covering letter

[faraz]

how to prepare a covering letter?what should be kept in mind while preparing a covering letter ?please elaborate!I want a good simple format!

[Vision]

Dear Miss Radhika,

Ref: Assistant Press Officer

I am writing in response to your advertisement of 30th July for the above position. I enclose my Curriculum Vitae for your consideration.

As you will see I have had considerable experience of press officer work during my years at University. I was responsible for all press contacts for our student union and for the production of press releases for a number of events.

My work experience during vacations has developed a number of the skills mentioned in your advertisement, particularly team working and meeting deadlines, and I think that I could bring ideas and enthusiasm to the job.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely
Shashank



Useful phrases:

in response to your advertisement...
following our telephone conversation...
would like to be considered for ...
here is my CV for your consideration...
writing to enquire whether ...


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Covering Letter

Cover Letter Formatting

The brass-tax about writing a cover letter. How to start, what the main body should contain and hiow to say Read that resume of mine.

Start

Address by name if you can, such as:

"Dear Ms Bloggs" and conclude with "Yours sincerely ".

If you have no name, address as:

"Dear Sir" and conclude with "Yours faithfully"

The first Paragraph

Identify who you are, what job you are applying for and how you heard about it.

Perhaps provide a brief summary of your main 'selling points'.

Useful phrases:

in response to your advertisement...
following our telephone conversation...
would like to be considered for ...
here is my CV for your consideration...
writing to enquire whether ...

The middle paragraph

These can address two main themes, perhaps in separate paragraphs, in whatever order suits you best:

Give details of why you want to join the organisation and do that particular job - sound keen and enthusiastic show that you've found out about the employer and the job

Say why they should be interested in you - give your main selling points

Deal with any negative aspects of your application - if you can justify any weak points in your application form with a genuine explanation, this may be included, such as poor A-levels owing to illness .

A time hole on the resume where you could have gone under cover for the Millitery Intelligence or the CIA. You need not mention this but a trip of reflection and spritual growth to the misticle mountains would do just fine.

Some skills or workshops, especially if these are not fully covered elsewhere; aspects of your course that are particularly relevant

Useful phrases:

as you can see from my CV . . .
attracted to working for you because . . .
I can offer . . .
especially interested in . . .
my main skills are . . .
most important qualifications and experience are . . .

The last paragraph(s)

Restate your interest and summarise your suitability
Perhaps ask for an interview, mentioning dates when you are available or unavailable
End the letter - on a polite and optimistic note

Useful phrases:

happy to supply further information. . .
available for interview at any time . . .
look forward to hearing from you. . .

Well you already said "read that resume of mine"!
• Archives
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Watch your words!

Your covering letter will decide the fate of your résumé- whether it qualifies as a potential contender among the piles of other résumés- and subsequently whether you stand a chance or not. The language and choice of words you make will decide how your letter projects you. A little attention to detail can give you the much-needed advantage.

Some winsome ways…

Be contemporary
Don’t use outdated expressions like “ I am enclosing the résumé herewith” or “Please find enclosed a copy of my resume for your perusal.” One sentence of this kind is enough to put your prospective employer off for good!

Keep it short
3-4 paragraphs should suffice. Don’t use long winding sentences that lose the thread mid-way. 12 words per sentence is ideal.

Cast the right spell!
A single spelling mistake is enough to undo all your efforts. Be sure to confirm the spelling of the person's name and the company to whom you are addressing the letter.

Use action words
You need to use active verbs like “ designed the website,” or “ conducted the programme, rather than weak passive sentences like “was in charge of the design” or “ did a programme…” Let your active words speak for what you did!

Avoid jargon, slang or clichés
Jargon may make you sound pompous, and slang will create an unprofessional impression. Clichés will make your letter stale and unimaginative Use proper English. It’s your safest bet. Also, avoid abbreviations.

Don’t exaggerate or use catch phrases
If you use catch phrases that are “in”, you can bet your life that the other applicants are going to do the same. Having ‘excellent communication skills’ or having “leadership qualities” is not the differentiator anymore. Be specific. A brief description of concrete experiences will bring your point across more effectively.

Take off from the advertisement
Make a note of the exact words used in the advertisement and try to incorporate them subtly in your text. This will help you position yourself as the best ‘fit’ for that particular job.

Sign off in style
“ I would be honoured at joining your esteemed company,” or “ eagerly waiting to hear from you,” sounds like you’re pleading with the employer to give you a chance. A more dignified option would be to say something like; “ I hope to hear from you soon.”

Customise
A ‘one-size-fits-all’ type of a covering letter will soon make its way to the dustbin. Instead of doing a cut and paste job, try to write a fresh covering letter for each job that you apply for. In other words you cannot get away with vague, general information. You need to give each employer something that is of special interest to him. So personalise each letter.

Edit, edit, edit
This final step is crucial. Even after a thorough check, it is possible to overlook some errors. Get someone else to read your letter before you merrily shoot it across to the unsuspecting employers

[wizkid]

Hi Faraz,

I think you got enough information on how to make a better covering letter from MIGHTY,

well said, mighty..


well, i would like to add few points,

As it is a covering letter do not try to fill the entire page.

The covering letter should be in such a way that by not exceeding 10 line it should give a clear cut idea about your self and make the HR to flip the page and go through your entire RESUME(this is the only thing you want and the HR expects).

regards

WIZKID

[faraz]

ok thanks a lot !!!I really appreciate both of your help!!I think covering letter is a very important tool for getting a job as well:)