question question asked about "thank you" letters letters is whether they should be typed typed or hand-written. This is partially dependent dependent on the industry in which you you are seeking seeking a position; position; however, however, it is almost almost always best to err on the side of doing what is typical for for business transactions. It is highly unlikely that a person will find a typed letter inappropriate, especially if the text is personalized, but some some may feel feel that a handwritten letter lacks profes professionalism sionalism.. If you you are thanking a contact that has been particularly helpful to you along the way or someone with whom you have made a personal connection, connection, you you may wish wish to hand write your your thank than k you you letters; this is really a matter of personal style. style. If you met with multiple people during a visit to a firm, you should thank everyone who took time out of their day to meet meet with you. you. Do not ask the most senior level level person to thank his or her staff for you and definitely do not write thank you letters to senior people and ignore the more junior people. people. Never Never make assumptions about about how much power power a person has in the decision decision to hire you. Make a point, whenever possible, possible, to make notes n otes right after each interview about the topics you discussed with with your interviewer. inter viewer. This will help you personalize personal ize your your letters. Make sure to keep these notes because often often the wait between your your interviews inter views and job offer offer can be lengthy. lengt hy. Keeping up a correspondence with with the people you you met is a great way to keep you you in their thoughts. though ts. For example, send a brief note along with a copy of an article about a topic you and your interviewer discussed. E-mail is a standard part of everyday business life, and is an appropriate way to send a "thank you" letter. It is recommended that if you send an electronic "thank you" letter that you follow up with a hard har d copy letter as well. As always, always, one must take cues from from the company. To a high tech firm, email might be the only way way to correspond. More important, in a quick turnaround turnar ound
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situation, a well placed "thank you" e-mail immediately following the interview can make a difference. Timely and personal "thank-you" letters indicate your enthusiasm for the position and say something about your ability to follow-up. follow-up. While this is unlikely to be enough to convince someone to hire you if your interview didn’t go well, it can differentiate you if you are one of the top few candidates. COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT JOB SEARCH LETTERS
Below Below is a list of the most common questions about cover letters an d recommendations on how to handle han dle them. The list is provided in hopes of easing some of your your nagging naggin g concerns. Please keep keep in mind, however, that many of these questions are the result of putting an emphasis on the wrong piece of the cover cover letter campaign. campaign . It is easy to obsess obsess over over the color of the paper or the th e format of the cover cover letter instead of putting time into the research and writing that make a cover letter truly effective. It is hoped that th ese responses to some some of the more common issues will help you spend more time on on creating a quality qualit y written document. Additionally, there is a fine fine line between between appropriateness appropri ateness and expressing personal style. Just like most most things in life, cover cover letters are open open to interpretation and for every person you find that believes you should do something one way, you will find another anoth er who believes believes the opposite. The most importan t factor is that you know what is acceptable within the industries to which you are applying and that you feel comfortable with your presentation. quali ty paper that tha t fits into your your What type of paper should I use? You should use a high quality budget budget and that you find find appealing. Watermarked Watermarked paper is not necessary necessary - in fact, keep keep in mind the capability of your printer when you are choosing the thickness thickn ess of of the paper. Matching Matchin g envelopes, resume, and cover cover letter paper make a professional professional presentation. presenta tion. It is almost always a good idea to err on the conservative side and use white, cream, or a ligh t gray stationery. If presentation is so important, doesn’t it make sense for me to send my resume in an 8.5 x 11 envelope so it doesn’t arrive with creases? You may do this if you wish. However, However, hiring hirin g managers are used to receiving correspondence in a traditional letter envelope, and it is unlikely that creases will be a differentiating factor. If my printer doesn’t do envelopes, is it OK if I hand-write the address on the envelope? Typed is always better better as this is standard standar d operating business busin ess practice. However, However, it is likely that the person to whom you addressed your your letter will not be the person who opens the envelope. If you REALLY have no way to access a printer that will print on envelopes (most copy shops could probably probably help you you out) then pr int out the address on a paper that is the th e same color color as the th e envelope and tape it neatly to the envelope. In what format should my cover letter be? A quick look look at any cover letter manual will show you that there th ere is a diversity of acceptable styles and formats. Business letter format is typically typically block block rather than indented paragraph, and an d unless you you are writing a letter letter to a personal contact, contact, it is better to stick stick with business letter format. format. In the last decade or so it has become acceptable to
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put your return address addr ess on on the th e bottom bottom underneath undern eath your name or as a header as you would would on your resume. Some people people prefer to have all address information on the left, some on the right. Pick a format you you are most comfortable comfortable with and stick to it. It is appropriate to indicate that you have included other documents documents with the letter by printing “Enclosure” at th e bottom of the th e cover letter underneath your name. What do I do if an advertisement requests salary requirements? There is a calculated risk you take with either option to this dilemma. Until you have had the opportunity opportun ity to ask specific questions about the position, it is unlikely that you have enough information to know the market value of the job or how much your experience is worth to the firm. Unless you you are absolutely unwilling to entertain an employment offer that is less than a certain salary, it is not a good idea to provide employ employers ers with salary requirements requirements at this stage. In some cases, cases, however, however, you you might be pulled from consideration consideration if you you do not provide the requested requested information. You have to decide decide what the safer risk is: taking yourself out of the running by pricing yourself out of the job or low balling yourse yourself, lf, or not providing providing the information information and being omitted omitted from from consideration. consideration. The more experience you have that is directly related to the job, job, the th e more likely you are to get away with not providing the information. Another option for handling han dling this issue is to reiterate your your strong interest inter est in the position and indicating indicatin g that salary salar y is negotiable. If you you feel feel compelled to at least partially comply, provide a salary range and make it a wide one.
CONCLUSION
The time commitment involved in developing tailored, thoughtful cover letters is significant, but it really does pay off off.. Good resumes, cover cover letters, and follow-through follow-through are ar e bound to get results -- interviews. The next chapter will provide an in-depth look at the interview process.
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SAMPLE LETTERS The following letters have been provided to you as a guide. They are especially helpful in providing a sense of appropriate flow and tone. Obviously Obviously,, borrowing borrowing liberally from the th e text of any of of these letters is counter-pr counter-productive oductive and inappropria ina ppropriate. te. Additionally, Additiona lly, tone tone and form in cover letters are high ly related to your own own personal style. A number of samples have been provided to get you started, but these are not meant to be taken as “the” way to approach cover letter writing. There are myriad of other resources in which you can find letters suited to your particular job search situation. Additional resources are listed at the end of of this section. Please note that the cover letters provided here represent the American style of cover letter writing. It would would be impossible impossible to provide examples of letters representing representi ng the norm for all the cultures in which which Wharton Whar ton students and alumni seek jobs. jobs. Knowing what is appropriate appropri ate for for the culture in which you are seeking a job is an imperative part of your Market Research efforts.
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Sample Cover Letter - First Contact
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Ms. Jane Nick V.P., Recruiting Bear, Steams & Co., Inc. 300 Park Avenue New York, NY 10167 Dear Ms. Nick: I am very interested inter ested in becoming becoming a member of the team at Bear Bear Steams. Before Before obtaining my MBA from Wharton, I worked my way through college selling books books door-to-door door-to-door with the Southwestern Compan Company. y. During Durin g my five years with with Southwestern, Southwestern , I consistently consistentl y placed as a top top salesperson in the nation and an d successfully successfully managed manag ed large sales sales organ organizations. izations. In order to prepare for a career in investment banking, in 1992 I moved to Chicago and earned a position with Houlipan Lowkey & Zufin through a self-initiated self-initi ated job search. My two years years with Houlipan Lowkey Lowkey provided me with with first-hand first-han d experience in the financial advisory business. business. In addition, by following a self-initiated study schedule, I passed both the CPA exam and the first two levels of the CFA exams. I would like to pursue my interests at Bear Steams in sales and trading and feel confident that my perseverance perseverance,, sales skills, skills, and financial expertis expertisee will will make me a contributo contributor. r. At the end of the month I will be in New York City and would appreciate being able to meet with you at that time. I will call you you on Tuesday to see if there ther e is a convenien convenientt time for us to meet. Thank Tha nk you for for your time. I look look forward forward to meeting meeting you. Sincerely,
Joe Knows Enclosure
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Sample Cover Letter - First Contact
Date Ms. Diane Recruiter 10 Palm Lane India, FL 78652 Dear Ms. Recruiter: After nine years of experience in the real estate industry, I have come to appreciate the essential role financing plays in each stage of a complete business cycle, and the tremendous opportunities that are available to those with with access to capital. capital. I plan to work for for a firm that tha t has the resources to take advantage of these opportunities. opportunities. I believe believe that BNK is one of these firms. firms. I will bring the following skills to your company: • • • •
Extensive experience in financial analysis, debt, and equity financing Understanding of value and operation of real estate through ha nds-on experience. experience. Work experience as a broker, developer, contractor, consultant and owner. Experience writing investment packages and leading project teams.
I am eager to discuss my interest in your firm with you and will call your assistant early next week to determine a convenient time for me to call you. you. I look forward forward to our discussion. discussion. Sincerely,
Lou Talles Enclosure
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Sample Cover Letter - First Contact
Date Ms. Diane Sharp Fluke Investments Domestic Equity Services 82 Devon Street Boston, MA 02109 Dear Ms. Sharp: I have a tremendous tremend ous passion passion for equity markets. In the past, I have invested in First Investments because because it is the most most renowned renowned mutual fund organization organization in the th e world world with the finest finest managed portfolio portfolio funds. Now, Now, I would like to join join the best and am confident that I can convince you you that I can make an immediate contribution to Fluke. My refined analytical and communication skills and enthusiasm for and fascination with the market make me an ideal candidate for this position. position. At Blook Blook Bank, Bank, I analyzed ana lyzed the mortgage industry and valued our competitors business to convince management to further invest in the division. In my previous experience at Priceless Water, Water, I developed developed numerous client presentations and regularly regular ly interacted with with client management. mana gement. Since I began began actively investing investing in my own own portfolio, portfolio, I have been been intrigued by the stock stock market. Through these activities activities I have confirmed confirmed that I want to make a career out of what has ha s been a serious hobby. hobby. With my distinct interest in equity research and related experience, I am certain that I can make an immediate immediat e impact at Fluke. I would would appreciate the opportunity opportuni ty to furth further er discuss my qualifications qualification s with you. you. I will be be in Boston Boston at the end of the month and an d would most most appreciate a short meeting. meeting . I will call you you next week to schedule a time that is convenient for you. you. Sincerely,
Jake Nook
Enclosure
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Sample Cover Letter - Request for On-Campus Interview
Date Mr. Hector Fahrquarson Dewey, Dewey, Cheatum Ch eatum and a nd Howe th 123 45 Street New York, NY 10001 Dear Mr. Fahrquarson: I am a First Year MBA student at The T he Wharton School who would would like to be considered for for your Investment Trading Tradin g interview schedule on February 2, 2000. Having had the chan chance ce to learn more about DC&H through your presentations and 'brown bag' lunches this semester really piqued my interest in the firm. firm. Your growing growing presence in in the emerging debt equity equity market is exciting to me because it is a field in which I would like to work. My experience in sales strengthened my powers of observation and communication, as well as teaching me the value of anticipation anticipa tion and decisiveness. decisiveness. These are all attributes I have learn learned ed that a good Investment Investment Trader possesses. I feel feel that I am honing my quantitative quantitati ve and analytical skills in the coursework coursework at Wharton. I find find it challenging challengi ng and most enjoyable. enjoyable. I look look forward forward to a long career as an Investment Investment Trader. I would appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the team at Dewey, Cheatum and Howe next summer. I look look forward forward to speaking speaking with you you or your your representative on February 2. In the interim, please feel free to call me with any questions. Sincerely,
Lester L. Price Enclosure
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Sample Cover Letter - Following up on a Referral
3514 Lancaster Avenue Avenue, #318 Philade hiladelphi lphia a, PA 19104 Date Ms. Rachel Brown Coordinator University Relations N abco, Incorpora I ncorporate ted d 2 Forest Avenue Hanover, N J 07936 Dear Ms. Brown: Last Thursd Thursda ay, I had the opportunity opportunity to disc discus uss s opportuniti opportunitie es at Na N abco with Shelia lia J une, a fellow fellow alumna of the Wharton rton School. School. I sought Ms. Ms. June J une out because use for some tim time I have have bee been impre pressed with your fi firm’s products products and it’s it’s aggressive marke rketing ting technique techniques. I wante nted to know know more ore about what it it is is like like to work work at Na N abco. What What I found most appealing ling about the infor inform mation tion Ms. June J uneshared with ith meis that Na N abco off of fers significa significant nt re responsibi sponsibilility ty whil while e also providing providing a very team-ori oriented, educationtion-ri rich ch enviro nvironm nme ent. I am very inte interested rested in being apart part of N abco and feel that I have a great deal to off offer you. My four four years of of work work experience riencein marketin rketing g and ope operation rations s has allowed me to refi refine my leadership rship and analyti nalytica cal skil skills, along with my abil bilities ities to thi think nk strategically. ically. In In my current positi position on as Bra Brand Ma Manager at Pri Prig ggle & Gob G obbi bie e, I havemanaged multipl tiple e product product launches and havebeen rewarded for for myabil bility to meet deadli dlines and supervise pervise cross-f cross-functi unctional onal groups. groups. I havebeen prom promoted four four tim times in fi five years. I am intere interested in in appl applying ying my marketing rketing experti rtiseto N abco’s bco’s products. I feel that my my combina bination tion of experie riences will will allow low me to be be immediately productive productive and to to make a signifi significant long-term long-term contri contributi bution on at N Na abco. I would be ple pleased to have an opportuni opportunity ty to further discu discuss my qualif lification ication with you in person. I will will call you next next week to arra rrangea mutually convenient convenient tim time to meet. Thank you for for your tim time and considerati consideration. on. Sincerely,
Betty Lou Broom Enclosure
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Sample Cover Letter - Following up on a Referral
Zeek Drambuie 19 Oak Lane Cincinnati, OH 34543 Date Ms. Pat Stilles Partner HC Consulting 21 Yells Dr. Chicago, IL 23453 Dear Ms. Stilles: I was given your name by Charles Schrabner, an acquaintance of mine, who suggested I write to you you regarding regardin g my interest in the healthcare healthcar e consulting division of your firm. firm. During my four years years providing providing and managing health care delivery delivery,, I have gained gained insights into how hospitals hospitals,, like many businesses, businesses, attempt attempt to deal with with changes, such as adverse regulation, regulation, increasing costs, costs, and consolidation consolidation pressures. pressures. I would would like to use use this expertise expertise in a consultant’s role. I am attracted attra cted to consulting because I thrive on problem solving, insist on new challenges on a regular basis, love to travel and have a true passion passion for for helping multiple healthcare health care organizations run more efficiently. efficiently. I am specifically interested in your firm because of its sterling reputation in the healthcare industry. I have the analytic, creative problem solving talents, and interpersonal skills essential to an effective effective consultan consultant. t. For example, as a team leader of of several several health care car e research teams, I creatively enhanced research efficacy by improving accuracy (20% percent increase) through implementation of new administrative admini strative procedures and written guidelines. I managed a great deal of change within my department while establishing productive and satisfying relationships with department departmen t heads, as well well as with peers and technicians. techni cians. I have a broad based healthcare health care background that would allow me to contribute immediately immediately to your your client’s projects. I am sincerely interested in becoming a member of your your team. I will call you you on Wednesday to arrange a time when it would be convenient for us to further discuss my qualifications.
Sincerely,
Zeek Drambuie Enclosure Sample Cover Letter - Following Up After Meeting 81
2 Bark Lane Embarcadaro, CA 19874 Date Mr. Dean Fells Senior Vice President Deffo Company 234 High Street San Francisco, CA 19876 Dear Mr. Fells: I enjoyed meeting you at the National Marketing Association Conference and discussing our views concerning the people skill s required to successfully handle clients and address their needs. We spoke about challenging opportunities offered offered in your Marketing Division, and I would like to reiterate my interest in working for you. As a founder founder of the Marketing Marketing and Client Service Department Department for for Deffo Company, Company, I created a marketing strategy for the firm, directed administrative procedures, and designed new services services for our customers. customers. In carrying out these activities, I demonstrated demonstrated the innovativeness which which exemplifies Deffo. Furthermore, Furthermore, these responsibilities sharpened my skills in dealing with cli ents’ needs, personalities, and specific demands. demands. I understand the vital role sensitivity to the marketplace marketplace has played in Deffo’s ability to acquire and maintain its leadership position in its i ts Middle Market and I feel my background displays the skills you are looking for. May I take you up on your your kind offer to visit you? I would welcome welcome the opportunity to further discuss my my interest and experience experience in greater detail. I will call you at the end of the week to determine when a meeting would be most convenient for you. Sincerely,
Anita Jobs
Enclosure Cover Letter - Responding to an Advertisement / Job Posting
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Date Ms. Gabriele Greene Vice President, Investment Investment Banking FBS Corporation Park Plaza New York, NY 1055 Dear Ms. Greene: I read with great interest your advertisement for a new member of your investment banking team in the December 1, xxxx Wall Street Journal . I am impressed with FBS Corporation’s leadership position in the Global Investment Banking industry and would like to pursue a career with your organization. As a business business engineer who who has been fascinated fascinated with with and involved in advising clients and structuring financial solutions that satisfy their needs, an organization such as FBS would provide a rich and fertile environment environment for my diverse skills. My various professional and academic experiences experiences have prepared me well for an active role in i n an Investment Banking team. My engineering engineer ing background provided me with strong quantitative and analytical skills. skills. By founding a company company,, I have honed my entrepreneurial skills and have gotten sound and concrete experience in risk analysis. I am intrigued by the many innovative financial solutions that continue to drive the industry, and am excited excited about being involved in tackling challenging projects in a team environment. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my experience and interest in FBS in greater detail. I plan to be be in New York City in January. I will call you at at the beginning of the month to arrange arrange a meeting. I wish you a pleasant and healthy healthy holiday season and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your consideration. consider ation. Sincerely,
Estelle Star
Enclosure Cover Letter - Responding to an Advertisement / Job Posting
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Date Mr. Allan Driek Vice President Dake Company 112 Lake Street Detroit, MI 23453 Dear Mr. Driek: I am replying to your advertisement advertisement for a Senior Consultant in your transportation practice. As the following highlights, my experience experience matches matches this position’s requirements: YOUR REQUIREMENTS REQUIREMENTS
MY QUALIFICATIONS QUALIFICATIONS
2-6 years experience in the transportation or related field.
4 years experience at the second largest shipping company in the U.S.
Function ional ex experie rience in strategic plan lanning ing, logistics, finance, operations, marketing.
Complet leted 3 year rotation ional program covering all of these areas. Since completion of program, spent 1 year specializing in Financial Planning and 3 in Logistics/Operations.
Strong analytical, communication communication and computer skills.
MBA in Finance from Wharton, extensive experience in client relationship/development, knowledge of multiple computer computer speadsheet packages.
I have greatly enjoyed my years at FBS Shipping but fi nd the idea of using what I have learned about this dynamic industry in an ever-changing client environment appealing. The enclosed resume resume outlines my experience experience to date. I believe that there is a terrific match between between my my qualifications and your needs. I’d like to take the opportunity to discuss this with you in person and will call you in a few days to set up a meeting. Sincerely, John Doe Enclosure Sample Cover Letter - Requesting an Informational Interview
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Date Mr. Smith Titl Title Address Dear Mr. Smith: During uring my research rch about the the effective ctiveness of direct direct mailing I came across cross your name as aleader in in assisti ssisting ng companie nies with direct direct mail marketing. rketing. Currentl Currently y I work at at a small cosmetics tics firm irm. One of my recent proj projects ects was assisting ssisting in the the developm opment of of a dir direct mail systemto potenti potentia al customers. Thi This project piqued my interest in dire irect mail and I wo would like ike to applymy previous marketing ing experie rience to helping helping firms firms better utili utilize ze this dynamic marketing rketing tool. tool. As I beg begin my job job search in thi this area, I am gathering thering as much inf infor orm mation tion and advice, advice, as possible possible and I know I could greatly tly bene beneffit fro from m your experie rience and knowledge. I will will be in Connecticut Connecticut in in the next two weeks; perhaps wecould could meet bri briefly. I would would value any advice dvice you can give me on resume developm opment and fi firms that might be iintereste nterested in in my qualification tions s and appre apprecia ciate any amount of of tim time you can give me. I will will call your off office next next week to see if there is a convenient convenient tim time for us to meet. Sincerely, Joan Carter Enclosure
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Sample Cover Letter to an Executive Search Firm
Date Ms. Executive Recruiter Spindel, Way and Likey Address Dear Ms. Recruiter: I am seeking seeking a senior management level position in finan finance. ce. I understand that your firm firm specializes in placing executives in the financial arena. a rena. Perhaps one of your your clients has a need for an executive with the following to offer: •
•
• •
Twelve years experience in finance, with expertise in acquisition analysis, corporate accounting, financial reporting systems and broad-based financial management Eight years of management experience, leading groups of up to 45 and supervising up to 30 employees Experience in the financial management of down-sizing and mergers An MBA in finance from the Wharton School
I currently report to the CFO at DFR Corporation Corporation and there is little upward movement. movement. I enjoy working working for DFR but I am ready for new challenges and am prepared to be a CFO or the equivalent. equivalent . If one one of your current or future clients has a need for for someone with with my experience it would be be my pleasure to hear from you. you. I can be reached confidentially through my voice mail at (222) 111-1111. I look forward forward to hearing h earing from you. you.
Sincerely,
Jill Waters Enclosure
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Thank - You Letter - After Interview
Date Mr. Bill Bob BYOB Company 1234 Nob Rd.
Dear Mr. Bob: Thank Than k you for for the time you took to meet meet with me on Monday. I was truly energized by our conversation. The people that I met during my visit visit and your your description of the firm and the position position have ha ve convinced convinced me that BYOB Company Company is the place for for me. I hope that I also left you you convinced that I can make an immediate contribution. In addition to my six years of marketing experience that we discussed in detail, I did not have an opportunity to mention that I received an award for implementing Didbob Company’s first direct mail campaign that is credited with with a 25% increase in the company’s sales. I know that BYOB does not currently engage in direct mail marketing but after our conversation about the firm I think thin k it is an excellent candidate candi date for this venue. I would would love the opportunity opportunit y to share my knowledge with you. As you can tell, I am very interested in this position, and would like to be a member of the BYOB team. If I can provide you you with any furth further er information about my candidacy, please do not hesitate to contact contact me. I look forward forward to hearing hearin g from you. you. Sincerely,
Joan Tell Enclosure
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RESOURCES
Job Search Letters That Get Results, Results, Ronald Ronald and Caryl Caryl Krannich. Krannich. 1995 Cover Letters Letters That Knock ‘em ‘em Dead, Martin Martin Yate. 1992 Knock ‘em ‘em Dead: The Ultimate Job Job Seekers Seekers Handbook, Handbook, Martin Yate. 1995 The Perfect Cover Letter, Letter, Richard Beatty. Beatty. 1989 Cover Letters That Will Get You th e Job You Want, Stan Wynett, Wynett, 1993 201 Killer Cover Lette Letters, rs, Sandra Sandr a Podesta & Andrea Paxton, 1996 http://www.golden.net/~archeus/covle http://www.golden.net/~archeus/covlet.htm#Guide t.htm#Guide – Archeus Cover Cover Letter Resources. Resources. On-line advice and sample cover letters.
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