Looking for a Position? This Might Help You!

 

                                    

                         Résumé Cover Letter and Instructions

If you’re looking for a position at this time of much competition, don’t just send out your résumé.  You may have fine credentials but that’s not all that’s important to a prospective employer.  They want to know what kind of employee or associate you’re going to be--difficult for them to determine from a résumé.  The most popular request I’ve gotten on my radio commentary is for my résumé cover letter.  It’s going to make you really stand out when it gets to that potential employer. 

You want a position so you send your résumé letter to a bunch of possible employers.  What happens to your résumé?  If you’re responding to an ad, the manager will glance at it quickly and put it into a pile of others or into an email folder. You might be able to get your letter to stand out by perfuming it J.  That’ll get their attention but it could still end up in the trash L.  Isn’t there a good way to make your résumé stand out?

Well, in your résumé, you certainly should list your experience and credentials, but usually that means you’re talking about what you’ve done before and your fine qualities. That’s not a great way to go since it’s just about you—a features approach.  A better way is to present the benefits to your prospective employer of having you aboard—a benefits approach. After all, you don’t buy something because of its features, you buy it because of how you expect it to benefit you.

Once you send out the résumé, what do you do? Do you call your potential employer right away or even drop in on them so they realize you’re determined and really want to get to work? (I once hired a fellow who came in asking for a job one day and returned again the very next.  I realize he was determined so I hired him.  He was one of the best employees I ever hired.)

So, here’s what you can do to stand out.  Put the following letter on top of your résumé in large, maroon print to catch the eye. It’s a “benefits approach” pure and simple:

Dear Employer,

Thank you for reading my résumé. I want to assure you that these are the benefits you'll enjoy by having me aboard...

1.      I will ease the work load of my supervisors and staff by conscientiously taking on the responsibilities delegated to me.

2.      I will be looking to save the company money in any reasonable way I can.

3.      All of my work will be done carefully, efficiently, and promptly.

4.      I will be at my position on time and ready to work each day.

5.      At all times, I will communicate thoroughly with my supervisors and will report on my work-in-progress as often as requested.

6.      I will be a loyal and dedicated team player, putting the company's objectives and preferences above my own, and fostering such behavior among my associates.

7.      I will prioritize the work given to me, based on instructions from my supervisors or, absent specific instructions, with good common sense.

8.      During my work day, I will be positive and upbeat, encouraging a happy work environment and never paying attention to gossip.

9.      I will be open to constructive criticism from my supervisors and associates.

10.   I will welcome the opportunity to learn and to grow in my position.

11.    I will constantly strive to do more than what is expected of me.

12.   I will demonstrate a passion for excellence in everything that I do, no matter how humble or great the tasks you assign to me.

This is my commitment to you. It would be an honor and a privilege to be a part of your team. Thank you for your time and consideration of my application!

Sincerely yours,

    You

Put yourself in the shoes of the person getting your résumé with that cover letter. Wouldn’t you take a good look at it? Wouldn’t you want to at least meet this person? It may sound hokey, but it's what employers really want to know.

So remember to put this one page letter at the top of your résumé. And keep the résumé itself to one page too. No one has the time or interest to read more than that. Once you get in the door for an interview, they’ll ask for the rest of the information they need.

This cover letter will set you apart from the crowd; especially if you communicate that you mean it by calling them right after you know they've received your letter. And don’t be surprised if they call you first!