How To Create A “Showstopper” Cover Letter
June 12, 2013 by William Frierson
Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy
There are movies and then there are movies. You know the kind––the blah, blah stories that are okay but you forget them as soon as you leave the theater or turn off the TV.
And then there are the films that you still remember ten years later—the real showstoppers that tickle your funny bone and warm your heart.
Job search cover letters fall into the same two categories—the blah, blah kind and the ones that linger in the mind of the hiring managers and make them move your letter to the top of the stack. Your words bring a smile and a pleasant feeling.
If that’s the kind of cover letter you want to write when you hope to land a job interview, then follow these suggestions for a technique that few people learn or use:
1. Greet the hiring manager by name. Do whatever it takes to get the full name of the person you wish to contact. Check the website. Call the company. Ask a friend who works there. People love to hear or read their name. But few job searchers think about that. They take the lazy route—Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear Hiring Manager, or worst of all To whom in may concern—which says in effect: It doesn’t really concern anyone.
2. Include a smashing headline to draw attention to what you want. Just above the letter greeting, place a few solid words that communicate what you hope to achieve. This is a showstopper for sure! It’s a rare job seeker who includes this great technique.
Example:
Experienced and enthusiastic customer care professional ready to assume immediately the position of Customer Service Manager.
3. List the company job requirements in a column on the left and your matching skills in a column on the right.
Example:
Job Requirement Matching Skills
Responsible management Improved company revenue by 20%
Authentic communication Initiated weekly briefing meetings
4. Add a P.S. to your cover letter. This little used addition catches the reader’s eye, brings a smile, and gives you a final opportunity to ask for an interview. If you can leave the hiring manager feeling valued and respected and even smiling, you are sure to be called for a personal meeting where you can go into greater detail about your qualifications and how you plan to make a difference in the company if hired to fill the job opening. Examples:
P.S. I have researched your company; I’m well-qualified and excellent at what I do, and I would really like to interview for this position. Please call me at 888-888-8888, I’ll be happy to meet at your office on your timetable.
P.S. Are you interested in finding out more about what I can offer your company and how I will support your mission and help increase revenue? If so, please call me—anytime at 888-888-8888. I would love the opportunity to meet for an interview at your earliest convenience.
Put these unique and powerful “showstoppers” into your cover letter and dramatically increase your job interview requests next week!
© Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new
Amazing Cover Letter Creator
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, “Amazing Cover Letter Creator.” Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your “instant” cover letter today. “In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!”
Comments
Related posts:
Cover Letter Tip: Give and You Shall Receive…
7 Steps to Writing an Amazing Cover Letter
7 Steps to Writing an Amazing Cover Letter
Cover Letter Tip: Put The “Secret 7″ To Work For You!
How to make a First Impression Twice—With a Follow Up Cover Letter!
Posted in Advice for Candidates, Career Advice, Cover Letters | Tagged cover letters, headline, hiring manager, interview, job requirements, job search, job seeker, skills
Advertising Opportunities
Client Testimonials
FROM THE BLOG
Breaking through an HR position: The three most important interview questions you ought to know
Don’t Have the Experience Required to Get Jobs for Recent College Graduates? 4 Tips to Learn from People Who Were in Your Shoes
Top 5 Entry Level Jobs with the Best Salaries
Writing Cover Letters for Recent Graduate Jobs? 5 Tips to Put Forth Your Best Work
College Graduates, 10 Things You Need to Be Aware of When Hired for Entry Level Jobs
Internship Finder, Do You Have a Phone Interview Coming Up? Things You Need to Remember
© 2014 CollegeRecruiter.com, LLC.
Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy
There are movies and then there are movies. You know the kind––the blah, blah stories that are okay but you forget them as soon as you leave the theater or turn off the TV.
And then there are the films that you still remember ten years later—the real showstoppers that tickle your funny bone and warm your heart.
Job search cover letters fall into the same two categories—the blah, blah kind and the ones that linger in the mind of the hiring managers and make them move your letter to the top of the stack. Your words bring a smile and a pleasant feeling.
If that’s the kind of cover letter you want to write when you hope to land a job interview, then follow these suggestions for a technique that few people learn or use:
1. Greet the hiring manager by name. Do whatever it takes to get the full name of the person you wish to contact. Check the website. Call the company. Ask a friend who works there. People love to hear or read their name. But few job searchers think about that. They take the lazy route—Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear Hiring Manager, or worst of all To whom in may concern—which says in effect: It doesn’t really concern anyone.
2. Include a smashing headline to draw attention to what you want. Just above the letter greeting, place a few solid words that communicate what you hope to achieve. This is a showstopper for sure! It’s a rare job seeker who includes this great technique.
Example:
Experienced and enthusiastic customer care professional ready to assume immediately the position of Customer Service Manager.
3. List the company job requirements in a column on the left and your matching skills in a column on the right.
Example:
Job Requirement Matching Skills
Responsible management Improved company revenue by 20%
Authentic communication Initiated weekly briefing meetings
4. Add a P.S. to your cover letter. This little used addition catches the reader’s eye, brings a smile, and gives you a final opportunity to ask for an interview. If you can leave the hiring manager feeling valued and respected and even smiling, you are sure to be called for a personal meeting where you can go into greater detail about your qualifications and how you plan to make a difference in the company if hired to fill the job opening. Examples:
P.S. I have researched your company; I’m well-qualified and excellent at what I do, and I would really like to interview for this position. Please call me at 888-888-8888, I’ll be happy to meet at your office on your timetable.
P.S. Are you interested in finding out more about what I can offer your company and how I will support your mission and help increase revenue? If so, please call me—anytime at 888-888-8888. I would love the opportunity to meet for an interview at your earliest convenience.
Put these unique and powerful “showstoppers” into your cover letter and dramatically increase your job interview requests next week!
© Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new
Amazing Cover Letter Creator
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, “Amazing Cover Letter Creator.” Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”
Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your “instant” cover letter today. “In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!”
Comments
Related posts:
Cover Letter Tip: Give and You Shall Receive…
7 Steps to Writing an Amazing Cover Letter
7 Steps to Writing an Amazing Cover Letter
Cover Letter Tip: Put The “Secret 7″ To Work For You!
How to make a First Impression Twice—With a Follow Up Cover Letter!
Posted in Advice for Candidates, Career Advice, Cover Letters | Tagged cover letters, headline, hiring manager, interview, job requirements, job search, job seeker, skills
Advertising Opportunities
Client Testimonials
FROM THE BLOG
Breaking through an HR position: The three most important interview questions you ought to know
Don’t Have the Experience Required to Get Jobs for Recent College Graduates? 4 Tips to Learn from People Who Were in Your Shoes
Top 5 Entry Level Jobs with the Best Salaries
Writing Cover Letters for Recent Graduate Jobs? 5 Tips to Put Forth Your Best Work
College Graduates, 10 Things You Need to Be Aware of When Hired for Entry Level Jobs
Internship Finder, Do You Have a Phone Interview Coming Up? Things You Need to Remember
© 2014 CollegeRecruiter.com, LLC.
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