Technical Cover Letter-Example

E-Mail Cover Letter-Tips

Just as certain secrets can help you write a dynamic cover letter, there are also key strategies for sending email cover letters. Here are those strategies.

Don't waste your subject line. Don't ever leave the subject line of your email blank, but don't waste it by just inserting the job number. Instead, use the subject line to entice the reader into your cover letter. For example, for a director of nursing position, say something such as: "experienced nurse for director of nursing position."

Your opening paragraph is critical. More than ever, your first paragraph has to be dynamic; you need to both hook the reader and then sell him or her on your abilities in that first paragraph. See the sample letter (see link below) for a dynamic email opening paragraph.

Keep your cover letter short. Brevity is critical with an email cover letter. Focus on your key selling points. Most experts say that at most, your cover letter should be two to three paragraphs -- and under 150 words. The idea is that your cover letter should not be any longer than one screen in length.

Take advantage of keywords. Use keywords pertinent to the job you are seeking, and focus on key industry buzzwords and critical skills sets. Noun phrases become more important than action verbs. Because your cover letter may be filed into a database, using critical keywords will enhance the likelihood that your cover letter and resume will be retrieved in a future search.

Check your line length. Make sure your lines are no more than 60 characters in length. Some email packages automatically do word wrap for you (much like word processing software), but you should check. You don't want your cover letter to arrive fragmented on multiple lines.

Always use standard cover letter protocol. Just because it's an email, doesn't mean you should abandon standard business letter writing guidelines. Thus, make sure to include a salutation (Dear Ms. Smith) and a standard closing (such as "sincerely"). Leave blank lines between paragraphs. And avoid the use of emoticons, abbreviations, wild colors, and other cool techniques and shortcuts used in everyday emails.

Don't bother with attachments (unless requested to do so). Some companies actually block all emails with attachments; thus, your email would never even be received if you used an attachment.

Effective Cover Letter

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.

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.

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.

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.

Facts of Cover Letter

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.

Important facts you should know about cover letters if you would like to succeed in your job search:

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.

Thank You Letter after Interview

Thank You Letter after Interview

Mr. John Smith,

New York,

Dear Mr. Smith,

I thank you for the opportunity to interview me for the position of a senior Software Engineer. I appreciate your work culture and enjoyed meeting you and members of your staff.

The interview gave me a chance to gauge how compatible my background, interest, and skill-sets are with the goals of Adroit Web Solutions. As we discussed during the interview, my experience as an Associate Software Engineer in ABS, has prepared me well for anticipating, analyzing and resolving logical problems in all areas application development and deployment.

Enclosed along with is the copy of my experience certificates from my last employer. You can contact Mr. Dave Manning, my present employer for want of any clarifications.

I look forward to seeing you again.

Sincerely,

XYZ

Salary Negotiation Before Joining-Letter

Salary Negotiation Before Joining

Mr. John Smith,

New York,

NY 12345-6789.

Dear Mr. Smith,

From our meeting and phone conversations, I got the privilege to know your company in detail. I am very excited by the prospect of working for National Solutions. Your core development team is among the most impressive I have met in my job search. Your company ethics are clean and your work force efficient.

In short, I am eager to accept your offer and begin working for National Solutions. However, I should be telling you that I have received another offer of employment with Regional Solutions, NY. While everything at your company holds a greater opportunity for me, and my career, I must tell you that they have offered a salary $5000/annum higher than your offer.

Instead of accepting their offer immediately, I wanted to reaffirm my interests in National Solutions and express my hope that we can come to terms on this matter and begin our happy association as soon as possible.

I eagerly await your response.

Sincerely,

XYZ,

Cover Letter Example

Dear Mr. Smith,

I learned of Solutions through online research using the CareerSearch database through Career Services at Virginia Tech where I am completing my Master's degree in Computer Engineering. From my research on your web site, I believe there would be a good fit between my skills and interests and your needs. I am interested in a software engineering position upon completion of my degree in May 2003.

As a graduate student, I am one of six members on a software development team where we are writing a computer aided aircraft design program for National Space Center. My responsibilities include designing, coding, and testing of a graphical portion of the program for graphics input and output. I have a strong background in computer aided design, software development, and engineering, and believe that these skills would benefit the designing and manufacturing aspects of Template software. Enclosed is my resume which further outlines my qualifications.

My qualifications make me well suited to the projects areas in which your division of Solutions is expanding efforts. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss a position with you, and will contact you in a week or ten days to answer any questions you may have and to see if you need any other information from me such as a company application form or transcripts.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Richard Anderson,

Enclosures:

1. Resume - myresume.doc

Cover Letters for IT Jobs-Example 1

Cover Letter for IT Jobs

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing with reference to your advertisement in the local Employment News magazine for want of a Software Developer. I consider that my credentials and interests match with your requirement and want to apply for the same.

Presently I am deputed as an assistant at ABC for the last two years. During these years I have acquired a very good knowledge of Web technologies (Perl CGI, PHP). My responsibility includes providing back end support for the distributed applications and guiding new trainees through their jobs.

Although I am enjoying my present job, I am looking out for new opportunities in the same field. I will be contacting you on friday, 12th March, to arrange a personal meeting and discuss the prospect.
Regards,

Richard Anderson.

Enclosures:1. Resume - myresume.doc

Writing a Good Cover Letter

Writing a Good Cover Letter Most cover letters follow the same basic format, but a lot of people need help with cover letters. First, they should be addressed properly at the top, with the name of the person you are writing to, their title, company name, and address. You should also include the date and and RE: (reference) marks as needed, ie, if there was some prior contact or a specific job code you are supposed to mention. Your salutation should be professional.

In your opening paragraph, you should quickly highlight why you are writing - any personal references or contacts you may have that directed you to the company, any special qualifications or experience that make you the perfect candidate for the job, etc. Keep the first paragraph short and to the point - 3 or 4 sentences at most.

The main body of your cover letter should then expound upon the introduction and go into more detail as to your background, education, experience, special industry contacts, and any examples you might provide of your skills or talents that apply to this job. You should try to keep a cover letter to one page, so your body should be perhaps one longer paragraph or two smaller ones - you don't need to spell out your life story here, as there will be plenty to talk about in the personal interview if your cover letter is successful. In the final paragraph, be sure to request an interview or whatever the next step would be, tell them the best way to contact you, and thank the reader for their time. Many people who like the pro-active approach instead say they will be contacting the company at some future time and they look forward to speaking with them. Personally, if I were a hiring manager, the last thing I would want is 50 people threatening to call me when I am not interested in them. It is up to you to decide which approach you are more comfortable with, but clearly the company DOES NOT want to hear from every applicant in person.

Cover Letter Should Contain

All cover letters should:

Explain why you are sending a resume. Don't send a resume without a cover letter. Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?

Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization — a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.

Convince the reader to look at your resume. The cover letter will be seen first. Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.

Call attention to elements of your background — education, leadership, experience — that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.

Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.

Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample.

Indicate what you will do to follow-up.

Tips for Effective Cover Letter

The Dos and Don'ts of A Stand-Out Cover Letter

1. Do give the basics: what job you're applying for, the name of the establishment, and so on. Someone might have told you to send the letter to a particular person, so mention your referee by name.

2. Address the cover letter as specifically as possible. Determine who the hiring officer is before replying and applying. Take the time researching on the internet or reading appropriate business periodicals to get the name and title of the hiring official. This will help you get a foot in the door. And NEVER open your letter with Dear Sir or Madam or To Whom It May Concern. At the same time, do use Mr. or Ms. This formality shows respect.

3. If you're replying to an ad mentioning a code or job number, refer to this in your cover letter.

4. Do include something you're not going to include in your r?sum?.

5. Check, check and check again to ensure your letter is typo-free. Ask a friend to be another set of eyes.

6. If you're emailing your letter, make sure your document will open properly as an attachment and that your computer system is virus-free.

7. Always follow up. Give a specific date and time on your cover letter that you'll call the hiring official.

8. Don't be afraid to use a clever gimmick to catch the recruiter's eye.

9. Don't be longwinded. A few succinct sentences will suffice.

10. Don't reiterate your whole r?sum? in a cover letter. An employer will read your r?sum? anyway, if he or she likes your letter, so stick to the high points.

11. Don't over-promise in your cover letter and under-deliver in your r?sum?.

12. Leave the funny fonts and coloured paper at home. Your cover letter should be easy to read.

13. Never use a one-size-fits-all cover letter. Customized approaches always win the interview.

With a little flair and a lot of commonsense, you can ensure you not only get a foot in the door, but an offer on the table for the hospitality job you desire.

Job Application Cover Letter

Job Application Cover Letter

A cover letter is sent with your CV. It can make the difference between being successful in your job search or not.

Cover letters are generally not read during the first candidate selection, but usually they will be read when the candidates have been short listed. Do not waste such an opportunity.

Always include a cover letter even if the job ad does not specify that one is needed. Occasionally, job ads also specify a hand written cover letter.

Your cover letter should not be a copy of your CV. Specify some of your cover letter achievements and be sure you know how to handle Cover Letter weakness. (Uncertain as to what you're trying to say here).

A cover letter is a way of showing your writing and reporting skills.

Your cover letter should be customised per employer. However, if you are sending a lot of CVs, this task could prove impossible. Try instead to have a cover letter per industry or per area.

Acceptance Letter

Acceptance Letter

Before sending the acceptance letter, you need to decide if you are going to accept or reject the job offer.

Make Sure You
Know the length of the notice period from your current job.
Understand in which job category you will start.
Have an idea of the organisational structure.
Are aware or have agreed on benefits, performance reviews, moving expenses.
Respond as soon as possible.
Acknowledge the employment offer.
Express your gratitude.

Interview Thank You Letter

Interview Thank You Letter

Do not over look the thank you letter. It can be very help full to make you stand out from other candidates. In your job search you have to make use of all the tools, and the Interview thank you letter is one of them.

Thank You Letter General Guide Lines

The letter has to be sent before the decision to hire a particular candidate has been made.

It is your last opportunity to mention any information you missed to mention in your CV, Cover Letter or Interview.

Clear up any misunderstandings.

You can use some things you learnt during your interview to your advantage.

This shows you are a professional.

Your last opportunity to leave a good impression.

Send it within one day of the interview.

Letter of inquiry

Letter of inquiry

A Letter of Inquiry can help you uncover the hidden job market. Sometimes these cover letters are called marketing letters.

A letter of inquiry should be followed up with a phone call as this will increase your chance of getting your "foot in the door". Hopefully such a phone call can lead to a meeting or interview.
Good Letters of inquiry

Inform the reader why you are writing within the first sentence.

Read the how to write a cover letter guide, most of the tips are the same for letters of inquiry.
Have a look at job application cover letter article, it offers a lot of insightful tips on writing job related correspondence.
Highlight creative ideas to generate interest.

Cover Letter

Cover Letter

A cover letter is a letter that you send to accompany your CV when you apply for job, whether advertised or when you are sending an unsolicited application. Do not over look this tool as it can be a great asset in your job hunt.

Job Application Cover Letter page contains specifics and tips on how to write a cover letter.

There are different types of job related letters

Letter of inquiry: In this type of query you are enquiring about possible job opportunities that fit your skills. You have to give a general area you are interested in working in.

Job Application Cover Letter or Response to an Job Advertisement: Answering a particular job advert. The important thing in the cover letter is to show that your skills match those for the job advert.

Thank You Letter: A thank you letter shows the interest you have in a position you have been interviewed for.

Acceptance Letter: In this letter you state that you are accepting the job offered.

Declination Letter: You inform your employer that you are no longer interested in the position offered.

In all cases make sure you follow the Guide on Writing Job Related Correspondence which gives a plethora of specific tips on writing different types of cover letters.