Cover Letters, Resumes And The Job Hunter…What’s It All About?
When you’ve been unemployed for a while, the goal of finding a new job can become like searching for an old friend in the deep sea. The internet provides plenty of bogus information, with some sites and articles listing long detailed instructions on how to achieve that perfect resume and cover letter. For others, advice about job hunting might as well be made up because there is so little factual and reliable material to go on.
“This is how I got my job” stories are born out of necessity, as they present themselves as a summary of untold secrets to finding work, and in some cases, they might even be true. But if you want to know who these people are and what jobs they actually hold, you’d most likely be disappointed.
However, we can still learn from those who have gone before us and maybe even incorporate what we see into our own journey. We do have to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism when reading such articles though.
The problem with all the information on the internet is that much of it is quite generic. People tend to write about certain aspects of job hunting and job seeking that they feel they can easily relate to. But a person working in a certain business wouldn’t exactly know what it is like to get into that same industry but with a different employer.
In most cases, the actual information will apply to everyone, but the way in which it is presented will be biased depending on telling the story from the writer’s own perspective.
That said, I feel it important for us to try and find some common ground between all these stories by looking at one aspect that would interest anyone who is unemployed or looking for work. I’m talking about the cover letter and resume.
For starters, the cover letter is what you send to employers before your resume, as it serves to introduce yourself and showcase some of your skills. The cover letter itself should be kept fairly brief; just a few paragraphs at most. Ideally, you should be able to read it through in five minutes without any problem.
The resume is longer than the cover letter and contains more information such as a detailed summary of your qualifications, education history, job experience, accomplishments and awards. In essence, it is like a summary of what you did in the past so that future employers get an idea of who you are now. Having said that, resumes can be quite long and might seem like an intimidating task if you’re looking for a new job.
The hiring manager will most likely be concerned about the relevance of your experience to the tasks he or she expects from you in their company. If you have been employed in different fields, it will be necessary to keep them separated from one another as much as possible so that the employer can understand what knowledge and skills are relevant to their position.
Experience should be highlighted in your cover letter and resume then, as it is one of the most important qualifications that employers request before even interviewing you. It is through experience that people are exposed to different situations and content that they might not have come across before. And likewise, it is through the knowledge gained through experience that they are able to apply what they have learned in a practical manner.
And so, in order for you to be placed on the radar of potential employers, your cover letter and resume should be as up-to-date as possible. That is why it is quite important that you always check if there are any new employers looking for people with your qualifications and skills. This can be done by visiting various job sites such as CareerBuilder . If you have been out of work for a while, then don’t forget to refresh your resume and cover letter by adding the latest information about yourself.
I’ve written this article based on the knowledge I have gained from previous job hunting experiences, and I hope that it can provide some useful insights for those of you who are looking for work.
If you have any doubts, please feel free to leave a comment below.
What to include in your cover letter? [ARTICLE ENDS]
What to Write in Your Cover Letter?
Although the major focus of a cover letter is job applications, it can be useful for other people as well. Knowing how to write a great cover letter is important for asking for donations on craigslist or getting someone else’s business card. Here are some tips: 1. Say why you are writing the letter: The most common reason people do not include the reason they are writing the letter is because they forget it. This should be the first sentence. 2. Briefly convey your purpose: You do not need to give details here, just state what you want. 3. Give a brief description of yourself: This is optional; if you have a really complicated background, feel free to include it in this section as well. 4. Mention a specific event or personal connection that has persuaded you to write: “I read about your company…” or “I met you last week at the company party…” 5. Give some detail about why we should hire you: This can be your related work experience, personal character and accomplishment etc.
Send Your Cover Letters Via Email
If you are not sure how to add an attachment to an email, try this: right click on the document > save as… and choose one of these formats: Word (DOC) or HTML (HTML) or RTF (RTF).
Sample Cover Letter 1
Sample Cover Letter 2
Here is a template you can use for your own cover letter. Just put your name and address in the spaces provided and make any changes you think would be easier for you. 1. For all letters, I am giving you my name, address, phone number and email address so that we have a way to contact each other if need be. 2. In your ad, you ask for someone who is punctual, honest and organized. Well, I am the kind of person who is always early for work or appointments. I am also honest and reliable. In fact this is why I have been given a promotion in my job at the company where I currently work as a [insert position title]. 3. As for your specific job requirement that you posted in your ad, I feel that my experience exactly matches it. Over the last two years at my current job, I have been working as a [insert position title]. 4.
Conclusion
When you are job-hunting and looking for a new job, it is important to know how your resume and cover letter will be read by your potential employer. The first impression that you form on them can decide whether they will give you a chance or not. So, it is crucial to make sure that both of these elements are up-to-date and reflect the best of your work history.
After reading the information for writing a cover letter above, don’t forget to check out the other article in our blog: The Tips and Tricks on How to Write Resumes That Get Noticed .
Also, check out our other articles written about Job Searching in Singapore .