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TheLadders.com Resume Team Offers Cover Letter Rules of Engagement
<BackNEW YORK, NY - (March 30, 2009) - In a world where one-line text messages are routine forms of communication, is there still a place in the job search for the cover letter? According to TheLadders.com, the world's leading online platform for the $100K+ job market, the cover letter is still a useful tool in differentiating yourself from other candidates applying for the same position.
For the latest on cover letter etiquette, TheLadders.com enlisted the help of certified professional resume writers Christy LaVanway and Richard Hoffman. Following are their criteria for perfect cover letters.
1. Get Their Attention - A cover letter must grab a reader's attention in a split-second with a succinct message that convinces them to read further. Avoid canned phrases, such as "I'm writing in regard to your job posting," in favor of relevant words and phrases that will hook hiring managers.
2. Less is More - A good cover letter is a teaser, so it should not attempt to tell your life story or paraphrase every detail in your resume. It should clearly convey the "who," "what," "when," "where," "why" in the first paragraph and be no longer than three or four total paragraphs.
3. Prove Relevance - Hiring managers in the current environment are not in risk-taking mode; they are looking for proven specialists who know their areas of expertise inside-out. Job seekers should mine the job posting and company Web site for the specific words and clues to what the employer is looking for in a candidate and use those words in the cover letter.
4. Turn Negatives Into Positives - Many job seekers in the current market are dealing with situations that are difficult to explain in a resume such as gaps in employment. The cover letter is where you can explain these situations before they are red flagged on your resume.
5. Paste and Attach - If you are applying via e-mail, cut and paste the cover letter to make it your e-mail message and attach it. Eventually the best cover letters and resumes make it to a printer and a human being who can actually hire you.
"Job seekers should embrace cover letters as a way to differentiate themselves from their competition," said Christy LaVanway, Certified Professional Resume Writer. "The cover letter is also the perfect medium to address the kinds of unique situations that do not fit neatly into the resume."
"Cover letters are one of the very few introductory communications with a prospective employer that allow you to show some personality before an interview," said Richard Hoffman, Certified Professional Resume Writer. "A boilerplate form letter isn't enough; job seekers should always tailor their cover letters to the specific opportunity making certain to mention a few things about the company or the position."
Since TheLadders.com launched its Resume Service in 2006, a team of executive resume writers, who have been certified by at least one of the national resume writing associations, have written more than 25,000 executive resumes for its members. Additionally, Wendy Enelow, author of 30+ books on executive resume writing, cover letters and interviewing, provides these resume writers with ongoing training and guidance on marketing the executive level candidate.
About TheLadders.com
TheLadders.com is the world's leading online service catering exclusively to the $100k+ job market. Our job is to make the search for senior talent and senior positions quick and effective. With access to the most $100k+ jobs in one place, senior level professionals can get to the next step in their careers faster. Top recruiters value the ability to quickly and easily connect with so much qualified talent in the sales, marketing, finance, HR, legal, tech and operations industries. In addition to traditional job search services, TheLadders.com also provides a host of specialized career development resources, including an executive resume service; advice from career experts; customized online profiles; and e-mail alerts. Founded in 2003 by Marc Cenedella, TheLadders.com is headquartered in New York with offices in London. For more information, please visit http://www.theladders.com.