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[A20]A Cover Letter Template

by Gen Wright, Gen

For all those job seekers who saw Legally Blonde II and the pink perfumed resume, there was a terrific chuckle. There was also a simple knowledge that maybe she had gone too far with her resume. News Flash, she also didn't give a cover letter. However, the character in that movie did do one thing very right: She made sure that her presentation of herself was "head and shoulders" above the crowd. She was noticeable. That is often why people will use a cover letter template.

Let's take a look at ways one can be certain that their resume and cover letter are noticeable other than pink perfumed paper and a personal presentation.

Foremost critical point: In almost all jobs you apply for you need to include a cover letter with your resume! In today's work world cover letters are your introduction. Because they are so important, many people will use the cover letter template to help get the letter of introduction as good as possible. Cover letters have replaced personal contact when presenting the resume. They show some aspect of your personality, framework, and merit. They encourage a person to take a peek at the resume.

Follow the cover letter template as closely as you can. Do make sure you have these points covered as well:

* Put that cover letter and resume on decent paper. At least a 25 lb. paper ideally with a watermark is what you want. Don't go overboard with color and texture. A nice paper is sufficient.

Potential employers will be determining key things about you in that cover letter. If you choose to use a cover letter template, make sure it will help you illustrate some of the things the employer looks for:

* Ability to follow instructions (that applies to those companies that actually requested that a cover letter be included with the resume). They want to know, do you read the directions and follow them?

* Attention to detail is another item the potential employer is looking for when he reads your cover letter. Did you send in a letter that is incomplete, has typos or grammatical errors? Is it properly formatted on the page? Is it concise and to the point, or did you ramble? Look back to your cover letter template as well, make sure it is of excellent quality.

* Personalization is another factor that must be considered. Did you write a cover letter designed for one and all, then basically blitz the work market? Let's hope not, because if you did, you really blew it. Take a few minutes with each cover letter you present to get some info about the company, the person's name to address it to. Personalize it the best that you can. This shows that you are not desperate for work and that you are a professional. It also reinforces your attention to detail.

* It's a gauge of your communication skills - how well do you present yourself in writing, are you able to communicate concisely and professionally, can you highlight key points of yourself and your resume without boring the reader. Are you able to bring it all together through communication with a professional presentation? If you feel you are not able to do this, it is most advisable that you use a cover letter template.

There are only a handful of industries where cover letters are not required. Some of those include the construction trades, some IT positions, many part-time or part-time retail jobs. Some of the creative fields such as film or graphic design may also not require or want a cover letter. However the majority of today's employers are looking for the cover letter to be included with the resume. If you are concerned about your ability to create it, then download a cover letter template to help you get the job done.

A basic template can be either bulleted ? sometimes called an Executive Summary ? or in paragraph form. The paragraph form of cover letter template is more traditional and preferred by many for the neat appearance it presents. Since hiring managers are busy however, the bulleted format does have advantages. This cover letter template allows you to make quick changes in the emphasis you are placing on your skills in case there is more than one type of job for which you are applying.

A good bulleted template will begin with the date, address and salutation. Then it should reference the position applied for. Open the template itself with a short paragraph highlighting your primary qualification, such as years of experience, and state that you can make a strong contribution to the company. Then back up what you've said with at least two bullet point paragraphs, each listing some of the key qualifications that your resume lists. You've heard the old saying ?tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them.? This is the place for that.

Your last paragraph should be upbeat and point out that you can make valuable contributions to the organization, list your contact phone number again, and thank the reader for his or her time.

A good template emphasizes the contributions the applicant can make to the prospective employer. Employers don't really care about what you want, they care about what you can do for them, and your cover letter template and resume should reflect that truth.

An alternative to the bulleted template is the standard paragraph formatted cover letter template. It begins as the bulleted one does, with the date, salutation and standard formal correspondence protocols. It will then have three or four paragraphs in block format that point out your years of experience, education and other qualifications in the first paragraph, followed by the second paragraph where you state your desire to join the organization. The third paragraph should go into more detail concerning experience and qualifications. For instance, stating that your skills are in personnel supervision, or in operations management. List a recent accomplishment in this paragraph to back up your earlier words. In the last paragraph point out the obvious ? it never hurts. Let the reader know that your resume is enclosed and you would like to meet with him soon to exchange ideas. State that you will call him in the next few days if you feel it appropriate, otherwise restate your contact phone number and email address and your availability to meet. End it with your signature and the word ?enclosure?.

This cover letter template also emphasizes what the applicant can do for the company by citing experience. If you follow either of these listed here you should have good success.

Article Source : Pg. 14

About Author

Both Gen Wright & Heather Eagar are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Gen Wright has sinced written about articles on various topics from Terrier Dogs, Acne Treatment and Lose Weight. Margaret Marquisi is a retired career specialist and fulltime grandmother. If you are needing a , download a. Gen Wright's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.

Heather Eagar has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter, Interview Questions and Careers and Job Hunting. Are you guilty of sabotaging your own job search along with the opportunity to earn more money? Heather Eagar, a former professional resume writer and creator of ResumeLines.com, provides reviews of the top. Heather Eagar's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.