Sample Resume Letters Selling Yourself

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					Cover Letters: Selling your skills on paper

The Career Place
Connecting Workers and Employers
What is a cover letter?

   Your formal introduction

   The first read, it can make or break your entry

   A ‘must’ with your resume
Generating interest

The goal is to get an interview!
 Should be brief and interesting
 Should not be a carbon copy of your resume
 Should highlight what you’ll bring to the job
 Should be versatile, suitable for several jobs
 Should never be sent in ‘form letter’ style
Presenting yourself in two ways

A cover letter comes in two basic forms…
 Letter of application
 Letter of inquiry
Letter of application

   Targeted for a specific ad
   Outline skills to meet company’s needs
   Helpful to use ad’s terms, lingo
Letter of inquiry

A marketing tool to…
 Obtain an informational interview
 Correspond with a networking contact
 Conduct company/industry research
Create the right impression: 10 Tips

1. Letter geared for specific job opening
     Adapt letter to needs of the job you want
     Refer to that job in opening sentences

2. Describe your related skills
     Tie your experience to your skills
     Show how they directly relate to the job description
Create the right impression: 10 Tips

3. Make it personal
    Address letter to a specific person
    If you don’t have a contact, call and ask
    Use a comma after the name

4. Create a catchy opener
    Readers scan for content
    Open with attention-grabbing sentences
    Describe why you’re the best for the job
Create the right impression: 10 Tips

5. Include vital information
     Name, address, phone with area code
     Should be clearly visible
     First thing reader will need to contact you

6. Type and proofread
    It’s your first impression…make it good
    Be sure it’s neat and professional
    Errors will reflect badly on you
Create the right impression: 10 Tips

7. Keep it brief
    Use action words, active sentences
    Limit letter to one page
    Three or four paragraphs

8. Be confident, creative, enthusiastic
    It’s a tool to sell your best asset…you!
    Let your personality shine in your letter
Create the right impression: 10 Tips

9. Keep copies
    Keep a copy of every letter you send
    Past letters make job search easier
    Copies make follow up easier

10. Request a response
    Your letter is written to get an interview
    Ask for one!

Description: Sample Resume Letters Selling Yourself document sample