The Benefits of
Customized Cover Letters
While we haven't done an official survey, We'd have to estimate that
between fifty and sixty percent of our clients ask us if they need a cover
letter, or tell us that they don't want to purchase one because they can
write a short note themselves.
For these clients we always have an analogy prepared, where we tell them
that they should think of their resume and cover letter as two parts of a
whole, and that whole is their marketing pamphlet or business card. Would
they give someone a business card with no contact information? Would they
send out a marketing brochure with no information describing what the
purpose is? Of course not!
Then we explain that sending out a professional resume without a matching
cover letter is like sending out only half a business card. The complete
package is much more effective in producing resumes.
Studies have shown that well over 50% of hiring managers say that they
consider the cover letter a vital piece of information, and tend to be
wary of applicants who don't send one, or who send a poorly-written one.
The cover letter is frequently the first piece of communication a hiring
manager has with an applicant. Poor grammar, typos, lack of understanding
of the business letter format, and confusing or vague information can
influence how a hiring manager feels about an applicant before the resume
is even read. A professionally written letter demonstrates that the
candidate has taken the time to do the best job possible in obtaining an
interview, a trait that indicates
that person will do a good job if hired.
As important as these reasons are for using a professional cover letter,
there is still one more reason: matching the client's skill sets to the
particular job. No two positions are the same, even in the same field or
with the same job title. Clients need to be prepared to customize their
job
application package to their desired position. The resume cannot (and
should not) be easily changed for different jobs; but the cover letter is
made to do just that.
A writer, or a client, can add or subtract information, emphasize key
points, and even include additional information that didn't fit on the
resume. We always tell our clients, the resume is the outline of your
background, and the cover letter is the document that you use to emphasize
what's important in that background to a prospective employer particularly
at mid management to
senior management level.
In particular the cover letter allows quantifiable results and successes
to be highlighted to the hiring manager, greatly increasing the
candidate's chances of securing an interview.
To summarize:
1. A professional cover letter increases the number of interviews
received.
2. Well-written cover letters make the applicant stand out by showcasing
particular strengths, and can be customized to match individual job
descriptions.
3. Professional cover letters match the tone and style of the resume;
indicate that the applicant has vast experience of professional business
practices, and a proven track record of success.
C2005 Ronan Kennedy, President of Professional-Resumes.com
Our resumes and cover letters are flawless and guaranteed to win
interviews. Learn more and read our salary articles, career
tips and career resources at www.Professional-Resumes.com
Written
By
Ronan Kennedy
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